Book Review: Reconsidering Death: A Sociological Review of Brandi Schillace's Death’s Summer Coat

Abstract

Brandi Schillace’s Death’s Summer Coat: What the History of Death and Dying Teaches Us About Life and Living is a unique perspective on the sociology of grieving, death, and dying. It is an interdisciplinary examination of death practices and how they have shifted, especially in the modern Western context. By blending anthropology, sociology, psychology, and history, Schillace explores societal changes that have distanced modern society from death, creating what she views as an unhealthy relationship with mortality. Her work utilizes the idea that Western society has developed a “death-denying” culture, hiding death from public view and ritualizing it in increasingly private and medicalized ways. Through a historical and cross-cultural lens, Schillace critiques this shift, arguing that understanding how death is handled can teach us to live more fully. Sociologically, Schillace’s argument builds on classic ideas from scholars such as Philippe Ariès and Michel Foucault with topics like the medicalization of death, the secularization of death rituals, and the growing isolation surrounding the grieving process. This review evaluates Schillace’s contributions to established sociological theories, considering her insights into contemporary Western death practices and assessing the book’s collaborative approach and broader implications for sociology.