Suicide and Attempted Suicide: Methods and Consequences

by Geo Stone

Too often attempted suicide leads to unintended consequences, because ignorance is deadly and desperation can be fatal. In this morally courageous book, Geo Stone sets out to diminish the lack of awareness about suicide, from the tragedy of teenage suicide to the debate over assisted suicide.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Death, Mental Illness, Sociology

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a few words, this is a how-to manual on suicide. More interestingly, the author also indicates what methods are best for suicidal gestures - the infamous "cries for help." The reader of this book will learn what to expect when hanging one's self, setting one's self on fire, jumping from a bridge, slitting one's wrists, inhaling carbon monoxide, shooting one's self, eating pills, and several other methods of suicide I hadn't even considered particularly valid. More importantly, the reader will know what to expect in the short and long term if one survives an attempt on one's own life - paralysis, long-term hospital stays, organ damage, etc.

There are plenty of statistical tables contained therein for the actuarial nerd within us all, and tons of endnotes containing further entertaining anecdotal information; my favorite was the full-page note in the first chapter enumerating various outlandish ways in which people have offed themselves.

My one main quibble with the book was that the chapter on euthanasia stretched out for far too long. I realize it's a controversial topic, but someone picking up a book on various ways to kill one's self most likely doesn't need swayed to one side or another in the end-of-life debate. I did, however, learn plenty about the medical establishment and its reluctance to offer sufficient pain control to suffering patients. It was fairly infuriating to read.

I don't begrudge anyone their right to end their life on their own terms, so pick this up to discover what your options might be.

Also, a caveat: don't let your therapist catch you reading this in her waiting room.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's really not fair to give this book a 4 star rating indicating that "I really liked it." My 4 star rating is more in terms of how well written this book is. Seriously, if one is interested in ending one's life via suicide, this book is the resource needed. It details exactly what is needed for a variety of suicide methods and outlines the risks of each method. Very informative. Scarily informative.

[Bill H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly entertaining read. Aside from a detailed accounting of suicide methods, Stone outlines how to effectively stage a suicide gesture. Most reviews tend to overlook the harm reduction contained here and focus on the methods themselves, arguing that the book encourages suicide. It does nothing of the kind.

[Krysten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is arguably more about assisted suicide than suicide in general.

When I first flipped through it I saw a lot of charts and statistics, which made me think/hope the book would have some insight as to who commits suicide and how and why, etc. I was hoping for case studies, but I got anecdotes instead. I was a bit shocked that so much of the book was devoted to comparing various suicide methods and the best ways to carry them out if one intends to die or to make a suicidal gesture/cry for help. The author makes it clear that suicide is a personal choice that can have devastating consequences for loved ones left behind and encourages thoughtfulness in how one decides to die. It is also mentioned numerous times that people should only commit suicide when their thoughts and feelings are unclouded by depression. Um.

For the most part, it seemed to be a book about assisted suicide. I didn't expect that, but it was not unwelcome. Perhaps it should have ended there. I am slightly disturbed by the specificity of the suicide instructions and would hate to see them fall into the hands of a desperate person, but at the same time I find it encouraging that such a well-researched set of instructions made it into print. This book is compassionate, above all else, to terminally ill and otherwise suicidal people. It wasn't the book I was expecting, and to be honest I'm not sure how I feel about its treatment of suicide as a personal choice, but it has given me a lot to think about and I'm glad I read it.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Informs you about the history of the topic (like not that long ago if you failed to commit suicide you were killed), multiple points of view on the topic, and methods. Has (almost) no "look for help, don't kill yourself bullshit", but it achieves that much better with information provided. After you know how everything works, and how gruesome it might be it's much easier to lose interested in killing yourself. As a backup at least you will know how to commit one successfully, with least amount of pain, without leaving any permanent injury or gruesome corpse. Would suggest to read for anyone. The only problem is that the book is expensive and hard to get.

[Ummia Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the other books I have read on the topic of suicide discuss behavior and causes with the emphasis on statistics and studies about suicidal behavior. The emphasis of this book is method of suicide. It goes into the details of how individuals have commuted suicide, what it takes to be successful in commuting suicide and what could happen if you fail. The book has a strong focus on assisted suicide.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably one of the most morbid books I ever read, but so interesting! A must-read for anyone that works with suicidal individuals. This book speaks of the many ways one could attempt to kill themselves as well as what statistically could go wrong. Maybe people falsely believe that it is “easy” to kill ourselves. Our body is built to survive and mistakes do happen which leads to more dire circumstances.

[Jennifer Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tackles suicide more honestly than any other I've come across. It actually discouraged me from killing myself, I'm not sure if this was the author's intent, but that's the effect it had on me. It's chock full of statistics/info. Very informative.

[Tony Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential for anyone that wants clear choices. One of the most important books I've ever read.

[Bardon Kaldian · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you seriously intend to finish your earthly journey or you're simply a drama queen- this is the book for you.

[Sophie Chan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written.

Ideas could be tied better into themes. The first chapter on the murky boundaries of suicide as well as the second chapter on perception of suicide across history read like a list of cases.

On the third chapter about ways to study suicide, both the sociological and psychological sections have weak arguments. The author switches between each method's approach, limits, and cases inconsistently without a central point. While the biological section has a better arrangement, there are some overlaps with psychology and it leaves the reader wondering why this chapter is divided into these three categories in the first place.

Fourth chapter is literally a list of why the author thinks people commit suicide. Stone makes assumptions about certain groups of people (e.g. based on gender) making certain types of suicide through anecdotes rather than strong statistical evidence that this assumption would need.

I gave up after this and skimmed the rest of the book, there seems to be some useful graphs comparing types of methods and its effectiveness, but it's not mind-blowing. Thanks to the taboo topic of suicide, it is also not easy to access similar bits of information on google. My final verdict is that there are not many good books that talk about suicide, so this book could provide useful information, but there could be better ones out there.

Disclaimer: I do not encourage suicide. I just think it is useful to make transparent the methods and consequences so people do it safely or have the right resources to think of their decisions more rationally.

[John Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The holy bible of suicide.
Geo Stone takes a hard fact based approach to the issue.He presents history,reasons for attempts,statistics,medical facts,legal situation.
If you want to know how to do it and how not to do it,read it.The methods are well covered.
The book is long and hard read at times.His writing is neutral with a few jokes thrown in between.I liked it.
The only downside if i had to say,is the euthanasia chapters.It is written from late 90's perspective,do not know how much things changed since then.I do not think they were very interesting.

Overall this is a rare book.Geo has a neutral stance on suicide and neither discourages or encourages it.
Recommended.

[David Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book when I was a therapist and interested in the study of suicides. I did not expect to find a primer on how to commit suicide but that’s what this book describes. I also was unnerved when searching for the book I found several chapters outlined in a chat room or website named in satansservice.

[Gianfranco Nerdi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A how-to manual on suicide. Good but too focused on certain data and statistics. The author distinguishes between serious attempts and so-called "suicidal gestures" (aka cries for help).
The book is well researched and the overall position the author takes can be described as "pro-choice". Other than that, there isn't much to say.

[A.F.]

OK, I am not suicidal, just wanted to see what's going on with all these methods, and how they end up killing the person in question. I wondered how all the great minds killed themselves, and what they felt, from Zweig to Hedayat. Very informative.

[Sydneyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

genuinely shocked this was published. the first book i've read in my entire life that I question whether it was ethical to publish. Very graphic. very detailed. lots of data and blunt writing from the author but just a really intense subject matter.

[Reef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Amazing book.
Very detailed, helpful and informative.
Although there are methods which are missing, but this book is amazing yet.
Very recommended to people who want to commit suicide without any complications.
This book is a bless!

[Qin Li · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take-away from the book, don't hang yourself and leave a "gruesome cadaver"... An actually great book, very scientific and lots of interesting data.

[Havziven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is essentially a guide on how to commit suicide, or alternatively, stage a “safe” suicidal gesture.

[Aleksei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very informative

[Entropic Pedro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death should be confronted not feared

[C.J. Ruby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a how to commit suicide resource book. Take that as you will. It has statistics and theof methods and consequences failed attempts.

[Miguel V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, great research, full of useful information.

[Nick Adair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This helped me with some of my fears and prepare for next steps.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me a lot and how to make my next suicide attempt successful!

[Carlos Vazquez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un libro extraño que me parece no se ha vuelto a editar y que compré hace mucho por curiosidad morbosa.
Pues trata ni más ni menos de las técnicas para suicidarse, sin apenas consideraciones filosóficas o morales de calado. El autor dice que es un experto en farmacología y modestamente, creo que lo que dice puede funcionar, pero ¿es lógico que se publique tal libro?
Opino que estamos en vísperas de una revolución médica colosal debido a la genética y bioquímíca, farmacología y otras ciencias, pero entre e tanto, muchos muertos en vida se acumulan en los hospitales y residencias y no todos son queridos o ya no se quieren a sí mismo. Es mi manera de apreciar esto, claro, pues hay casos y casos, pero no es infrecuente el de quien abandona al abuelo o padre mientras se va de vacaciones.
Sea como fuere, no concibo una vida sin límite de tiempo, o una utopía, siempre odiosa. No lo querría para mí al menos, pero de la eutanasia o el suicidio asistido son problemas que además en España, país pseudo- cristiano, diría, tiene connotaciones aun peores y que lo dificultan más, así como un fariseísmo enorme.
De ahí a abordar de un modo tan práctico el suicidio coo hace este autor, hay una diferencia al menos estética que no lo hace muy deseable, aunque no deseo a nadie que llegue a necesitar manuales como este (hay ya más de uno, pero no tan crudos).

[пташатко · Rating 4 out of 5]

по суті це практичний посібник з самогубства (та на мій подив – suicidal gestures) зі всіма за та проти, корисними порадами, а подеколи й покроковими інструкціями. така собі no bullshit книжечка, яка описує рівно те, що обіцяє. комусь вона своєю відвертістю та деталями відіб'є бажання чинити самогубство, комусь, хто цього дійсно прагне, допоможе виконати вдалу спробу та уникнути помилок. дуже змістовна штука!

(3.75)

[Hari · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a few words, this is a how-to manual on suicide,More interestingly....

[Mauricio González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reference on the subject, pretty objective but, it's easy to understand the ethic problem a book like this might come with.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative