DR. JÁNOS PILLING (Editor)

The cultural anthropology and psychology of death, dying and mourning. Chrestomathy

2. revision
Budapest, Semmelweis Kiadó, 2010.
212 pages, 3000 Ft

This collection of literary pieces, edited by János Pilling PhD – an assembled version of the two volumes published in 1999 – gives a sketchy outline of the land of thanatology, the interdisciplinary science dealing with the theoretical and practical problems of death, dying and mourning. The book includes the studies of several professional authors, thanks to which, the editor enriches the literature of thanatology with a volume which is diversified in its topics and also in approximations.

The first part, The Cultural Anthropology of Death and Dying, includes nine studies. It begins with interpretations of the Origin of Death myths, reviews public attitudes towards them, and looks at the representation of death in different historical periods and different spiritual schools’ approaches. Some essays explore the questions of life after death. Thanatology focuses on analysing near-death experiences, and on questions such as what comes after death? at length. The studies describe concepts about death and the otherworlds of different historical eras, and enter into the psychological aspects in depth. The leading topic of the closing essay is the examination of beliefs and theories concerning ghosts.

The second part, The Psychology of Dying and Mourning, reviews the most important questions of thanatopsychology in the frame of seven studies. The first essays examine the motives of mortal fear, the modern human’s attitude to death and dying and the consequences of society’s defence mechanisms concerning death.

The book demonstrates a wide range of methods for the care of dying patients: it describes the psychological stages of the dying process, the support mechanisms available to patients, family members and medics, and the pastor’s comforting role at the different stages of dying. Through the demonstration of the components of suffering we can recognize the dying person’s main psychical needs.

One of the themes illuminates the children’s conception of death and the possibilities in supporting the dying child.

The part relating to the support of terminal patients and their relatives ends with the characterization of normal and pathological mourning, and with the forms of helping the mourner.

The last essay draws attention to the dangers for the helping professions, and to the importance of mental health protection for professional supporters of the dying person and the mourners.

The reader receives a complex representation of the theoretical and practical knowledge of thanatology. The textbook’s practical applicability for educational purposes is excellent. Because of its interdisciplinary nature the technical terms in foreign languages have been marked with a star, and there is a vocabulary with particular explanations after the notes. Short, concise summaries and repetitive questions at the end of the studies are used for a more effective acquisition of knowledge. The aim is the possibility of self-test, and also the facilitation of focusing on contexts.

Additional elaboration is provided by an extensive Hungarian literature list at the end of the first and second parts.

The collection is well structured, its studies compose an organic arc, and the coherent conclusions inspire the reader to think further and to realize the interrelations.

I recommend this book wholeheartedly for experts, and students, and also to interested laypersons, since death is an inherent part of all life.