On Death, Dying and Not Dying

Drawing upon his extensive professional experience as a counselor in palliative care, Houghton raises many profound questions in each of the areas he discusses, and is not afraid to admit his own previous misconceptions…this is a book that contributes significantly to our knowledge of the natural dying process. – Journal of Beliefs and ValuesTo me, the strength of the book was about its ability to refocus and question the care provided, as a recipient rather than a provider. This presented me with some thought-provoking questioning and reasoning induced in my own reflective practice. – British Journal of Occupational Therapy

Peter Houghton gives us an education on the process of dying and death itself. He witnesses dying and death from the outside as a counselor in palliative care and observing those who were dying, their death and their carers. He then through his own seemingly terminal illness, experienced the process first hand, to the point of death. Then as a participant in a new clinical trial he was given a return to life.With humour and honesty he relays his own bumpy path on moving towards death and back from the brink, together with his counseling work with other peoples’ dying processes. He gives an in-depth picture of the physical deterioration processes of the body and resultant physical pain leading to death, also detailing the medical processes involved. Equally well described is what it feels like: the psychological processes and emotional pain, through the stages of denial, anger and hopelessness to acceptance and transformation.

This book is appropriate for the general public as well as students and clinicians. The author has a conversational style of writing that is both easy to read and refreshing. The insight he is able to offer is unique. He identifies not only his emotions during subsequent events, but is able to link these to appropriate interventions that clinicians can make.Perhaps the most intriguing feature of this book is the connection the author is able to make with the reader. Although the subject matter is difficult, the style in which the information is presented places appropriate emphasis on the emotional and technical aspects.Although this topic is not new, this is the only book that provides clinicians with an insight into a patients experience while also providing direction for clinical practice.

Peter Houghton has for many years been a counsellor in palliative care. He was Director of the Birmingham Settlement where he founded Britain’s first money advice centre and worked with adolescents in trouble; he is also the founder of The National Association of the Childless in the UK. He is now actively engaged in fundraising for the Artificial Heart Foundation and is in the process of founding the Extralife Society for people who rely on mechanical support to stay alive.