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Someday, your life story is likely to be boiled down to a few lines. If you leave things to chance, your obituary is almost sure to be solemn, formulaic, and full of errors—an obligatory final chapter written in haste by others. James R. Hagerty, longtime obit writer for The Wall Street Journal, knows how to get the job done right: Do it yourself, starting now, while you still can.
In this heartfelt and reassuring guide, Hagerty explains how to preserve your personal history—from crafting a brief obituary for newspapers and websites, to a more thoughtful and detailed mini-memoir for those close to you. Through his personal stories, on-the-job anecdotes, and insights, you will learn what to include, what to leave out, and how to provide historical context, record oral histories and make the most of details, all with candor and wit. Best of all, you'll find that reviewing your life story helps you think about what you're doing with your time on Earth and whether you're on the right path. It isn't too late to improve the narrative with a stronger ending.
Telling your story your way can be the best gift you ever give to friends and loved ones—and yourself.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
December 27, 2022 -
Formats
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780806542089
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780806542089
- File size: 288 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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October 31, 2022
“Write your own story while you can,” exhorts Hagerty (The Fateful History of Fannie Mae), obituary writer for the Wall Street Journal, in this compassionate outing. Drawing on the life stories of famous and ordinary people, Hagerty explores how to write obituaries for oneself or loved ones, encouraging readers to shape their writing process by asking “What were you trying to achieve in life?” and “What was it like the first time you fell in love?” He counters the belief that obituaries should be somber with the story of a viral obituary that honored a mother as a “professional clipper of coupons” and a “terror behind the wheel.” Memorable details are vital to capturing a subject’s story, Hagerty contends, adding that the subject always knows the details best, which is why readers should consider writing their own obituaries. Hagerty remains focused on the ins and outs of obituary writing, meaning this will most likely appeal only to a niche audience. However, the abundant biographical sketches—which profile the cofounder of H&R Block and a Kentucky woman who fought for accessible health services—provide fascinating glimpses into the broad scope of humanity in a way that will appeal to fans of Humans of New York. This provides solid guidance on obituary writing, as narrow as that goal may be. -
November 1, 2022
A guide to writing one's own obituary may sound like a morbid topic, but Yours Truly focuses less on a life's end and much more on what made that life full to begin with. Hagerty has been writing obituaries for decades and now writes them full time for the Wall Street Journal. He includes many tips to craft your own obituary but, perhaps most importantly, lays out clear reasoning for why you should. Yours Truly includes sections on how to best set up an interview, either with a loved one or yourself, as well as figuring out what questions you actually need to ask to get the information needed for an appropriately full obituary. Readers will also appreciate the obituaries that are sprinkled throughout the book, almost all of which are for people who, while not well known, have fascinating stories. Yours Truly is a truly original writing guide that will appeal to those looking to write their own obituary--or perhaps something even longer.COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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