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Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death
by
Best-selling author and mortician Caitlin Doughty answers real questions from kids about death, dead bodies, and decomposition.
Every day, funeral director Caitlin Doughty receives dozens of questions about death. What would happen to an astronaut’s body if it were pushed out of a space shuttle? Do people poop when they die? Can Grandma have a Viking funeral?
In Will My Cat ...more
Every day, funeral director Caitlin Doughty receives dozens of questions about death. What would happen to an astronaut’s body if it were pushed out of a space shuttle? Do people poop when they die? Can Grandma have a Viking funeral?
In Will My Cat ...more
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Hardcover, 222 pages
Published
September 10th 2019
by W. W. Norton Company
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Jenna
Yes, it's in the first chapter.
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Start your review of Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death
Instapot Corpse Disposal: Recipe for cooking a corpse
An alternative to cremation (not a tasty dish for cannibals).
First, put the body into a very large instapot (euphemistically called a 'pressurised stainless steel cremation chamber'. cover with water and alkali. Heat to 350F and raise the pressure. 'Cook' for 4 to 6 hours. Finish by draining off the greenish-brownish liquid of amino acids, peptides, sugars and salts, (don't drink this soup, it's not edible and not because it has too much ...more
An alternative to cremation (not a tasty dish for cannibals).
First, put the body into a very large instapot (euphemistically called a 'pressurised stainless steel cremation chamber'. cover with water and alkali. Heat to 350F and raise the pressure. 'Cook' for 4 to 6 hours. Finish by draining off the greenish-brownish liquid of amino acids, peptides, sugars and salts, (don't drink this soup, it's not edible and not because it has too much ...more
Death. The grim reaper. The big nothing. The great leveler. And so on, or no, precisely not, or still? Puh, getting philosophical in here, so put out all your thoughts...
Come, little kitty cat, tasty eyeballs are served. No matter if it is a dog, cat, weasel, reptile (I am not sure regarding their eating behavior), if time and hunger are combined and carrion acceptable for the animal, well... At least one lives on in his pet, except it gets a food poisoning from rotten flesh which would be an ...more
Come, little kitty cat, tasty eyeballs are served. No matter if it is a dog, cat, weasel, reptile (I am not sure regarding their eating behavior), if time and hunger are combined and carrion acceptable for the animal, well... At least one lives on in his pet, except it gets a food poisoning from rotten flesh which would be an ...more
Those who have read Caitlin Doughty's previous books know her talent for taking the usually bleak and depressing subject of death and turning it into something entertaining. A bit on the gross side perhaps, but entertaining nonetheless.
In Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?, Ms. Doughty answers several questions about death, dying, and dead bodies asked of her by children. They are things that many of you may have wondered too, at least when you were children and before you learned that death is a ...more
“He won’t be diving straight for the human flesh. But a cat has got to eat, and you are the person who feeds him. This is the cat-human compact. Death doesn’t free you from performing your contractual obligations.”
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? - Big Questions From Tiny Mortals About Death, written by mortician Caitlin Doughty, is the book to answer all those questions about death you've been too embarressed to ask.
In a Q & A format, Doughty answers questions about death she's been asked ...more
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? - Big Questions From Tiny Mortals About Death, written by mortician Caitlin Doughty, is the book to answer all those questions about death you've been too embarressed to ask.
In a Q & A format, Doughty answers questions about death she's been asked ...more
[12/10/19] - Congratulations, Caitlin Doughty, on winning the 2019 Goodreads Choice Award for Science & Nonfiction!
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after giving it much thought, i think that yes... cats would eat eyeballs.
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i love this title. it makes me laugh
| Goodreads | Blog | Pinterest | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram
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after giving it much thought, i think that yes... cats would eat eyeballs.
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i love this title. it makes me laugh
| Goodreads | Blog | Pinterest | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram
/5
This was a little bit too simplistic.
A few parts in the book I found really interesting, but in general, it was a little bit too oversimplified. It was written in question-answer format (I listened to an audiobook) so it was really easy to get through it, but the majority of questions were just a little bit too ridiculous, I think she could answer more difficult questions then book would be much more fascinating. I could definitely see that she really knows what she is talking about, so I ...more
This was a little bit too simplistic.
A few parts in the book I found really interesting, but in general, it was a little bit too oversimplified. It was written in question-answer format (I listened to an audiobook) so it was really easy to get through it, but the majority of questions were just a little bit too ridiculous, I think she could answer more difficult questions then book would be much more fascinating. I could definitely see that she really knows what she is talking about, so I ...more
Check out my review on booktube: https://youtu.be/ZBDA4V2qIAE
AND the below review originally appeared on Open Letters Review.
Speaking to children about difficult topics is never easy, but the concerns are often comfortingly stereotypical. Perhaps the kids are old enough to discuss the birds and the bees or they’ve joined a sketchy peer group that demands a stern talk about drug or alcohol abuse. But sitting them down to talk about death? A talk centered on the most uncomfortable reality of all ...more
AND the below review originally appeared on Open Letters Review.
Speaking to children about difficult topics is never easy, but the concerns are often comfortingly stereotypical. Perhaps the kids are old enough to discuss the birds and the bees or they’ve joined a sketchy peer group that demands a stern talk about drug or alcohol abuse. But sitting them down to talk about death? A talk centered on the most uncomfortable reality of all ...more
Nov 13, 2019
Lois Bujold
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anybody
Another excellent book by California mortician and death geek Doughty on her favorite subject, this one in the form of candid answers to frank questions she has fielded from youngsters over the years on the subject of death. Or, all the things the adults wanted to know but were too embarrassed to ask. A quick and engrossing read, and thus a good intro to the writer, but for my money her earlier more personal memoir Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: and Other Lessons from the Crematory has the most depth, ...more
Caitlin Doughty rules. She takes a scary topic like death and makes it feel normal. Because it is normal. We’re all gonna die, y’all, and there’s nothing we can do about it.
While this book is influenced by questions from children, I wouldn’t say it’s a great book for kiddos to read unless they’re mature enough to think about decomposing bodies. But hey, maybe that’s the point. Normalize it!
Her answers to these questions (“If I die making a funny face, will it stay like that?” and “can I be ...more
While this book is influenced by questions from children, I wouldn’t say it’s a great book for kiddos to read unless they’re mature enough to think about decomposing bodies. But hey, maybe that’s the point. Normalize it!
Her answers to these questions (“If I die making a funny face, will it stay like that?” and “can I be ...more
Sep 28, 2019
Rachel Reads Ravenously
rated it
really liked it
Recommended to Rachel Reads Ravenously by:
Olive
3.75 stars
First off, full confession: A Book Olive did not personally recommend this book to me. I watched her youtube video about this book and I consider it a recommendation because I never would have read this book otherwise. I also like to give credit where credit is due. So, thank you, Olive! You can watch her review here
This book is by a mortician who likes to talk about death. She got lots of interesting questions from kids and decided to tackle them all in this book. Starting with “ ...more
First off, full confession: A Book Olive did not personally recommend this book to me. I watched her youtube video about this book and I consider it a recommendation because I never would have read this book otherwise. I also like to give credit where credit is due. So, thank you, Olive! You can watch her review here
This book is by a mortician who likes to talk about death. She got lots of interesting questions from kids and decided to tackle them all in this book. Starting with “ ...more
October 5, 2019 Um, I didn't expect to get this many likes before I even have the book in my hands, so I thought I'd update everyone: I pre-ordered the book, which of course means I get a signed copy and a pin of Caitlin's face. I haven't picked them up from the post office yet, but thanks Caitlin for being you!
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April 5, 2019 All hail the mother of all deathlings. I know, I know, I still haven't read her previous books. Better get to it soon! (And no, I would have no problem with my [still ...more
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April 5, 2019 All hail the mother of all deathlings. I know, I know, I still haven't read her previous books. Better get to it soon! (And no, I would have no problem with my [still ...more
This is the third book by the millennial mortician, and I’ve taken perverse glee in reading them all. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes explains cremation and combats misconceptions about death; From Here to Eternity surveys death rituals from around the world. This new book seems to be aimed at (morbid) children, but for me it was more like one of those New Scientist books (Why Don’t Penguins’ Feet Freeze?) or Why Do Men Have Nipples?
Some of the questions are more serious than others, but with her usual ...more
Some of the questions are more serious than others, but with her usual ...more
Caitlin Doughty is a mortician who runs a funeral home in Los Angeles, founded the Order of the Good Death, and hosts the Ask A Mortician channel on YouTube. She's also the author of three books, and now one of my must-read authors. In Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?, Doughty answers this and many other questions she has been asked, specifically by children. There are 34 questions total, including "Can I keep my parents' skull after they die?", "Can we give grandma a Viking funeral?" and "What
...more
Sep 04, 2019
Bark
marked it as own-tbr
Ahhhh! Would you look at this? WOULD YOU LOOK AT THIS?! I must have it.
This is definitely one of those books that will make me annoy my partner with lots of "Did you know?"s.
Look. I've already pre-ordered this.
I need it in my life badly.
I don't think my local bookstore gets a lot of pre-orders, even though I pre-order several books per year, because the clerk, with whom I've spoken about pre-orders before, kept letting me know that this book won't be out until mid-September. I assured her I was well aware, that's why I am PRE-ordering it.
She made note of my knowledge.
So, anyway...
Remember when Caitlin requested children?
This is the result of that request.
And ...more
I need it in my life badly.
I don't think my local bookstore gets a lot of pre-orders, even though I pre-order several books per year, because the clerk, with whom I've spoken about pre-orders before, kept letting me know that this book won't be out until mid-September. I assured her I was well aware, that's why I am PRE-ordering it.
She made note of my knowledge.
So, anyway...
Remember when Caitlin requested children?
This is the result of that request.
And ...more
Ahoy there mateys! Kids ask the strangest things. I first read this author’s book, smoke gets in your eyes, and loved it. So of course I had to read this one too. In this the author answers children’s questions about death including the question that is the title. I read most of the book out loud to the First Mate. There were just too many cool facts not to. My two favourite chapters were “What would happen to an astronaut body in space?” and “Can we give Grandma a Viking funeral?” The basic
...more
Seriously SOO GOOD! If you're a fan of Caitlin Doughty's previous book, "Smoke Get's in Your Eyes" or Mary Roach's class, "Stiff," then you will absolutely appreciate the smarts and humor that went into making this book. Each chapter centers on a different "taboo" question that Caitlin has been asked over her career in the funeral business. From dying in space to cannibalism to viking funerals to corpses pooping. The questions are answered with grace, but also lots of humor and levity. The
...more
Another amazing book by Caitlin Doughty, this time in Q&A format, answering your weirdest questions that we all want to know the answers to! Caitlin is an amazing person who always makes me laugh and feel grossed out at the same time! Although, the more I read about death and the dying process, the less grossed out I feel, which is a plus (I think). I have read Doughty’s previous novels and especially loved "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" ever since I read it in full at Barnes and Noble one day,
...more
"What would happen if you died on a plane?
The flight attendant would open the plane’s emergency door and toss your body out, attached to a parachute. Before you head out the door, they’d place a little card in your pocket that lists your name and address and says, don’t worry I’m already dead."
People, especially kids have this weird obsession with learning about the dead and the afterlife. I know that I do! And our favorite Aunt, Caitlin is here to answer all those questions and more.
Caitlin ...more
The flight attendant would open the plane’s emergency door and toss your body out, attached to a parachute. Before you head out the door, they’d place a little card in your pocket that lists your name and address and says, don’t worry I’m already dead."
People, especially kids have this weird obsession with learning about the dead and the afterlife. I know that I do! And our favorite Aunt, Caitlin is here to answer all those questions and more.
Caitlin ...more
This has such a perfect cat on the cover.
It's all perfect, really. The art features a girl and a skeleton, minimalist, just a tad creepy, but also adorable. Which is pretty much the same as the text. It's fascinating what questions kids ask, and Doughty is clear and accurate in a casual, slightly snarky tone. The answers are age-appropriate for even quite young children because there's nothing scary: it's all the debunking of scary, really.
Really entertaining and clever. Now I'm eager to read ...more
It's all perfect, really. The art features a girl and a skeleton, minimalist, just a tad creepy, but also adorable. Which is pretty much the same as the text. It's fascinating what questions kids ask, and Doughty is clear and accurate in a casual, slightly snarky tone. The answers are age-appropriate for even quite young children because there's nothing scary: it's all the debunking of scary, really.
Really entertaining and clever. Now I'm eager to read ...more
I feel like if more textbooks took the approach of mortician and NPR’s death expert Caitlin Doughty, we would have more kids in STEM. In this genius work of comedy, Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death, Doughty sets out to answer questions she has received from kids on all matters related to human decomposition. Kids ask the important questions after all, like ”What would happen if you swallowed a bag of popcorn before you died and were cremated?” If this is
...more
I can honestly say that I've never wondered what happens if someone dies in space or why bugs don't eat our bones. Leave it to the inquiring minds of children to come up with such intriguing questions that lead to such an engrossing book. This is my first non-fiction book of the year and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Though it may not be a novel I'll plop on my shelves to revisit down the road I did learn interesting facts about death that I think everyone should learn in
...more
This honest, quirky little book reminded me very much of Mary Roach’s Stiff, written for a YA or advanced middle grade audience. Most kids are intensely curious, especially about taboo topics having to do with our bodies. Caitlin Doughty answers real questions from children about death with her trademark humor and straightforwardness, using them to demystify one of the most intimidating topics for parents and teachers to tackle. She doesn’t rely on euphemisms to discuss some of the squickiest
...more
Very similar to Caitlin’s original Ask A Mortician videos on her YouTube channel. Full of facts, fun information and Caitlin’s macabre and punny sense of humor. Not a ton of new information in here for me, a long-time fan, but still an enjoyable read!
This was such a fun ride! Just like in the previous two books by Caitlin Doughty, the writing is hilarious and insightful at the same time, her style is very distinct and I love it. And even though this novel is directed towards a younger audience and obviously answers their questions, it's still a great read for adults as well. Overall, I'd really recommend checking out either this book or Caitlin's previous novels and don't forget about her YouTube channel! She's brilliant at what she does.
What an incredibly delightful, if creepy, read! It's true that you can never predict what children will say, or in this case, ask; and those bizarre questions have led to a book that it both educational and chortling good. While I am disappointed that a flaming Viking ship is not in my funereal future, I'm somewhat relieved that my Gracie will probably nibble my lips away before going for my eyes. I'm not sure why that makes me feel better, but it does. Caitlin Doughty could go on indefinitely
...more
Anything that supports tackling the hard issues with young ones gets my approval. Well written, with a sense of cheek throughout, and insightful, Doughty does it again.
This was so cool! Great idea in regards of the format & the illustrations are SUPERB!
Have I mentioned how much I enjoy Caitlin Doughty's style? Her frankness and her sense of humor are great. Her answers to these questions are quite insightful - I love that she's taken questions she's been asked from kids. Definitely a must read nonfiction book. By the way, I also enjoyed the little illustrations that go along with each question.
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Caitlin Doughty is a mortician and the author of Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? as well as the New York Times best-selling books Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and From Here to Eternity. She is the creator of the “Ask a Mortician” web series and founder of The Order of the Good Death. She lives in Los Angeles, where she owns and runs a funeral home.
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“We can't make death fun, but we can make learning about it fun. Death is science and history, art and literature. It bridges every culture and unites the whole of humanity!”
—
9 likes
“He won’t be diving straight for the human flesh. But a cat has got to eat, and you are the person who feeds him. This is the cat-human compact. Death doesn’t free you from performing your contractual obligations.”
—
6 likes
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