What to Expect When You‘re Dead

An entertaining and informative book on how ancient peoples dealt with death—and what we can learn from them.

As a living history of death, this book explores the intriguing beliefs and practices surrounding mortality across a wide range of ancient cultures and traditions: Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hindu, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, early Christian, and Islamic. Drawing on the latest scholarly research in ancient archaeology, art, literature, and epitaphs, Robert Garland invites readers to step into the shoes of ancient peoples, imagine their state of mind as they attempted to aid the deceased on their journey to the afterlife, and understand life's greatest mystery—in ways that turn out to be remarkably similar to our own.

Here you will find the answers that ancient peoples gave to eternal questions: How do we die and reach the afterlife in a proper manner? What is the best way to dispose of the body? Are the dead subject to post-mortem judgment—and where will they be sent because of it? Do they possess bodies in the afterlife, and can they eat, drink, and have sex? What can the living do to maintain good relations with them?

Full of intriguing stories and humor, "What to Expect When You Die" is a killer read for any audience.