How We Got Rid Of The Bodies
A History of Human Practices for Disposing of the Dead Throughout Civilization

About this book:

From the first shallow graves of our prehistoric ancestors to the rockets launching human ashes into orbit, this book traces the astonishing variety of ways societies have dealt with death. You will discover how early burials revealed the birth of ritual and respect, how the ancient Egyptians turned preservation into a spiritual imperative, and why the Greeks and Romans saw fire as a liberating force for the soul. Each chapter uncovers the beliefs, fears, and practical concerns that shaped everything from sky burials on Tibetan mountaintops to Viking ship funerals under towering earthen mounds.

As you move through history, you’ll see how religion transformed the landscape of death, from the Christian churchyards that became “God’s Acre” to the thriving trade in saints’ relics that turned bone fragments into commodities. You’ll learn how mass graves emerged during plagues and wars, how Victorian mourning became an elaborate social performance, and how epitaphs have served as final messages ranging from heartfelt love notes to biting curses. The narrative also shows how the modern funeral industry was born in America, turning a family‑led ritual into a professional service driven by embalming, caskets, and cemetery economics.

The book does not stop at tradition; it explores the cutting‑edge options that are redefining farewell today. You’ll encounter green burials that let the body return to the soil, alkaline hydrolysis that dissolves remains in water, human composting that turns a corpse into garden soil, and even the possibility of becoming a memorial diamond or part of an artificial coral reef. For the technologically inclined, chapters cover cryonics, space burials, vertical cemeteries, and the emerging challenge of managing our digital afterlives. Throughout, you’ll gain insight into how cost, culture, ecology, and personal belief intersect in the ultimate human dilemma.

By the end, you will not only have a catalog of corpse‑disposal methods but also a deeper understanding of what these practices say about how we live. You’ll see how every society’s answer to the question “What do we do with the bodies?” reflects its views on life, the afterlife, community, and legacy. This knowledge equips you to view contemporary choices—whether a traditional burial, a celebration of life, or a futuristic option—through the lens of a rich, global heritage that spans over a hundred thousand years of human ingenuity.

What You'll Find Inside:

• A global tour of funerary practices from prehistoric burials to space burials, revealing humanity's ingenious and diverse solutions to the 'body problem'
• How religious beliefs fundamentally shaped death practices—from Egyptian mummification for the afterlife to Christianity's burial emphasis and Islamic/Jewish traditions
• The transformation of death from intimate family rituals to a multi-billion-dollar funeral industry, including the economics of dying and commercialization of grief
• Modern innovations in disposition including green burial, alkaline hydrolysis, cryonics, and turning cremains into diamonds or coral reefs
• Contemporary challenges like cemetery space shortages, digital afterlife management, and the rise of personalized, celebratory funerals

Who's It For:

This book is ideal for readers interested in cultural history, anthropology, or sociology who want to understand how death practices reflect human beliefs and values. It will particularly appeal to those fascinated by death customs across cultures, professionals in funeral services or death care industries, and anyone contemplating end-of-life options or seeking context for contemporary funerary trends. The accessible yet comprehensive approach makes it suitable for both casual readers and those seeking deeper knowledge about humanity's relationship with mortality.