Description
Discover the transformative insights of Vinciane Despret's award-winning book that delves deep into the relationship between the living and the dead. This thought-provoking exploration challenges conventional views on grief, encouraging readers to rethink the necessity of moving on from loss. Emphasizing a more nuanced understanding, Despret explores how individuals across various cultures maintain lively and engaging connections with their departed loved ones. Through a tapestry of poignant and relatable stories drawn from ethnographic research and personal family histories, this riveting trade paperback, released in 2021 by University of Minnesota Press, argues that the dead continue to influence and enrich the lives of the living. Rather than seeking finality in mourning, Despret illustrates how the voices, dreams, and memories of the deceased linger in our everyday experiences, providing both comfort and inspiration. Whether through shared legacies, creative endeavors, or simply cherished memories, the dead can remain a vibrant part of our existence. With the backdrop of the recent Covid-19 pandemic prompting a reevaluation of death and connection, this book invites readers to embrace the beauty of these interactions. Perfect for collectors and those seeking to deepen their understanding of grief and loss, this BRAND NEW trade paperback is a must-read, offering a fresh perspective on how we can live fully, with the presence of our deceased loved ones in our hearts. Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled. ISBN: 9781517911416, Format: Trade paperback (US), Year: 2021.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781517911416
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2021
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press
Description:
An award-winning exploration of the presence of the dead in the lives of the living A common remedy after suffering the loss of a loved one is to progress through the “stages of grief,” with “acceptance” as the final stage in the process. But is it necessary to leave death behind, to stop dwelling on the dead, to get over the pain? Vinciane Despret thinks not. In her fascinating, elegantly translated book, this influential thinker argues that, in practice, people in all cultures continue to enjoy a lively, inventive, positive relationship with their dead.
Through her unique storytelling woven from ethnographic sources and her own family history, Despret assembles accounts of those who have found ways to live their daily lives with their dead. She rejects the idea that one must either subscribe to “complete mourning” (in a sense, to get rid of the dead) or else fall into fantasy and superstition. She explores instead how the dead still play an active, tangible role through those who are living, who might assume their place in a family or in society; continue their labor or art; or thrive from a shared inheritance or an organ donation. This is supported by dreams and voices, novels, television and popular culture, the work of clairvoyants, and the everyday stories and activities of the living. For decades now, in the West, the dead have been discreet and invisible. Today, especially as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Despret suggests that perhaps we will be willing to engage with the dead in ways that bring us happiness despite our loss.
Despret’s unique method of inquiry makes her book both entertain
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781517911416
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2021
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press
Description:
An award-winning exploration of the presence of the dead in the lives of the living A common remedy after suffering the loss of a loved one is to progress through the “stages of grief,” with “acceptance” as the final stage in the process. But is it necessary to leave death behind, to stop dwelling on the dead, to get over the pain? Vinciane Despret thinks not. In her fascinating, elegantly translated book, this influential thinker argues that, in practice, people in all cultures continue to enjoy a lively, inventive, positive relationship with their dead.
Through her unique storytelling woven from ethnographic sources and her own family history, Despret assembles accounts of those who have found ways to live their daily lives with their dead. She rejects the idea that one must either subscribe to “complete mourning” (in a sense, to get rid of the dead) or else fall into fantasy and superstition. She explores instead how the dead still play an active, tangible role through those who are living, who might assume their place in a family or in society; continue their labor or art; or thrive from a shared inheritance or an organ donation. This is supported by dreams and voices, novels, television and popular culture, the work of clairvoyants, and the everyday stories and activities of the living. For decades now, in the West, the dead have been discreet and invisible. Today, especially as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Despret suggests that perhaps we will be willing to engage with the dead in ways that bring us happiness despite our loss.
Despret’s unique method of inquiry makes her book both entertain