A Review of On Death and Dying

A detailed Summary of A Review of On Death and Dying

For my book review, I read On Death and Dying, by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. Dr. Kubler-Ross was the first person in her field to discuss the topic of death. Before 1969, death was considered a taboo. On Death and Dying is one of the most important psychological studies of the late twentieth century. The work grew out of her famous interdisciplinary seminar on death, life, and transition. In this paper, I give a comprehensive book review as well as integrate topics learned in class with Dr. Kubler-Ross' work.

Like Piaget's look at developmental stages in children, there are also stages a person experiences on the journey toward death. These five stages are denial/isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. On Death and Dying can be used as an aid to doctors, nurses, clergy, and the patient's family. Issues such as unfinished business, therapy, and hope for a cure for the terminally ill are discussed within this book. Each chapter uses interviews with patients to express the key factors surrounding their illness. Every patient knows that they are destined to die, and Kubler-Ross uses one-on-one therapy to help in the healing process.

Many times, the reason for dying is associated with bargaining for more time. I am certain that through the whole process my grandmother thought, "if only I had done this differently, maybe God would give me more time to clean up my act and change my behavior." I feel we can learn a lot from this section in our day-to-day lives. We all ask our individual "if only" and if we are struck with an illness, we fight for the time we have and attempt to make it worth while. If we did not live with this pain, such as my grandmother had, we may lead different lives. Life is either more concerned with materialistic values or of a greater faith in ourselves and in the Lord above. Some may not believe in God or a Creator, and perhaps they may not experience this stage in the game because there is no one to bargain with. The hands of time may be an atheist's threshold.

of death, it helps to have had someone close to you decease. When I was nine, my grandmother had been suffering from a series of strokes and heart disease. She had also been a smoker for most of her life and was an alcoholic. The poor woman was not in such good health. I watched her go through these stages with pain in my eyes. Before the strokes and the heart disease struck, she was very much in denial of facing the inevitable. I remember her being angry and depressed about her situation, but did not like to express much emotion.

Overall, I feel families who are dealing with a death should read this book. Kubler-Ross' theories and insights were a valuable resource in the field of helping professions as a career or in voluntary experience. When loved ones are suffering from

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