Prologue "The Horse on the Dining-Room Table” -- 1
Richard A. Kalish

PART I Death -- 5

Chapter 1 Changing Encounters with Death -- 7
Chapter 2 Changing Attitudes Toward Death -- 28
Chapter 3 The Contemporary American Death System -- 50
Chapter 4 Cultural Differences and Death -- 73


PART II DYING -- 101

Chapter 5 Coping with Dying -- 103
Chapter 6 Helping Those Who Are Coping with Dying -- 123
Chapter 7 Hospice Principles and Caring for the Dying -- 144


PART III Bereavement -- 163

Chapter 8 Coping with Loss and Grief -- 165
Chapter 9 Helping Those Who Are Coping with Loss and Grief -- 192
Chapter 10 Funeral Practices and Other Memorial Rituals -- 216


PART IV Life cycle perspectives -- 235
Chapter 11 Children -- 239
Chapter 12 Adolescents -- 269
Chapter 13 Adults -- 292
Chapter 14 The Elderly -- 314


PART V Legal, conceptual, and moral issues -- 331
Chapter 15 Legal Issues -- 333
Chapter 16 Euthanasia -- 363
Chapter 17 Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior -- 381
Chapter 18 The Meaning and Place of Death in Life -- 405


PART VI NEW CHALLENGES AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES -- 423

Chapter 19 HIV Infection and AIDS -- 425
Chapter 20 Education About Death, Dying, and Bereavement -- 454

Epilogue
“How Could I Not Be Among You?” -- 469
Ted Rosenthal