Curtains: Adventures of an undertaker in training

Discover the intriguing world of death care with 'Curtains: Adventures of an Undertaker in Training.' Penned by Tom Jokinen, this compelling narrative is perfect for anyone interested in the funeral industry, the dynamics of mortality, and contemporary cultural responses to death. The book offers a unique blend of humor and profound insight, drawing readers into Jokinen's journey as he transitions from a government job to a trainee undertaker in a family-run funeral home. Explore the multifaceted rituals surrounding death in modern society and how they evolve in a secular consumer culture. 'Curtains' tackles the complex questions regarding death, showcasing not just the solemnity of the profession, but also its lighter, absurd moments—think funeral trade show in Las Vegas and eco-friendly burials in California. With Jokinen's witty prose, each page raises thought-provoking discussions about life, death, and everything in between. A must-read for those curious about the death and funeral industry, or simply searching for a fresh perspective on one of life's certainties. Order 'Curtains' today from Smartfox NZ and dive into this one-of-a-kind memoir that will leave you enlightened and amused. Plus, enjoy FREE shipping on this insightful exploration of the afterlife culture today!
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780702238512
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2010
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Pages: 288


Description:
If Bill Bryson were to join a funeral home as an apprentice, and if he searched for the meaning of life and death while he was at it, you'd have Curtains. At 44, Tom Jokinen quit a good government job to work at a family-run funeral home and crematorium as a trainee undertaker. This drastic vocational change gave him an amazing opportunity to explore, first-hand, our culture's relationship with the dead, dying, and left behind. In a modern society where religion has lost its grip on rituals of transition, the funeral trade is fighting to find ways to make its work relevant to a new, secular, consumer culture, and positioning itself for its biggest potential wave of income ever- the death of the baby boomers. Curtains- Adventures of an Undertaker in Training is a hair-raising and hilarious first-person account of Jokinen's adventures. Outside of his work, which includes embalming, dressing bodies and cleaning corpses down to their fingernails, Jokinen attends a funeral trade show in Las Vegas and visits Los Angeles and San Francisco, the meccas of the new funeral customs and eco-friendly or 'green' burials- no casket, no embalming chemicals, but straight into the ground, in a forest, to let nature unfold. Some of the new customs approach circus absurdity, but all raise the key issue of 'What is the appropriate response to death?' Enlightening, funny and full of life in the midst of death, Curtains lifts the veil on the death and funeral industry in the 21st century.

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