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Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
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English
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LET'S TALK ABOUT DEATH (OVER DINNER)

Michael Hebb

An Invitation and Guide to Liefe's Most Important Conversation

For readers of Being Mortal and When Breath Becomes Air, the acclaimed founder of Death over Dinner offers a practical, inspiring guide to life's most difficult yet important conversation
Of the many critical conversations we will all have throughout our lifetime, few are as important as the ones discussing death--and not just the practical considerations, such as DNRs and wills, but what we fear, what we hope, and how we want to be remembered. Yet few of these conversations are actually happening. Inspired by his experience with his own father and countless stories from others who regret not having these conversations, Michael Hebb cofounded Death Over Dinner--an organization that encourages people to pull up a chair, break bread, and really talk about the one thing we all have in common. Death Over Dinner has been one of the most effective end-of-life awareness campaigns to date; in just three years, it has provided the framework and inspiration for more than a hundred thousand dinners focused on having these end-of-life conversations. As Arianna Huffington said, "We are such a fast-food culture, I love the idea of making the dinner last for hours. These are the conversations that will help us to evolve."

Let's Talk About Death (over Dinner) offers keen practical advice on how to have these same conversations--not just at the dinner table, but anywhere. There's no one right way to talk about death, but Hebb shares time- and dinner- tested prompts to use as conversation starters, ranging from the spiritual to the practical, from analytical to downright funny and surprising. By transforming the most difficult conversations into an opportunity, they become celebratory and meaningful--ways that not only can change the way we die, but the way we live.

Michael Hebb is the founder of Death Over Dinner, a Partner at global wellbeing organization RoundGlass and the founder of Convivium, a creative agency that specializes in the ability to shift culture through the use of thoughtful food and discourse-based gatherings. Convivium has worked closely with thought/cultural leaders and many foundations/institutions including: The World Economic Forum, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative, X Prize Foundation, FEED Foundation, TED, TEDMED, Apple, United Nations Foundation and The Nature Conservancy. Michael's writings have appeared in GQ, Food and Wine, Food Arts, ARCADE, Seattle Magazine and City Arts.
Available products
Book

Published 2018-10-02 by Da Capo Lifelong

Book

Published 2018-10-02 by Da Capo Lifelong

Comments

Michael Hebb is a rare breed of artist and creative--he has a deep and powerful understanding of the human condition, connection, spirit...He crafts experiences using the age old arts of narrative and ritual, and approaches creative problems with a master's experience and a beginner's mind.

excerpt of Michael's article on the problem we have in not talking about death (9/24) Read more...

This book will help you talk about death with loved ones...Hebb includes many conversation-sparking questions...Just dip your toes into the stories Hebb shares and see how a discussion of death can feel like a discussion of any other life milestone.

Deal Announcement: ... A guide to help anyone have the most challenging, yet most essential, and often most fulfilling, conversations about death. Read more...

Michael Hebb captivated the TEDMED audience. He's a natural storyteller: Authentic, vulnerable, and with the skill to draw an audience into an utterly unique and vibrant idea that has gathered international attention and acclaim.

An op-ed by Michael Hebb appeared in USA Today. The topic: what we can learn from how John McCain planned for his death. Read more...

UK: Orion ; China: Fantasee Media Co ; Indonesia: Pt Elex Media ; Korea: Eulyoo Publishing ; Poland: Proszynski Media ; Romania: For You Publishing ; Russia: EKSMO ; Taiwan: Global Group Holdings

Today my guest is Michael Hebb, a multidisciplinary artist whose medium is the table. It's been said that in the realm of death there are no experts, but I don't think that's true. Michael has spent many, many, many years talking about death and is the founder of DeathOverDinner.org... Read more...

The Guardian ran a feature on "a dozen tips for a better death" for which Michael was the sole expert. Read more...

Hebb aims to make death less taboo in all ways possible. The book ultimately offers practical advice on how to have conversations related to death, no matter the setting, yet manages to be amusing at times. This is a recommended read, to say the least.

Michael Hebb shows us how given the right framing, a 'difficult' conversation does not need to be difficult. It can be liberating. It can even be transformative. A book about death that is expansive and filled with hope, makes us more courageous, connected and honest, well, that is irresistible.

op-ed by Michael on organ donation (9/18) Read more...

A reader-friendly guide...that will make one's reaping a bit less grim.

excerpt of Michael's article on the beauty of talking about death with strangers (10/2) Read more...

Wise, poignant, compelling - Hebb tackles hard issues with honesty and good taste. This book is food for the soul.

Explores just how crucial discussions of death are to living a happy, fulfilling life. It's packed with lessons on how we can approach those conversations purposefully and effectively.

In this episode of Life/Death/Law, Michael Hebb, the founder of Death Over Dinner, discusses his new book, Let's Talk About Death (Over Dinner)... Since he founded Death Over Dinner in 2013, more than 100,000 people have sat down together over a home-cooked meal to talk, really talk, about what they do and don't want at the end of their lives, and what they can do, now, to make both their lives and their deaths more meaningful for themselves and their loved ones. Michael is 100% right when he says that how we end our lives is the most important and costly conversation America is not having. If you have ever wondered how to get that conversation started, either for yourself or for someone you love, please listen. Read more...