Status
Available
Call number
Publication
WW Norton (2019), Edition: Illustrated, 208 pages
Description
"Best-selling author and licensed 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 the tradition of Randall Munroe's What If?, Doughty's new book, Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?, blends her scientific understanding of the body and the intriguing history behind common misconceptions about corpses to offer factual, hilarious, and candid answers to thirty-five urgent questions posed by her youngest fans. Readers will learn what happens if you die on an airplane, the best soil for mummifying your dog, and whether or not you can preserve your friend's skull as a keepsake. Featuring illustrations from Dianne Ruz, Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? will delight anyone interested in the fascinating truth about what will happen (to our bodies) after we die"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member viviennestrauss
Would have been better if the author hadn't tried so hard.
LibraryThing member gbelik
This is a fun read all about dead bodies and what happens to them. Kids are apparently willing to ask questions you might have wondered about, but never voiced. Each question is answered in a few pages of fascinating information and in a lighthearted fashion.
LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
This is a delightful look at the morbid subject of death by the fabulous author who wrote "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" which I adored. In this book Caitlin Doughty provides the reader with an amazing amount of great information on this timely topic by answering children's questions on the topic that
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are accompanied by clever artwork. I simply loved this book and am a fan of this author/mortician. Show Less
LibraryThing member AdonisGuilfoyle
Another fun book about death from mortician Caitlin Doughty, only more of a 'trivia' edition than the genuinely interesting firsthand account of her first outing, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. Based on the quirky and refreshingly direct questions that kids ask about death, Caitlin covers topics from
What this book really teaches - or reiterates - is that Americans approach the subject of death like children, from open caskets ('How do we know they're really dead unless we can have a last look at a tarted-up corpse?') to preservation and concrete vaults (bodies are meant to decompose, that's the idea). Also, the answer to overpopulated cemeteries is surely cremation, not high rise burials.
Funny and frank, with great illustrations from Dianne Ruz, but still one for the library shelves.
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'Will my cat eat my eyeballs?' (it might have a nibble at your nose if hungry enough, but probably not your eyes) and 'Can I preserve my dead body in amber like a prehistoric insect?' (not if you're thinking of Jurassic Park) to 'Will I poop when I die?' (yes) and 'Can you describe the smell of a dead body?' (sickly sweet odour mixed with a strong rotting odour, apparently). Bones, blood donation, conjoined twins, dying in space and on a plane (dead body or crying baby - chose your fate), Body Worlds, cannibalism, growing hair and fingernails (everyone knows that a myth by now, surely?) and shrink-wrapped corpses are also covered.What this book really teaches - or reiterates - is that Americans approach the subject of death like children, from open caskets ('How do we know they're really dead unless we can have a last look at a tarted-up corpse?') to preservation and concrete vaults (bodies are meant to decompose, that's the idea). Also, the answer to overpopulated cemeteries is surely cremation, not high rise burials.
Funny and frank, with great illustrations from Dianne Ruz, but still one for the library shelves.
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LibraryThing member briandrewz
This was an amusing collection of answers to those tough questions posed by kids about death. Caitlin doesn't shy away from answering questions that, in lesser hands, could be a hard "leave me alone". What does a dead body smell like? Why was Grandma wrapped in plastic at her wake? Can I be buried
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with my hamster? Will my cat eat my eyeballs? All these and much more are answered in a lighthearted way that is sure to bring a smile to your face and make your own experience with death not so scary. Show Less
LibraryThing member TooBusyReading
I've really enjoyed the previous Caitlin Doughty books I've read: From Here to Eternity, and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. They are very informative, actually funny, yet still respectful of the bodies the author has dealt with. I liked this book, too, but not as much. It's in a question and answer
For me, the format didn't work as well. I learned, and I enjoyed, but there wasn't the depth of the other books I've read by her. Still, this is a good one if you don't want to get into one of the longer books. But if you fnd this one interesting, you probably will want to read those.
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format, inspired by the questions kids have asked her. She answers with knowledge and detail. I think older kids, the teens who are not squeamish, will like this – especially those kids who like a high “ick” factor in their books right now. I think it is a little much for younger kids.For me, the format didn't work as well. I learned, and I enjoyed, but there wasn't the depth of the other books I've read by her. Still, this is a good one if you don't want to get into one of the longer books. But if you fnd this one interesting, you probably will want to read those.
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LibraryThing member ecataldi
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
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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 accompanying illustrations are also creepy and beautiful. This book answers so many questions I didn't even know I had. Truly stellar this book is a must read! Show Less
LibraryThing member AliceaP
Answering questions posed to her from kids while touring, giving lectures, and living her day-to-day life, Caitlin Doughty has created another delightful book about death entitled Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death. [Yes, this is another book about death. I
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swear I'm going to space them out from now on.] While there is some rehashing of topics, Doughty manages to cover a wide array of interesting subjects like "What would happen if someone died with popcorn kernels in their stomach and then went into the cremator?" (I won't spoil the answer for you.) One of the best bits (in my opinion) was when she discussed different ways to dispose of remains like The Body Back which is a real thing developed for space travel. The premise is that if someone dies in space, this machine which is basically a giant robotic arm has the ability to shake the body (which has been freeze dried by the atmosphere of space) at such a speed that it's broken into small shards of ice. Heck yeah! Doughty also touches on burial laws and in particular those that concern pets. Are there pet cemeteries? Can you be buried with your pet? (Answer: It depends on your state and its laws.) Conclusion: A quick read that's a lot of fun to brandish on a crowded subway train during rush hour. :-P 8/10 Show Less
LibraryThing member ASKelmore
Best for: Anyone - from 10 to 100 - who has questions about death.
In a nutshell: Mortician and author Caitlin Doughty answers some of the most interesting and pressing questions from tiny humans.
Worth quoting:
“Sometimes death can be violent, sudden, and unbearably sad. But it’s also reality,
“Technically, per the laws of the state of California, I am not allowed to slip [your dead hamster] Hammibal into your pocket, even if he’s just a small pouch of cremated remains. I’m not allowed to ‘bury’ an animal in a human cemetery. Would I do it anyway? Umm, no comment. (tiny paw extends from your suit pocket)”
Why I chose it: I’ve read both of Doughty’s previous books, and enjoyed them very much. I also attended one of the Order of the Good Death conferences (held in Seattle), which was fascinating and well-done.
Review:
Caitlin Doughty is a talented author. She has a way of making death feel less terrifying and more another interesting part of life. I find her to also be hilarious (come on, that paragraph about the dead hamster? That’s funny shit!). And in this book she takes her skill at demystifying the scary and uses it to help our younger friends better understand what happens to our bodies when we die.
Covering everything from fluid leakage, to burial laws, to how a death in space would be handled (along with, of course, whether fluffy is going to go to town on your dead body), Doughty finds a way to keep the reader entertained without over being disrespectful. That’s a narrow line to walk, but she does it effortlessly. The book also has fantastic illustrations accompanying each question.
What more can I say? Go check it out, and while you’re at it, pick up her other two books if you haven’t already: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, and From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death.
Keep it / Pass to a Friend / Donate it / Toss it:
Keep it!
In a nutshell: Mortician and author Caitlin Doughty answers some of the most interesting and pressing questions from tiny humans.
Worth quoting:
“Sometimes death can be violent, sudden, and unbearably sad. But it’s also reality,
Show More
and reality doesn’t change just because you don’t like it.”“Technically, per the laws of the state of California, I am not allowed to slip [your dead hamster] Hammibal into your pocket, even if he’s just a small pouch of cremated remains. I’m not allowed to ‘bury’ an animal in a human cemetery. Would I do it anyway? Umm, no comment. (tiny paw extends from your suit pocket)”
Why I chose it: I’ve read both of Doughty’s previous books, and enjoyed them very much. I also attended one of the Order of the Good Death conferences (held in Seattle), which was fascinating and well-done.
Review:
Caitlin Doughty is a talented author. She has a way of making death feel less terrifying and more another interesting part of life. I find her to also be hilarious (come on, that paragraph about the dead hamster? That’s funny shit!). And in this book she takes her skill at demystifying the scary and uses it to help our younger friends better understand what happens to our bodies when we die.
Covering everything from fluid leakage, to burial laws, to how a death in space would be handled (along with, of course, whether fluffy is going to go to town on your dead body), Doughty finds a way to keep the reader entertained without over being disrespectful. That’s a narrow line to walk, but she does it effortlessly. The book also has fantastic illustrations accompanying each question.
What more can I say? Go check it out, and while you’re at it, pick up her other two books if you haven’t already: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, and From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death.
Keep it / Pass to a Friend / Donate it / Toss it:
Keep it!
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LibraryThing member MontzaleeW
Hilarious and informative!
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? by Caitlin Doughty is a funny book all about death. It is very informative about a sensitive subject matter but she presents it with humor and in a manner the reader is not likely to forget. The questions are from kids (although I am sure
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? by Caitlin Doughty is a funny book all about death. It is very informative about a sensitive subject matter but she presents it with humor and in a manner the reader is not likely to forget. The questions are from kids (although I am sure
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adults have thought of these questions too). I love to watch her on YouTube and didn't realize she was the author until I started reading the book! Great book! Going in favorite folder! Show Less
LibraryThing member clrichm
This was very cute! A bit on the macabre side, but it does what it says on the tin, so to speak. The questions asked about death are mostly reasonable ones for kids to have, if sometimes a little strange ("If I eat a bunch of popcorn kernels before being cremated..."), and the answers are not only
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witty, but full of anecdotes and stories that give real color to the subject. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookbrig
I loved this. It's got really interesting information, some humor, and really gorgeously weird art. It answers questions that range from simple to complex, though the answers are almost never simple, and I feel like it handles sensitive or tricky topics really well. Definitely planning to bring it
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to our middle school students! Show Less
LibraryThing member jpeterman
I mostly already knew the answers, or could guess, in this, but she writes very entertainingly, and sometimes pretty explicitly. Not for the faint of heart! This is a short, question and answer style book.
LibraryThing member luvlylibrarian
Informative book that is an easy and engaging read. Answers so many questions about what happens to dead bodies and strange customs you may find in the United States.
LibraryThing member cougargirl1967
I loved it! Great information, clear yet humorous delivery. I will definitely be reading more of Caitlin's works.
LibraryThing member Completely_Melanie
This was such a good book! I don't read a whole lot of non fiction because to be honest most of the time it can't hold my attention, but this was fabulous! It took such a morbid subject and made it not only interesting but highly entertaining as well. This is definitely a book that I would
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recommend to others. Show Less
LibraryThing member books-n-pickles
Highly amusing and interesting, but be aware that while this book answers questions asked by kids, it may not necessarily be for kids--necrophilia gets a mention, so make sure you've at least had the sex talk first!
I also felt like this book should have been a bit longer for the price (I had the
P.S. This was bedside reading for me, hence the absurdly long time it took me to read it.
I also felt like this book should have been a bit longer for the price (I had the
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hardback). I don't often say that, since I work in publishing and know how much work goes into making a book, but in this case I definitely wanted a little more.P.S. This was bedside reading for me, hence the absurdly long time it took me to read it.
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LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Subtitle: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death (hardcover edition) /or/ And other Questions about Dead Bodies (paperback edition)
Doughty, a funeral home director, answers questions posed by kids about death, dying and funerals. She’s forthright and honest, but also sprinkles her remarks
Dianne Ruz provides the illustrations. I have to say that I was not a fan of her art work.
Doughty, a funeral home director, answers questions posed by kids about death, dying and funerals. She’s forthright and honest, but also sprinkles her remarks
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with some lighthearted banter. It’s a pretty fast read, and quite informative. One of my favorite questions: “What would happen if you swallowed a bag a popcorn just before you died and then were cremated?”Dianne Ruz provides the illustrations. I have to say that I was not a fan of her art work.
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LibraryThing member LibraryCin
This is a book of essays answering kids’ questions about death. The author is a funeral director in California and she answers questions like: What would happen to an astronaut body in space? Will I poop when I die? What would happen if you died on a plane? Can I be buried in the same grave as my
The author reads the book herself, but she also does plenty of youtube videos and a blog, I think. Anyway, she does a good job and I find this stuff fascinating! She does a good job of mixing in some humour to go along with the rest of the explanations, as well. There is some science and history, as well, depending on the question/answer.
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hamster? Add to that the book’s title question, and more. The author reads the book herself, but she also does plenty of youtube videos and a blog, I think. Anyway, she does a good job and I find this stuff fascinating! She does a good job of mixing in some humour to go along with the rest of the explanations, as well. There is some science and history, as well, depending on the question/answer.
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LibraryThing member tuusannuuska
A decent little book on the topic of what happens to a body after it stops being alive. This answers kids' questions in a tone suitable to kids, which I found a little annoying at times (mostly some of the humor), but I am far from being in the target demographic. (It's not you, book, it's me.) My
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enjoyment was more three stars, but I did think this book was good for what it is. I can definitely see why someone would give this five stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sheila1957
Ms. Doughty takes children's questions about death, dead bodies, and the afterlife and answers them.
I laughed so much as I read this. She has a way with words. The questions are interesting as are the answers. She uses a lot of sources as well as her own experiences. She also documents what
This is worth reading. It is fun and informative. Not boring in any way. Plus the illustrations are great.
I laughed so much as I read this. She has a way with words. The questions are interesting as are the answers. She uses a lot of sources as well as her own experiences. She also documents what
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sources she uses. Nothing was off the table here. I liked the whole book but the question and answer about astronauts was really interesting and something I'll remember. But all the questions and answers were fascinating from cremation to making jewelry to our pets and other animals.This is worth reading. It is fun and informative. Not boring in any way. Plus the illustrations are great.
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LibraryThing member MarthaJeanne
This is rather a cute book, with sassy answers to questions kids have about dead bodies. It stays quite factual and fairly upbeat. (Sorry, eating a bag of unpopped corn just before death will not create waves of popcorn at the crematorium.)
Marked down because the ebook had pictures over some of the
Marked down because the ebook had pictures over some of the
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text, making that text difficult to impossible to read. Show Less
Awards
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee — 2021)
Green Mountain Book Award (Nominee — 2021)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — 2020)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Non-Fiction — 2019)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2019-09-19
Physical description
208 p.; 8.5 inches
ISBN
039365270X / 9780393652703