Smoke Gets In Your Eyes And Other Lessons From The Crematory Analysis

899 Words2 Pages

What kind of smoke?! Death – the mystifying master of non-discrimination; something that touches all of humanity in the most melancholic ways. Typically as a whole, instead of embracing our inevitable demise, society fears death. Society is what makes death “mystifying”. Despite the fear of the unknown, people often have questions about death – yet most people don’t like to talk about it, let alone be around it willingly. Furthermore, very few people actually pursue their questions and/or curiosities about death. Those who do are a rare few that we can’t help but question their choices sometimes. In her memoir, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory”, Caitlin Doughty recounts the early beginnings of her fascination of all things macabre, as well as career as a mortician with a lighthearted – yet dark – humorous view that somehow lifts the veil of death and what happens to “us” (i.e. our bodies) after death, as well as the practices of morticians and funeral homes. …show more content…

I believe that our bodies are one of the most fascinating specimens out there, from anywhere between the early stages of life and until well after death. Part of my fascination could be attributed to the fact that I was raised in a family that had its fair share of medical professionals, but I digress. During a pseudo-educational visit to the Mütter Museum – labeled as a “medical” museum, but it can be quite macabre for some – in Philadelphia this past summer, an equally morbidly curious friend that came along with me recommended that I read this book. Caitlin, the author, also has a YouTube channel that my friend raves about as well, and I figured “why not?” and purchased the book. Little did I know that I was about to embark on a strange journey with Miss Doughty, as well as read the best book I laid my hands on in

Open Document