Too Poor to Die: The Hidden Realities of Dying in the Margins

by Amy Shea

Death is the great equalizer, but not all deaths are created equal. In recent years, there has been an increased interest and advocacy concerning end-of-life and after-death care. An increasing number of individuals and organizations from health care to the funeral and death care industries are working to promote and encourage people to consider their end-of-life wishes. Yet, there are limits to who these efforts reach and who can access such resources. These conversations come from a place of good intentions, but also from a place of privilege.



Too Poor to The Hidden Realities of Dying in the Margins, a collection of closely connected essays, takes the reader on a journey into what happens to those who die while experiencing homelessness or who end up indigent or unclaimed at the end of life. Too Poor to Die bears witness to the disparities in death and dying faced by some of society’s most vulnerable and marginalized and asks the reader to consider their own end-of-life and disposition plans within the larger context of how privilege and access plays a role in what we want versus what we get in death.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Death

264 pages, Paperback

Published September 9, 2025

Reviews

[Whitney Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Death is the great equalizer, but not all deaths are created equal.”
💀
This collection of essays taught me SO MUCH about the death industry and life (and death) as an unhoused person. It also included photographs that made the reading experience even more personal. I did feel that the essays (and book itself) ended a bit abruptly, but I loved the book overall and would highly recommend it to anybody wanting to learn more about life and death in the margins of the world. Overall, I would give this four out of five stars. Keep your eye out for “Too Poor to Die” this September!

[Book Nerdection · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book bears a striking title. One that is almost impossible to pass over after having read it. Automatically, the cogs began to turn in my head, mulling over its meaning, wondering about the revelatory knowledge hidden within, as the cover doesn’t give too much away.

As a reader hailing from a developing country with disparate expectations of government responsibility, the illusion of abundant and comprehensive welfare that constitutes the image a good number of outsiders may hold in their heads when thinking of the United States is periodically dismantled by the snippets of academic research, stories, and photographic images compiled together to deliver a narrative that deals in truth alone.

Drawing a comparison between the two countries was an interesting exercise. There is indeed a more concerted effort to conceal the indigent in developed countries, with districts drawing plans to contain or corral the unhoused. However, with as much digging as I did, I could not find out what the process of disposition looks like for those experiencing funeral poverty, besides fundraising efforts initiated by those closest to the deceased, for those who have anyone at all.

I found myself attempting to answer some of the questions posed through the context of my environment. Weather, availability of hygiene supplies, the spread and mitigation of disease, aid offered by non-profit organisations, and their effectiveness.

As a sum of all of these contemplations, the author’s objectives—to increase awareness over the health and death care of the poor, and for people in general, are successful. Ensuring quality care for all includes those pushed to the margins; this book makes it abundantly clear that the measure of compassion of a community directly correlates to how all members within it are treated, especially during situations when they are least able to advocate for themselves.

This book empowers people to extend their empathy to all whilst arming themselves with the information they will need to resolve the details of their wishes for their final days, granting themselves the dignity everyone deserves in life and in death.

Reviewed By Chantal

[Becky Robison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to snag an early copy of this book, and it was excellent. In a series of essays, Shea explores how the United States treats its unclaimed dead—those who either have no relatives to lay them to rest, or whose relatives can’t afford to do so. These may not be the people you’re imagining. She also weaves in her own personal experiences—learning about indigent burial cemeteries from her amateur genealogist father, volunteering to perform foot care at a homeless shelter. Don’t miss the index poem at the end!

This review was originally published on my blog.

[Andrea Firth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's book about an important topic that you probably haven't thought about. And whether it impacts you directly, personally or not, it impacts you, all of us. What's great about Amy Shea's book is how she tells her story with personal narrative deftly interwoven with in depth research. She investigates the issues surrounding death, dying and poverty in hands-on way. It's a compelling read that opened my eyes and taught me a lot. She's a masterful storyteller, compassionate, and able to find the humor a heavy topic needs as well.

[Evie King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be sent a proof of this book before publication and would really recommend it. A hugely well researched work, with stats, facts and histories running alongside personal stories, all delivered in a human and engaging way. The list of unclaimed names at the end is extremely affecting. The politics of death and the continuation of social injustice all the way to the grave are writ large in this important book that demands a wider conversation and urgent change.