The Art of Dying is a contemporary version of the medieval Ars Moriendi—a manual on how to achieve a good death. Dr. Peter Fenwick is an eminent neuropsychiatrist, academic and expert on disorders of the brain. His most compelling and provocative research has been into the end of life phenomena, including near-death experiences and deathbed visions of the dying person, as well as the experiences of hospice and palliative care workers and relatives of dying people.

Dr. Fenwick believes that consciousness may be independent of the brain and so able to survive the death of the brain, a theory which has divided the scientific community. The “problem with death” is deeply rooted in our culture and the social organization of death rituals. Fenwick believes that with serious engagement and through further investigation of these phenomena, he can help change attitudes so that we in the West can face up to death, and embrace it as a significant and sacred part of life. We have become used to believing that we have to shield each other from the idea of death. Fear of death means we view it as something to be fought every step of the way.

Aimed at a broad popular market, The Art of Dying looks at how other cultures have dealt with death and the dying process (The Tibetan “death system”, Swedenborg, etc.) and compares this with phenomena reported through recent scientific research. It describes too the experiences of health care workers who are involved with end of life issues who feel that they need a better understanding of the dying process, and more training in how to help their patients die well by overcoming the common barriers to a good death, such as unfinished business and unresolved emotions of guilt or hate.

From descriptions of the phenomena encountered by the dying and those around them, to mapping out ways in which we can die a “good death”, this book is an excellent basis for helping people come to terms with death.

Contents:
1 The Start of the Journey
2 Talking to Carers
3 Deathbed Visions
4 Deathbed Coincidences
5 Deathbed Visions: Finding Explanations
6 Explaining Coincidences
7 Bereavement and Hallucinations
8 Grandfather's Clock and Other Odd Incidents
9 Visions of Light and Mist
10 The Search for the Soul
11 The Last Frontier: the Unsolved Problem of Consiousness
12 Consiousness and the Near-Death Experience
13 Dying a Good Death
14 The Journey to Elsewhere: Coming to Terms with Death

Dr Peter Fenwick is an internationally renowned neuro-psychiatrist and a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. He is Britains's leading clinical authority on near-death experiences.

Elizabeth Fenwick has written a number of books on health, family issues, pregnancy and child care. She has also worked as an agony aunt advising on sexual problems on radio and in Company magazine.