Death and Dying: A Bibliographical Survey

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

A burgeoning body of literature on death and dying is organized into a comprehensive, carefully outlined, annotated list in this volume, which cites more than 2200 books, articles, chapters, monographs, and reports primarily concerned with the counselling and theological aspects of death and dying. Compiled by a member of the clergy involved in hospice care, this bibliography recognizes the wide range of topics that comprise the human experience of death and dying, as it accesses information from the pastoral to the medical, the historical to the topical, and the philosophical to the technical elements of thanatology. This multidisciplinary approach provides helping professionals as well as those involved with mortuary science and the study of thanatology with an extensive guide to specific and general information. Introductory material both reviews the current trend towards specialization in thanatology and the need to preserve a holistic approach towards death and dying, and suggests uses for the sources cited in the pages that follow. The annotated entries are descriptive and critical, and are arranged to introduce the topic historically. They are followed by relevant theological and philosophical issues and conclude with works that address the care of the dying and bereaved. All the sources are fully indexed by author, title, and subject matter.

Reviews

The author of this exemplary, multidisciplinary work is senior-professor of pastoral theology at Fuller Theological Seminary and has been a practitioner and teacher of counseling and pastoral theology for 40 years. His compendium guide to the literature on death and dying, from a counseling perspective, is an excellent, unified, and comprehensive eight-chapter survey that provides a wise selection of literature related to pastoral aspects of death and dying ranging from the will of God to euthanasia, from medical technology to support groups, and from biblical studies and schatology to AIDS. This extensive annotated bibliography with critical commentary is judicious in its selection of more than 2,225 entries representing several traditions, schools of thought, therapeutic styles, and viewpoints pertaining to the treatment of death and dying. Entries include articles, chapters, reports, and monographs. An in-depth chronicle of the development and direction of thanatological literature precedes the compendium. Most of the references are by practitioners and researchers and in the English language. Chapter 8, "Bibliographies," includes 54 entries. Also included are a 17-page title index, and an 8-page subject index. A valuable reference. Highly recommended for academic libraries with collections in death, dying, grief, thanatology, and terminal care.-Choice
"The author of this exemplary, multidisciplinary work is senior-professor of pastoral theology at Fuller Theological Seminary and has been a practitioner and teacher of counseling and pastoral theology for 40 years. His compendium guide to the literature on death and dying, from a counseling perspective, is an excellent, unified, and comprehensive eight-chapter survey that provides a wise selection of literature related to pastoral aspects of death and dying ranging from the will of God to euthanasia, from medical technology to support groups, and from biblical studies and schatology to AIDS. This extensive annotated bibliography with critical commentary is judicious in its selection of more than 2,225 entries representing several traditions, schools of thought, therapeutic styles, and viewpoints pertaining to the treatment of death and dying. Entries include articles, chapters, reports, and monographs. An in-depth chronicle of the development and direction of thanatological literature precedes the compendium. Most of the references are by practitioners and researchers and in the English language. Chapter 8, "Bibliographies," includes 54 entries. Also included are a 17-page title index, and an 8-page subject index. A valuable reference. Highly recommended for academic libraries with collections in death, dying, grief, thanatology, and terminal care."-Choice

Author Bio

SAMUEL SOUTHARD is Senior Professor of Pastoral Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is professionally certified by the Association for Death Education and Counseling as a death educator and a grief counselor. A practitioner and teacher of counseling and pastoral theology for forty years, Dr. Southard is also the author of several books that examine various aspects of pastoral theology and ministry. In addition, he was the first director of the Hospice of Pasadena, 1979-1980.