Caitlin Doughty Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Caitlin Doughty is an American mortician and author of death and non-fiction books best known for her bestselling memoir Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. Her other works include From Here to Eternity and Will, My Cat, Eat My Eyeballs? While her books focus on a topic that many people are not comfortable with, her sense of humor makes light of the situation. It is not every day that you find yourself laughing when reading a book about death and when not writing, Caitlin runs her own funeral home in Los Angeles.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes is a part guidebook and part memoir by Caitlin Doughty. The book tells an unusual story filled with unforgettable scenes, bizarre encounters, and a brief on what awaits us all after death. A medieval historian by profession, Caitlin takes a job at the cemetery. This profession throws her in a world of people who care about the deceased. Soon enough, Caitlin becomes a fearless explorer in the world of the dead.

In this book, Caitlin describes her daily tasks that involve taking care of bodies that come in all colors and shapes. She talks about sweeping the ashes from cremation machines and some of these ashes ending up on her clothes. She talks about embalming and the steps those in the industry take to prepare the body and make it presentable for viewing.

Are you curious about the history of cremation? This book will give you a detailed account on this topic. Here, the author also marvels at the wonderful and bizarre practices that different cultures have where death is concerned. She mixes the facts with juicy details of her experiences working as a mortician.
This a candid ad hilarious story that demystifies death and answers some of the questions that people have on this taboo topic. Is it possible to catch a disease from a corpse, and how does a flaming skull look? Get all these questions answered, and so much more. Caitlin lets the reader into her life working as a licensed mortician, and all that comes with this bizarre but rewarding career.

The author’s sense of humor is evident right from the first page. Aside from her sense of humor, Caitlin’s story-telling talent shows when she takes on real issues such as the economics and science of dealing with death. Doughty also offers informed suggestions and alternatives on how to handle death. There are also snippets about her dating life and the effects her career has on her life.

While death is a depressing topic, Doughty’s relaxed, conversational tone makes the information easy to digest. This story will offer a new perspective on death, a fate that awaits us all. You will think about your death not in an unpleasant way, but as a way of life that we all must go through. What will happen when you die? Would you like to have a say on what will happen to your body after you breathe your last? Doughty encourages green burial options. While only a few people consider going green where death is concerned, it is something most of us should consider.

From Here to Eternity

From Here to Eternity is a book that explores different cultures and the way they care for the dead. Caitlin Doughty takes a global tour to see how other cultures view and treat the dead. This book will give you a sense of what it means to provide dignity to the deceased. You will also marvel at the options that are available when it comes to caring for the dead and the burial rituals.

The author compares the chemical embalming practiced widely in the US, and the many other methods used the world over when tending to the body of the deceased. Accompany Caitlin on a fascinating tour where you will discover the unique ways different people confront mortality. From cultures that practice open-air funeral bonfires to those who mummify and keep the body inhouse for years, you can read about it all, and more.

Being a mortician, Caitlin is mortified that people fear death so much. While she was terrified but curious about death when young, her view on death changed when she started working in a crematorium. During her first job, she comes to the acceptance that we are all going to die someday. Accepting that death is part of life would help view this transition in a more positive light.

This book also covers green burials. In the Forensic Research Station in North Carolina, bodies are placed on the ground and composted. While there are not many people who have embraced green burials, it is something that the author encourages in this book. At least this way, the body can enrich the soil as a person completes the cycle of life.

Aside from offering a wealth of knowledge on death, the author does not shy away from talking about the extravagant American funeral industry. The industry makes a lot of money, and there are many things people could do to reduce the costs associated with burying the dead considerably.

While this story is about a taboo topic, the author makes it quite captivating. Caitlin discusses the most bizarre of burial rituals in a very light-hearted way. Aside from making you laugh, this book will make you think about your death and what will happen to your body once this happens. The book will also provide suggestions that you can explore when faced with a decision on what should be done once you die.

This is a captivating read. While death is a topic, many in modern society shun, the truth is that there is nothing to fear. We are all going to die someday. Blunt, funny, and informative, this pretty much sums up the From Here to Eternity story. The author explores the death rituals in different societies respectfully without romanticizing any of them. The author has done her homework and comes up with a masterpiece that delivers a wealth of information on death matters.