This collection of over 1100 epitaphs is not only the largest collection of epitaphs extant, it's the only one devoted to the epitaphs of ordinary people. Arranged by categories such as humor, eulogies, romantic, or borrowed quotes, it's an enlightening and sometime emotional window onto the final thoughts covering more than a thousand people. Sources of quotes have been annotated for relevance. Aside from being arranged by categories, each epitaph is indexed by first line and name(s) of the interred, as well as by cemetery. The majority of the entries are modern though some date as far back as the 1840s. All-in-all, an extraordinary glimpse into the lives of ordinary people and a reference book unlike any that have come before. It opens a new world in the study of folklore and anthropology. It mines untouched veins of gold. In many ways, epitaphs are haiku for the dead. They should be read with patience, discretion, and a glass of wine. Do not hurry through them.

When her husband's ill health forces them to move into an assisted living facility, Anne M. Wyatt-Brown suddenly finds herself surrounded by elderly residents. In this lively and provocative collection, other distinguished gerontologists reflect on Anne's moving account of her transition to becoming a member of a vibrant and sociable community that offers care-giving support, while encouraging her to pursue her own interests, including exercising, reviewing articles for scholarly journals, serving on committees, and singing. By redefining notions of care and community, undoing the stigmas of aging, and valuing the psychological factors involved in accepting assistance, this volume provides a bold new framework for thinking about aging, continuing care, making the big move to a retirement community, and living with vitality in the new environment.

By CreateSpace: As we move into the twenty-first century, the dynamics of the debate on euthanasia and assisted suicide have shifted from the "power and influence" to the "power and control." The religious industry is determined to dictate to everyone to live and die according to their dogmas and it is in everyone's best interest that we do not allow human rights and freedom of choice to be trampled on by pontificators. As such, this is a call to action by the silent majority against the vocal religious ultra-conservative minority that is dictating its non-secular ideology on everyone else. Hani Montan's latest demands to be heard-and requires that the majority seize control of their lives by controlling the ways and means of their deaths. The action needed is: first, is for the silent majority to shed its apathy and weed out through the ballot box and active campaigning the undemocratic and non-secular politicians who place God ahead of the country and the majority of its citizens. Too many unprincipled politicians' prime objective is just to survive in politics and they are a blot on democracy. Second, expose and boycott any religious establishment that is actively engaged in anti-euthanasia and anti-assisted suicide campaign because they are violating human rights and individuals' freedom of choice. It is the expectation in a democratic and secular society where religion and state are separate that the imposition of religious ideals on everyone is not acceptable. As a result, religious dogmas should not be allowed to control people's lives and religious leaders should have no undue influence on the social and political agendas of a democracy which, by definition, entitles people to have their own beliefs. Included in this should be the prerogative to choose the way they want to die. People who are in pain but believe in the sanctity of life and that the earthly suffering is good for their soul and want to exist till their last breath should be entitled to their beliefs. Others who want to prolong their life by few more days or months with palliative care and by taking heavy doses of tranquilizing drugs should also be entitled to do so. These death choices need to also extend their privileges to non-believers, to believers of science and the concept of evolution, and other terminally ill people who prefer euthanasia or assisted suicide as methods for terminating their lives that have become a misery. These people are equally entitled to their beliefs and deserve to have their human rights and freedom of choice respected. Containing many unique features, Montan's treatise gives such useful information as: samples to assist the readers in the preparation of their own legally binding "Advance Health Directive" which is now acceptable in many Western countries; a suggested updated version of the Hippocratic Oath to accommodate the subject of euthanasia and assisted suicide; and a general guide on methods and pro-euthanasia organizations specializing in the practice or advice on euthanasia and assisted suicide. A deeply thoughtful, expansive view on the rights of the dying, Death by Choice versus Religious Dogma is a book for everyone who is facing lingering death now and those who will be in similar predicament later. Euthanasia and assisted suicide is not only about the intolerance to pain or being a burden on the loved ones or the fear of dying without dignity, it is also about the loss of autonomy, loss of the ability to engage in activities that make life enjoyable, and the loss of control of bodily functions.