New book on the sociology of death, dying and bereavement

While death, dying and bereavement are universal life events, the social conditions under which death takes place are fundamental in shaping how it is experienced by the individual.

A new book “Death, Dying and Bereavement: New Sociological Perspectives” examines how social conditions shape experiences of death, exploring global case studies on COVID-19, climate change, and digital memorials, while challenging psychological approaches.

Bringing together contributors from around the world, this collection of chapters provides sociological insights into death, dying and bereavement.

Drawing upon a range of sociological theorists, including Émile Durkheim, Zygmunt Bauman and C. Wright Mills, the book reviews the historical contribution of sociology to the field of thanatology. In doing so, the book challenges individualistic psychological approaches to death, dying and bereavement and demonstrates how sociological approaches can shape, constrain and empower experiences by imbuing them with both collective and individual meaning.

Chapter-length case studies explore a wide range of issues, from digital aspects of remembrance and memorialization and continued threats to liberties that permit life and death decisions to discussions of the impact and likely legacy of COVID-19 and climate change.

The editors are Sharon Mallon, senior lecturer in mental health at the University of Staffordshire and Laura Towers, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in Sociology at The University of Manchester.