The Death of You: A Book for Anyone Who Might Not Live Forever

by Miguel Chen, Rod Meade Sperry

A yoga teacher, punk rock bassist, and Buddhist teaches from experience on how approaching death and grief with a little more compassion and a little less fear will make for a better life—and a better death, too.

DEATH.

Even the word itself probably makes you a little uncomfortable. Just look at it, sitting there, demanding to be acknowledged. It might even make you a lot uncomfortable.

We spend so much time trying to deny death, going on about our lives as if we and our loved ones are immune to it. Then, one day, its truth becomes undeniable. The Death of You doesn’t flinch in looking into this vital, urgent matter. Join Miguel for a wild ride where we get real about death—and even have a few laughs at its expense.

If you might someday die—or if you know someone who will—this book is for you. If you’re afraid of dying, this book is for you. If you’re excited about the Great Unknown, this book is for you. In plainspoken, kind, and encouraging language, Miguel will show you how to transform your relationship with death—and in doing so, you'll get to know your life in a whole new way. Today is the perfect day to start. Don’t wait—you’re not gonna live forever.

Genres: Nonfiction, Death, Philosophy, Self Help, Psychology, Buddhism, Lifestyle

168 pages, Paperback

Published September 17, 2019

About the author

Father. Yogi. Buddhist. Punk.

Miguel Chen is the bassist for the long-running punk band Teenage Bottlerocket and the author of I Wanna Be Well: How a Punk Found Peace and You Can Too and The Death of You: A Book for Anyone Who Might Die Someday (both from Wisdom Publications). A longtime yoga and meditation teacher, he is also the founder of Yoga for Punks, a project dedicated to bringing mindfulness to unconventional audiences.

Chen’s work and studies have taken him to more than 40 countries across six continents, where he has performed, practiced, and taught. His writing and music have been featured on CNN, Lion’s Roar, Alternative Press, and in countless clubs, festivals, and yoga studios. He is the former director of the Dallas Meditation Center and is an owner of several yoga and wellness spaces in Wyoming and Quebec.

He lives in the suburbs of Montreal with his wife and three children and continues to tour internationally with Teenage Bottlerocket.

Reviews

[Willow Grier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid reminder to practice mindfulness, and a great intro to processing loss and the fear of death. A surprisingly easy read with a lot of helpful resources and exercises.

[Terry Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. Covered death quite well for such a small book. The meditations I read but didn’t immerse myself in. Perhaps another time.

[Marquita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book once I was able to get into it. I found the beginning to be quite repetitive. I appreciated the meditation practices inserted here and there. This book introduced me to the death meditation, which I haven't done yet because I want to read through it again to make sure I'm doing it right. What I really didn't care for was the constant plug of the Facebook page. It was annoying and I think it takes away from the legitimacy of the book a bit. It's a short book, good for a weekend read. I didn't know what to really to expect from the book, so I'm neither impressed nor disappointed. If someone randomly came up to me for a book suggestion this book wouldn't be at the front of my mind, but if the topic came up I might think of it.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick but brilliant read from yoga instructor and Teenage Bottlerocket bassist Miguel Chen . As a fan of yoga,meditation and punk rock,I I adore Miguel Chen and all the wonderful work he does. His first book "I Wanna Be Well" is my go to gift for anyone who is newly exploring their spirituality and how it fits into their life.
I had wanted to read this one for a while but when I picked it up, I found myself hesitating. Having lost my grandfather this January and my grandmother in Spring of 2019, I was concerned that it would be too heavy or painful. But as I started, I realized that the only way to approach these emotions is head on. Miguel's presentation is full of humour and heart and helpful meditation and mindfulness practices.

[Mikey James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful follow up book from his first. A very quick read which also incorporates writing and meditation lessons. In fact, the writing ones have helped me start writing again. Although not much, but it's a start. You can see from this title that it deals with death, however it's not a morbid book. If anything it's a celebration and Miguel tries to give you different ways of thinking about our own deaths, our relatives and friends and thought processes we may try to implement when dealing with death.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

With the exception of the inclusion of three or so meditations, which would otherwise be difficult for someone not already interested in Buddhism to easily find, I found this book disturbingly shallow, irreverent, childish. *Maybe* it could be helpful for a child dealing with death, alone - but it wasn’t in the YA section at the library, it’s in the self-help/grieving/death/bereavement section.

I got the strong feeling this guy was writing smugly at a cafe, for his writing group or something, just so he can say he wrote a book. Ugh.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview for people who haven't given death much thought. At my age, I have lived through a few tough deaths and am getting closer every day to my own death. Then again, would someone not thinking about our eventual end pick up this book? You should. There are decisions to be made and feelings to get through.

[Emma Cramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad book to read right after Many Lives Many Masters. Strong overall message of becoming just as comfortable with death as you are with life, because the two are inseparable. Just can’t give it the full five because after each of the meditation practice chapters the author would say share your thoughts to his Facebook page, which sort of took you out of the moment.

[Eden Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF, partly because the writing style wasn’t vibing with me, and partly because I realized that most of what the book had to offer I had already considered. I think this book would be good for a teen or child dealing with existential crisis or loss and grief. I’ll be puttinf my copy in a little free library in hopes it can do somebody good. I think it has potential, just not for me.

[Kristin Buckman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books I’ve read in a while. Easy reading for a heavy subject, filled with laughter, tears, dark/witty humor and well thought out musings on life, death, and the rest. Lots of f* bombs if you’re sensitive.

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've struggled with rumination on death, and I've certainly struggled with grief in the last few years. This book tackles both topic in a chill, conversational manner and introduces the basics of Buddhist death meditation.

[Martha Schwalbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chen's approach to living, dying, life, and death is really interesting.
Excellent exercises included.

[Shayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook version of this. Great book, love the exercises, and an excellent sense of humor.

[Eileen Spillane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down to earth, real talk with great perspectives on death and dying.

[Kassia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like it but felt as if I was forming myself to read it. I feel as if I was expecting one thing and got another. Though I love surprises this was not one of them.

[MW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super view of death.

[Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

"What if — instead of our being doomed to eternal oblivion — the truth of our lives and deaths ultimately is that we are, always have been, and always will be the entire universe?"

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, simple read for such a daunting topic. A little repetitive, but still interesting and worth a read if you too can't stop thinking about the great unknown.

[Nancy McQueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as his other book, "I Want To Be Well"