Dr Hannah Gould
Scholar of Buddhism, Death, & Technology
NEW BOOK: ‘How to Die in the 21st Century’
The most comforting book about death you'll ever read.
Talking about death won't kill you. Yet in today's world, death remains one of our greatest taboos. As religion declines and rituals fade, we are left without guidance for one of life's only certainties. This book is your handbook for death in the 21st century - a compassionate, practical and surprisingly hopeful guide to understanding mortality.
From cremation to green burials, from grieving a pet to navigating tricky memorial etiquette, anthropologist and death scholar Hannah Gould answers the questions most of us are too afraid to ask:
- Do I really get my loved one's ashes back from the crematorium?
- Can I turn into a tree when I die?
- How do I talk to my parents about end-of-life planning?
- Should I attend my ex's dad's funeral?
- Will I ever stop crying over my dog?
As we enter an era of 'peak death', this book challenges us to stop avoiding the inevitable and instead embrace it as part of a good life. Honest, witty and deeply reassuring, Gould invites readers to confront mortality not with fear, but with curiosity and courage.
If you have ever wondered about alternative funerals, modern grief, sustainable burial options or simply how to begin the conversation about death, this is the book you've been waiting for.
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Bio
Dr Gould is a cultural anthropologist working on Buddhism, death, and technology in Australia and North-East Asia. Learn more.
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Publications
Read Dr Gould's recent academic publications, including her academic monograph 'When Death Falls Apart' (Chicago University Press, 2023).
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Media
Access recent media appearances on death and dying, including ABC Catalyst and SBS 'Ray Martin: The Last Goodbye'.
News & Updates
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In Conversation with Hannah Gould: How to Die in the 21st Century
Description
We are excited to be joined by Melbourne author Dr Hannah Gould to discuss her new non-fiction book 'How to Die in the 21st Century'. Hannah is a cultural anthropologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, and has written "the most comforting book about death you'll ever read".
Facilitating the conversation will be local writer Anthea Riskas. Join us in store for a glass of wine and one of the most important conversations you might have this year.
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Join us at The Wheaty to hear Dr Hannah Gould and Dr Gemma Parker talk about Dr Gould's new book, 'How to Die in the 21st Century'.
Hosted by Imprints Bookseller, Adelaide
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Hannah’s first popular book - How to Die in the 21st Century - will be released in March 2026 and is now available for preorder.
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Quoted in The Guardian article ‘Gone to a wetter place: the Queenslanders disrupting the death industry with water cremations’
