The Divine Art of Dying: How to Live Well While Dying - Softcover

Karen Speerstra on the intention and hopes for this title
Writing about dying, while "in the act," is a bit like writing a mountaineering guidebook while hanging off the North Face of K2 with wind clawing at your face. I wanted this book to be as authentic as possible, and still offer readers other ways of approaching this final stage of our lives in ways that may not necessarily be "my" way. For that reason, Herbert and I include dozens of stories from people who are family members, care-givers or others who are at that point we call our "blessed recognition." It's that point when we know that no more treatment is advisable or necessary.  We realize now that death isn't just around the corner--it's standing on the sidewalk waving at us.
We need not fear death even though we do. We need not fear pain even though we do. Ira Byock, the widely recognized physician writing our Foreword, points out that pain can be dealt with more effectively because of new developments in palliative care.  We intend this book to be a spiritual resource supporting people who choose to take the turn toward death in order to live fully until they die.  The support of a dedicated hospice team also makes it possible to live comfortably and peacefully toward. There is still hard work to do letting things and dreams and people go.  The dying will grieve for all we're leaving behind. Those who are gifted with time for living while dying have an amazing opportunity for quality conversations, joyous gift-giving, and deepening friendships as we love and are loved.  We want this to be a book to inspire, to help and to offer courage to others who can intentionally choose, as Karen did, for our final passage to be as rich and as fulfilling as possible. Living while dying is our final human act--it's not a medical craft, but a Divine Art.

Karen Speerstra was a writer, editor, and the author of ten books, including the Nautilus gold medal winner, Sophia: the Feminine Face of God. She died in 2013 shortly after completing the manuscript for The Divine Art of Dying.

Herbert Anderson has been a pastor, a seminary professor, and a hospital chaplain and is the author or coauthor of numerous books and articles on death and grief, family living, pastoral care, ritual and stories, and spirituality. He lives in Sonoma, CA.

Dr. Ira Byock is one of the foremost palliative-care physicians in the country and an expert in end of life decisions. His book Dying Well has sold over 50,000 copies. He served as the president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and is currently the director of Palliative Medicine at Dartmouth- Hitchcock Medical Center. He lives in Enfield, NH.