Final Exits: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of How We Die

Final Exits: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of How We Die

By: Michael Largo  

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Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5

To die, kick the bucket, to meet your Maker, dead as a doornail, get whacked, smoked, bite the dust, sleep with the fishes, go six feet under—whatever death is called, it's going to happen. In 1789 Ben Franklin wrote, "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." Death remains a certainty. But how do we die? It's the enormous variety of how that enlivens final exits.

According to death certificates, in 1700 there were less than 100 causes of death. Today there are 3,000. With each advance of technology, people find new ways to become deceased, often causing trends that peak in the first year. People are now killed by everything, from cell phones, washing machines, lawn mowers and toothpicks, to the boundless catalog of man—made medicines. In Final Exits the causes of death—bizarre or common—are alphabetically arranged and include actual accounts of people, both famous and ordinary, who unfortunately died that way. (Ants, bad words, Bingo, bean bag chairs, flying cows, frozen toilets, hiccups, lipstick, moray eels, road kill, starfish, and toupees are only some of the more unusual causes.)

Publisher: Harper Paperbacks

Release Date: 2006-10-03

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
A Must Own - I'm not exactly the "curl up with a good book " type, but I often find this hard to put down. This book is extremely fascinating. It's filled with facts and stories, both entertaining and thought provoking. It has quickly become my favorite thing to read and I plan to give it to at least one of my friends as a gift. Highly recommended for anyone who is a history buff, enjoys trivia, or reading interesting non-fiction literature.

Customer Review: 4 out of 5
A fascinating catalog of death and how to become dead - Absolutely fascinating stuff. If you are into factoids and trivia, are fascinated by death and how people die, have a morbid streak, or like Mary Roach's STIFF, this book is for you. I found it very readable, very entertaining and with a sardonic streak that fits the subject matter like a glove. Recommended.

Customer Review: 4 out of 5
Learn what not to do and live longer! - From suffocating on bean bag beads to sticking chicken bones up your hole this book has it all, every possible way for a human to die. Did you know in December 2004 a woman ate tapeworm larvae in order to lose weight or that in April 2002 gang members shot a deaf woman in the face because they thought she was flashing gang signs? Well, it happened and it's in here along with thousands of other interesting stories. It's hard to pick my favorites, but I did especially love the one about the moron who climbed on top of a cage full of tigers and started using the bathroom.

Despite the grim subject matter Largo keeps it mostly upbeat. Example: the story about "Mr. Hands" (from the infamous horse/man love video) is entitled "The Beast Within".

For more great death stories check out "Answer Me!" #3's run down of the Top 100 Suicides.

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
"The problem with quotes about death is that the majority of them were written by people not yet dead." -
If you enjoy books about strange and unusual things you will be captivated with what you'll find in this collection facts and information as to how people die;or in the words of the author,make their "Final Exits".
I have always enjoyed the unusual ,and have been a big fan of Ripley's "Believe It or Not!".This book is very similar and will keep you entertained for hours. All the entries are concise,seldom exceed a page or two,accompanied with hundreds of photographs,and overflowing with an endless stream of facts. You will find it a very easy read.It is a great book to leave around to be picked up for a few minutes at a time and you can open it anywhere and just start reading.It has 417 pages plus about 80 pages of source information and acknowledgements.So,not only is it a book to be enjoyed,it is definitely a great reference if you decide to delve further into anything in the book. The author has chosen a rather unusual way to present all this to us. He has put it in 26 chapters headed by the letters of the alphabet. Pretty much like an Encyclopedia.There is no index at the back of the book ,so if at a later date you decide to go back and find something,you may have to do bit of searching.There is also a chapter on "Epitaphs",but is surprisingly ,all too brief,however,sources for more are included.
To give any idea of the extent of things covered is impossible ;other than to say ,it covers everything imaginable;and and numerous things you never even imagined.Rather than being morbid as one might suspect ,the book would be much more appropriately described as curious and informative.
As an example of what you'll find;

Reasons for death found on death certificates of the 1880's

"Died suddenly.Nothing serious."

"Don't know the cause.Died without aid of Physician."

"Don't know cause.Had never been fatally ill before."

"Lack of ambition."

"Worn out."

Visitation of God."

Or this Epitaph from Silver City,Nevada,1878

Here lays Butch
We planted him raw.
He was quick on the trigger,
But slow on the draw.

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
This book was a fun read! - This book was very enjoyable. Its funny how strange human history is. I even was speaking with my husband on how bad the world has become, my husband's reply was simply "It's always been this bad." After reading this book, I would have to agree. I'm glad I live in the 21st century, because centuries of the past really seemed to suck! Read this book and you will know what I mean.

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