The American Way of Death

by Jessica Mitford.

Quickie recap: In the 1960s, the exorbitant cost of funerals led many to believe they could not afford to die. The entire funeral establishments seems dishonest at best, and extorts grief for profit. Reading it, you realize that not much has changed...the cost of dying continues to inflate beyond even the cost of living.

Quickie review: The figures in this book are incredibly out of date, but the sentiment, sadly, is exactly the same. The funeral industry is taking advantage, and the lobby bullies anyone who tries to stand up for the millions who just want to bury their dead.

Quickie recommendation: I find death fascinating, so the irrelevance of the stats didn't bother me; it might you.