The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade
by Thomas Lynch
In "The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade," Thomas Lynch reflects on his experiences as a funeral director, offering poignant insights into death, grief, and the human condition. Through a series of essays, he explores the rituals surrounding death and how they shape our understanding of life, weaving personal anecdotes with philosophical musings. Lynch's writing is both lyrical and contemplative, inviting readers to confront the realities of mortality with compassion and humor.
10 curated highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most impactful passages and quotes from The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade, carefully selected to capture the essence of the book.
The dead are not dead; they are our memories.
Death is the ultimate in the experience of living.
We are the stories we tell ourselves.
To be human is to be fragile.
In the end, all we have are our relationships.
Caring for the dead is a way of caring for the living.
Every life is a story worth telling.
We shape our own funerals, just as we shape our lives.
The work we do at the end of life is a gift.