A comprehensive examination of that inevitable and universal human experience. To better our understanding of death--and so perhaps fear it less--the book explains the biological processes and the different causes of death, and examines the human perceptions of death throughout history and across cultures.

Originally published in French under title: La mort.

Chapter 1 - A Material Soul -- Chapter 2 - Dying- That's Life! -- Chapter 3 - Living With The Awareness Of Death: Between Hope And Fear -- Chapter 4 - The Wear And Tear Of Time -- Chapter 5 - Dying Little By Little -- Chapter 6 - Dying From Infections -- Chapter 7 - Poisons: Fascination And Danger -- Chapter 8 - Violent Death -- Chapter 9 - Unusual And Dramatic Death -- Chapter 10 - Postmortem Events -- Chapter 11 - Dying Of Laughter