Death Reference Desk

@DeathRef's new book "Technologies of the Human Corpse" is officially out *today* April 28, 2020. You can buy it from all the places. Huge thanks to @mitpress and editor Matt Browne (@HappyFlaneur) for seeing the future of death mitpress.mit.edu/contributors/j… johntroyer.com

@DeathRef Congratulations 🎊 John. I hope you feel the ripples of their pride in you.

@drkathrynmannix Many thanks, Kathryn. Ripples! I agree. Lots of ripples.

So I was recently promoted and I am now Professor of Death Studies in the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath. This is a photo of me with my parents in 2006(!) when I won a Ph.D. dissertation award. I wish I coud tell them all this but I think they know.

My @mitpress book 'Technologies of the Human Corpse' was recently published in China. Here are details -- Chinese title: 身体的价值 List Price: RMB 49.00 Paperback ISBN: 9787108080639 book.douban.com/subject/378182…

Merry Christmas everyone!

Timeless.......

#NeverForget #NakatomiPlaza

You can read more in my latest blog:deadbodiesandthelaw.wordpress.com/2025/12/22/neo… @LucyGoBag @OnTheArrow @asds_death @cendeathsociety @DeathRef @mortuarygem @theaptone @asds_death @cendeathsociety @DeathRef @mortuarygem @theaptone

Ahead of #WorldAIDSDay (1 Dec), I reflect on memory, stigma, and dignity in deathwork. From Troyer’s Technologies of the Human Corpse to my own village in 1983, this thread explores how the HIV/AIDS corpse became a site of fear, politics, and resistance—across Uganda and beyond.

Happy Thanksgiving America! youtube.com/watch?v=rSKV84…

@PilgrimsHospice @cendeathsociety @GeorgeGumisiri4 @DyingMatters @DeathRef @dickinson_aly @GoodGriefFest @goodgrieftrust Thanks for sharing this. I love the metaphors of the farewell gift of socks for the UK cold weather from his cousin Paul and of George's colleague darning his 'legacy' socks. Thanks, George, for helping us understand the myriad meanings of #home.

George Gumisiriza completed his PhD @cendeathsociety. He is speaking at the #HospiceUKConf on 27/11 re: faith, culture and spiritual care in hospices. We invite you to read a blog George wrote for us about death traditions in African culture: ow.ly/JiKc50Xxo3n ✨ 💙

John Troyer offers this insight in CC129: “There is no conclusion to things without end. Not really. Nor should there be. I will always be grieving and mourning my family, and I think that is entirely healthy.” Read the full piece at doi.org/10.1353/cul.20…

CC 129 “Mourning Without End” is officially live on Project MUSE! Contributors include Judith Butler, Nadia Bou Ali, Christopher Breu, Stephen Sheehi, Tim Dean, Ida Dominijanni, John Troyer, and our very own Editors! Check it out: muse.jhu.edu/issue/55881

Three recent journal issue releases: -@CulturalCritiq1 129: Mourning Without End. Feat. @DeathRef -Buildings & Landscapes 32.2 via @vafweb -Environment, Space, Place 16.2. Feat. @SeanDLawrence All available via @ProjectMUSE Open access articles listed in comments.

Too Poor to Die Please join us for a talk with Amy Shea – to mark the launch of her new book Too Poor to Die: The Hidden Realities of Dying in the Margins. Hosted online by @DeathRef on Tuesday 23 September from 7-8pm UK time - ⬇️ Tickets below ⬇️ eventbrite.co.uk/e/too-poor-to-…

Too Poor to Die Please join us for a talk with Amy Shea – to mark the launch of her new book Too Poor to Die: The Hidden Realities of Dying in the Margins. Hosted online by @DeathRef on Tuesday 23 September from 7-8pm BST ⬇️ Tickets below ⬇️ eventbrite.co.uk/e/too-poor-to-…

Talking to the Dead! Exciting and New! Come on Board -- #DeathTech is Expecting You! Why Do We Still Need to Talk to the Dead? Emotional needs and technology, including A.I.-fueled “griefbots,” have kept us searching for connections to the other side. nytimes.com/2025/07/10/sty…

Very proud to be part of this centre, its members and the wider community ❤️ @LucyGoBag @AlastairComery @DianaTeggi_ @DeathRef @TlMrs @GeorgeGumisiri4 @OkakuTerum38635 @Jeremydixonsw and so many more!