- Presents the first sustained sociological analysis of death cafes, a growing phenomenon across the world
- Employs a range of sociological theories that are notable for their usual absence in death studies
- Based on extensive research from over 2 years spent observing death cafe meetings
- Aptly places 'talk' at the center of the analysis
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- About this book
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This sociological work examines the phenomenon of the Death Café, a regular gathering of strangers from all walks of life who engage in “death talk” over coffee, tea, and desserts. Using insightful theoretical frameworks, Fong explores the common themes that constitute a “death identity” and reveals how Café attendees are inspired to live in light of death because of death. Fong examines how the participants’ embrace of self-sovereignty and confrontation of mortality revive their awareness of and appreciation for shared humanity. While divisive identity politics continue to foster neo-tribalisms and the construction of myriad “others,” Fong makes visible how those who participate in Death Cafés end up building community while being inspired toward living more fulfilling lives. Through death talk unfettered from systemic control, they end up feeling more agency over their own lived lives as well as being more conscious of the possibility of a good death. According to Fong, participants in this phenomenon offer us a sublime way to confront the facticity of our own demise—by gathering as one.
- About the authors
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Jack Fong is Associate Professor of Sociology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, USA.
- Table of contents (7 chapters)
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Coffee and Death
Pages 1-34
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Baby Boomers and the Death Café
Pages 35-52
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Habermas’s Theory of Communicative Action and the Colonization of the Lifeworld
Pages 53-86
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Death Sentiments and Death Themes
Pages 87-169
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Enhancing Habermas with Erich Fromm and Kurt Wolff
Pages 171-200
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Table of contents (7 chapters)
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Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
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- Book Title
- The Death Café Movement
- Book Subtitle
- Exploring the Horizons of Mortality
- Authors
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- Jack Fong
- Copyright
- 2017
- Publisher
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Copyright Holder
- The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s)
- eBook ISBN
- 978-3-319-54256-0
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-3-319-54256-0
- Hardcover ISBN
- 978-3-319-54255-3
- Softcover ISBN
- 978-3-319-85353-6
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- XXIII, 284
- Number of Illustrations
- 59 b/w illustrations
- Topics
