Achieving a Good Death

Speaker: Chris Palmer

There is an art to dying well that can be taught and learned. While death is inevitable, dying badly is not. Author and end-of-life activist Chris Palmer explains how a good death is achievable. Bloomsbury published Chris Palmer's latest book, Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life, in October 2024.

Early reviews are praising the book, calling it "deeply meaningful," "compelling," "eloquent," "a major accomplishment," "profoundly wise," "highly readable," and "an extraordinary guide."

Chris Palmer says, "This book started about a decade ago when I realized I was petrified of dying and resolved to confront this fear. My parents and three brothers, including my twin Jon, all died badly, and I was determined that my own end would be different. This book is the result of searching for answers to questions like how to deal with dementia, when it is appropriate to hasten death, and how we can talk about death and dying more openly."

Chris is an end-of-life activist and a trained hospice volunteer. He frequently gives pro bono presentations and workshops to community groups on aging, death, and dying issues. He founded and leads an aging, death, and dying group for the Bethesda Metro Area Village and serves on the board of several nonprofits focused on end-of-life issues, including Montgomery Hospice, Final Exit Network, the Hemlock Society, and the Maryland Office of Cemetery Oversight. He has written ten books — the latest, published by Bloomsbury on October 1, is Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life—proceeds from all his books fund scholarships for American University (AU) students. Chris Palmer served 14 years on AU’s full-time faculty as Distinguished Film Producer in Residence. He holds advanced degrees from Harvard and University College London. Before becoming involved in end-of-life issues, he spent forty years as a wildlife and conservation filmmaker. To learn more about Chris, visit www.ChrisPalmerOnline.com.

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