Grave Matters: A Journey Through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial Paperback – December 9, 2008

This book is my absolute favorite informational book that I've read in regards to different options on burial. It is so well written and full of fascinating information. I couldn't put it down. I recommend this book to everyone who is wanting to explore their different options in burial. It definitely changed my opinion on what I want to happen to me once I am dead. This book is well worth the money and time. Plus, it gave stories to go along with each chapter to walk you through start to finish with each process which was fascinating. The author left no details out when it came to price (estimates), process, steps, environmental impact, and other details that one might not even think about when planning a funeral. I can't praise this book enough. I think everyone should have a copy of this book in their collection. It would make things so much easier for everyone in regards to planning and education of their death plans.

Excellent book. Much more here than information about green burials. Step-by-step information on how embalming and cremation are done, what happens to the casket & body after burial underground, and then new details on home funerals, wood boxes built by carpenters instead of having to use caskets, and finally backyard and natural burials. You won't find all this information in any other book! A problem I would have with green burials is any cemetery not allowing grave markers except for flat, natural rocks such as the Ramsey Green cemetery written about here. To taphophiles like me, gravestones and their art, not to mention the historical monuments they are, are important to remember the deceased.

I didn't give the book a five star because of the overall subject. No one really wants to go there. I became aware of this book when I visited the website for the only "green burial site" in Ohio. That site recommended the book. The book is very informative. I've given copies to two of my friends; delivered one copy yesterday. The book is well written, topics are backed by factual information and the like. If you aren't sure about how your body is to be disposed of when the time comes then this book is a very good read for you.

Loved this book - it has really great information about non-‘traditional’ funeral options. It does, however, seem a little bit dated as there have been even more options that have come out in the past few years (Alkaline hydrolysis -aka water cremation - as well as human composting). Overall, still a great book!

Graven Matters is a book of reflection and introspection. We have taken things so much forgranted and we should not. We have come to be a society of people who don't want to take care of the matters of death. Rarely do people want to talk about such things, but Graven Matters brings the things we need to know, up to the surface where we can deciminate the things we need to be aware of an plan for our after our own demise from this world. Well written and informative, it is a book that made me order two more copies to have on loan to friends and family. Thought provoking and enlightening, this is a keeper and a mind enriching book.

I bought this book because when my dad died I was appalled at the cost of his funeral. (He would have been, too.) It was around 8,500. I asked for a "greener" option to using embalming fluid and they had none. Also, we had to buy a vault. We combined the funeral and wake. This was actually very nice because it was an exhausting but wonderful experience to have it all done at once. I thought they did my dad's hands horribly....and the image is still in my mind. I did not need to see him laying there in a casket all fake looking.....I would rather remember him in his bed looking like he was sleeping. Personally, I am looking at more greener options for my own death and this book was very thorough.

I was recommended this book from an acquaintance... ANd what an eye opening book it was.Some of the "people" in the book are a fabrication, specifically in the "normal burial" chapter. The prices, however, are not. My wife used to know someone in the industry and confirmed what she knew about, and this book even corrected some of her misconceptions, such as laws on enbalming.If your curious about the funeral process, costs, alternatives to the standard for of burial, to methods and means available to you after cremation, then this is the book you want to read.At the end of each chapter, it breaks down descriptions, costs, websites, points of contact, and even alternative and supportive materials.In all, I am sincerely glad I purchased this book. The information contained within were well worth the price paid, even if some think you're just being morbid for reading it.Also, for those emotional types, have a box of tissues ready, because some of these stories WILL tug at your heart.

While this book is worthwhile and I haven't finished it, the number of misspellings is troubling. "Defuser" for "diffuser"? And "last rights"? Nothing to make me mistrust the author's factual assertions, but I wonder where the copyeditor was for this book.

Excellent book. Admittedly I work in the funeral industry in Scandinavia, but even if I didn't this book deals with a really important subject - how we leave this earth in the most environmentally-friendly way. Extremely well-written and informative. Have recommended it to all my friends.

Early chapters a little 'standard' but interesting material later on. Reflects American culture which makes it, perhaps, less relevant to the rest of us, but it's still thought-provoking. Light and readable style.