by Sam Roberts
First published 2026
Sam Roberts spent nearly ten years writing obituaries for the New York Times, crafting approximately 1,500 final tributes during his tenure. He discovered that obituaries rarely focus on death itself, typically mentioning dying only once per piece. Instead, these pieces distill entire lifetimes into compelling narratives about people whose names Roberts often learned that same morning. The book examines fundamental questions about obituary writing: who merits coverage, how writers select details to include or exclude, and how they handle embarrassing revelations like crimes or affairs. Roberts explores the concept of legacy and how someone's claim to fame in death may differ completely from what actually mattered during their lifetime. He reveals the behind-the-scenes process of preparing advance obituaries, noting that the Times maintains over 2,000 such pieces that receive regular updates. The author discusses how America's relationship with mortality shifted after 9/11 and the pandemic, analyzes traditional euphemistic language used in death notices, and shares insider knowledge gained from his extensive career. Through humor and practical wisdom, Roberts demonstrates his central thesis that no life qualifies as ordinary.
Genres: essays, non-fiction, biography-memoir, journalism, cultural-studies
Vibes: insightful, intimate, reflective, thought-provoking, witty
Tropes: behind-the-scenes, cultural-commentary, insider-perspective
Setting: New York Times, America
Period: 21st-century, post-9/11, pandemic-era
288 pages · Hardcover · Bloomsbury Publishing
Content warnings: death