46 pages • 1 hour read
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory
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Book Brief
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2013254
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
California • 2010s
2013
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty is a memoir chronicling Doughty's first six years in the funeral industry, starting as a crematory operator in San Francisco at 23. It explores her personal journey of death acceptance, critiques North America's death denial culture, and examines various funerary customs, ultimately advocating for more honest conversations about death. The book contains graphic descriptions of dead bodies, cremation, decomposition, and various forms of death.
Informative
Contemplative
Dark
Unnerving
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
109,745 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty offers a candid, thought-provoking look into the funeral industry. Readers praise Doughty's dark humor, empathetic storytelling, and insightful reflections on mortality. Some find the content morbid or unsettling, but most commend the book's unique perspective and contemplative depth.
Who Should Read Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory?
A reader who enjoys Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty is likely fascinated by death and mortality, with a taste for dark humor and candid narratives. Fans of Mary Roach's Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers or Jessica Mitford's The American Way of Death will find this book captivating.
109,745 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Mike
Mike
Mike is Caitlin's boss at Westwind Cremation & Burial, known for his gruff demeanor and deep sensitivity to their work. He mentors Caitlin as she learns the ropes of the crematorium.
Chris
Chris
Chris is the body-transport driver at Westwind, with a calm presence that supports both grieving families and Caitlin. He becomes friends with Caitlin and helps guide her in dealing with various aspects of the job.
Bruce
Bruce
Bruce is the embalmer at Westwind, characterized by his friendliness and humor about their work. He instructs Caitlin on embalming while preferring not to see it applied to his loved ones.
Luke
Luke
Luke is Caitlin's friend who understands her unusual relationship with death. Caitlin develops romantic feelings for him that challenge her views on love and mortality.
Byron, Maureen, and Padma (The Corpses)
Byron, Maureen, and Padma (The Corpses)
Byron, Maureen, and Padma are corpses Caitlin encounters during her work, each serving as significant elements of her narrative. Throughout the story, they are treated with the dignity and respect Caitlin advocates for in death practices.
254
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
California • 2010s
2013
Adult
18+ years
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