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Are They Dead Yet?: The Art of the Obit
Bloomsbury presents Are They Dead Yet?: The Art of the Obit by Sam Roberts, read by Nathan Osgood
"Mordantly wonderful." —CARL HIAASEN
"I almost died laughing." —ROZ CHAST
"My own departure would not be so bad if only Mr. Roberts could write the obit!" —KAI BIRD
From celebrated New York Times obituarist Sam Roberts, the art of the Who we remember, how we forget, and where we find the true meaning in a life.
After nearly a decade behind the obituaries desk at the paper of record, Roberts knows obits aren't really about deaths. In fact, they usually only mention dying once. Over the course of the nearly 1,500 obituaries he has written throughout his career, he has instead come to understand that they're about distilling an entire life lived—for someone whose name he may have learned that morning.
In Are They Dead Yet?, Roberts explores the major questions that arise from the task of producing a succinct yet record-defining account of a life. Who deserves an obituary, and how do we decide who gets one? How does an obituarist choose what to include—and to omit? What happens when embarrassing information, like a crime, affair, or wonky cause of death, makes itself known? What makes a legacy, a claim to fame? And what happens when that claim to fame, so important in death, isn’t what mattered in life at all?
With wit, wisdom, and behind-the-scenes intrigue, Roberts examines the practice of writing advance obituaries, of which there are more than 2,000 on hold and regularly updated at the New York Times, America's relationship to death in the wake of 9/11 and the pandemic, classic euphemistic language, and more. Through it all, Roberts brings his humor, shrewdness, and experience to prove what he has learned from a long career in There’s no such thing as an ordinary life.
"Mordantly wonderful." —CARL HIAASEN
"I almost died laughing." —ROZ CHAST
"My own departure would not be so bad if only Mr. Roberts could write the obit!" —KAI BIRD
From celebrated New York Times obituarist Sam Roberts, the art of the Who we remember, how we forget, and where we find the true meaning in a life.
After nearly a decade behind the obituaries desk at the paper of record, Roberts knows obits aren't really about deaths. In fact, they usually only mention dying once. Over the course of the nearly 1,500 obituaries he has written throughout his career, he has instead come to understand that they're about distilling an entire life lived—for someone whose name he may have learned that morning.
In Are They Dead Yet?, Roberts explores the major questions that arise from the task of producing a succinct yet record-defining account of a life. Who deserves an obituary, and how do we decide who gets one? How does an obituarist choose what to include—and to omit? What happens when embarrassing information, like a crime, affair, or wonky cause of death, makes itself known? What makes a legacy, a claim to fame? And what happens when that claim to fame, so important in death, isn’t what mattered in life at all?
With wit, wisdom, and behind-the-scenes intrigue, Roberts examines the practice of writing advance obituaries, of which there are more than 2,000 on hold and regularly updated at the New York Times, America's relationship to death in the wake of 9/11 and the pandemic, classic euphemistic language, and more. Through it all, Roberts brings his humor, shrewdness, and experience to prove what he has learned from a long career in There’s no such thing as an ordinary life.
Audible Audio
First published August 11, 2026
About the author
Sam Roberts
43 books60 followersSam Roberts, a 50-year veteran of New York journalism, is an obituaries reporter and formerly the Urban Affairs correspondent at the New York Times. He has hosted the New York Times "Close Up” on TV and the podcasts "Only in New York," anthologized in a book of the same name, and "The Caucus." He is the author of The New Yorkers, A History of New York in 27 Buildings, A History of New York in 101 Objects, and Grand Central, among other books. He has written for the NYT Magazine, the New Republic, New York, Vanity Fair, Foreign Affairs, and Air Mail. A history adviser to Federal Hall, he lives in New York with his wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 11, 2026
“And when my time is up
Have I done enough?
Will they tell my story?”
— Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alexander Hamilton Broadway Play
Did you know that obituarists master the art of writing an advanced obituary—especially when the subject is famous or a celebrity?
When someone is in the spotlight, journalists can gather much of the information they need in advance, allowing them to be prepared for the inevitable publication. All that may be left to add is the cause of death, if available, and the date of demise.
So, why would this be interesting to read about in a book?
I saw this one come up in our local library’s newsletter, so I thought I would check it out.
At first, there were moments that made me contemplative. In fact, I left numerous sticky notes throughout the pages, marking anecdotal moments I wanted to remember. But even though those moments occasionally had me pause, I kept feeling as though I was looking for something more.
What exactly?
Was I wanting more about the author's actual memorable obituaries? Was I expecting to laugh more? I honestly can’t say. I just know that something never quite clicked for me.
That doesn't mean there weren't moments worth sharing.
The timing for this particular moment was perfect, since it is actually the day before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The author shares his own moment of remembrance about his rabbi's prayer for the coming new year, which asks:
“Who shall live and who shall die?”
It is a fitting question, particularly with the author’s own aversion to death—and the fact that, despite that aversion, he chose to eventually become an obituary writer for The New York Times.
And each time he was expected to write about that famous person more questions came to mind:
“Which people are worth remembering? Which values are worth celebrating?”
As well as:
“Obituaries are a reminder that when you die, someone else gets the last word on your legacy—or, at least, the first of the last words.”
Does that mean someone else decides if the person who passed was worth remembering and/or celebrating?
The book is not long—just 229 pages, with an eight-page “List of the Dead” mentioned throughout the book, along with lists of colleagues and writers, a bibliography, and an index.
There is much here that can be considered thoughtful, informative, and introspective. For readers curious about the art and craft of writing obituaries, this might be an interesting read.
For me, the book kept making me think there was something more I was supposed to find, but I couldn’t quite identify what it was.
In the end, I found myself more bored than anything. Readers may want to consider other reviews to see if this is a better fit for them.
🌟🌟🌟.5 Stars
Have I done enough?
Will they tell my story?”
— Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alexander Hamilton Broadway Play
Did you know that obituarists master the art of writing an advanced obituary—especially when the subject is famous or a celebrity?
When someone is in the spotlight, journalists can gather much of the information they need in advance, allowing them to be prepared for the inevitable publication. All that may be left to add is the cause of death, if available, and the date of demise.
So, why would this be interesting to read about in a book?
I saw this one come up in our local library’s newsletter, so I thought I would check it out.
At first, there were moments that made me contemplative. In fact, I left numerous sticky notes throughout the pages, marking anecdotal moments I wanted to remember. But even though those moments occasionally had me pause, I kept feeling as though I was looking for something more.
What exactly?
Was I wanting more about the author's actual memorable obituaries? Was I expecting to laugh more? I honestly can’t say. I just know that something never quite clicked for me.
That doesn't mean there weren't moments worth sharing.
The timing for this particular moment was perfect, since it is actually the day before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The author shares his own moment of remembrance about his rabbi's prayer for the coming new year, which asks:
“Who shall live and who shall die?”
It is a fitting question, particularly with the author’s own aversion to death—and the fact that, despite that aversion, he chose to eventually become an obituary writer for The New York Times.
And each time he was expected to write about that famous person more questions came to mind:
“Which people are worth remembering? Which values are worth celebrating?”
As well as:
“Obituaries are a reminder that when you die, someone else gets the last word on your legacy—or, at least, the first of the last words.”
Does that mean someone else decides if the person who passed was worth remembering and/or celebrating?
The book is not long—just 229 pages, with an eight-page “List of the Dead” mentioned throughout the book, along with lists of colleagues and writers, a bibliography, and an index.
There is much here that can be considered thoughtful, informative, and introspective. For readers curious about the art and craft of writing obituaries, this might be an interesting read.
For me, the book kept making me think there was something more I was supposed to find, but I couldn’t quite identify what it was.
In the end, I found myself more bored than anything. Readers may want to consider other reviews to see if this is a better fit for them.
🌟🌟🌟.5 Stars
September 5, 2026
Although the obituaries I write for The World Almanac are brevity on steroids, I have always enjoyed reading obituaries. So it was fascinating to delve into the world of who gets written about—and why.
There’s the editorial commentary, the question of who is asked for quotes, and, most importantly, how a writer can capture an entire life in a relatively small number of words.
There are plenty of fascinating tidbits. Pope John Paul II’s New York Times obituary was the longest the paper had ever published, coming in at 13,555 words—compared with the 41 words I wrote for Jimmy Carter. Actor Abe Vigoda gets a three-page story about his lifelong frustration with people reporting that he was dead. I know that one personally because he called our offices several times to make sure we knew he was still alive.
I also learned that the dead generally can’t sue for libel, although Rhode Island is an exception: an estate has three months after a person’s death to file a libel suit. The Times has passed on obituaries for some significant figures, including Sylvia Plath and Diane Arbus. Many famous “last words” are probably not true. “Died suddenly” can sometimes be a euphemism for suicide, while “died after a long illness” often means cancer. And more than 2,000 obituaries are reportedly written in advance.
Perhaps the most entertaining revelation is that Roberts has already written Rudolph Giuliani’s obituary—and he certainly doesn’t hold back. Among other things, he describes Giuliani as a “toady” and a “criminal apologist.”
It’s a fascinating look at the strange, complicated, and surprisingly revealing world of obituaries—and at how much can be said about a person after they’re gone.
There’s the editorial commentary, the question of who is asked for quotes, and, most importantly, how a writer can capture an entire life in a relatively small number of words.
There are plenty of fascinating tidbits. Pope John Paul II’s New York Times obituary was the longest the paper had ever published, coming in at 13,555 words—compared with the 41 words I wrote for Jimmy Carter. Actor Abe Vigoda gets a three-page story about his lifelong frustration with people reporting that he was dead. I know that one personally because he called our offices several times to make sure we knew he was still alive.
I also learned that the dead generally can’t sue for libel, although Rhode Island is an exception: an estate has three months after a person’s death to file a libel suit. The Times has passed on obituaries for some significant figures, including Sylvia Plath and Diane Arbus. Many famous “last words” are probably not true. “Died suddenly” can sometimes be a euphemism for suicide, while “died after a long illness” often means cancer. And more than 2,000 obituaries are reportedly written in advance.
Perhaps the most entertaining revelation is that Roberts has already written Rudolph Giuliani’s obituary—and he certainly doesn’t hold back. Among other things, he describes Giuliani as a “toady” and a “criminal apologist.”
It’s a fascinating look at the strange, complicated, and surprisingly revealing world of obituaries—and at how much can be said about a person after they’re gone.
September 3, 2026
A short book by the veteran writer of obituaries at the New York Times. He discusses what an obituary is for, what goes into a good one, and how to briefly capture a life in less than a thousand words. He also describes the process for deciding who gets a 'news' obituary in the NYT (as opposed to the paid notices, which anybody can buy).
There's a fair amount of discussion of the pre-written obits; the Times has about two thousand obits on file that would just need a little updating when someone dies. They do get caught off-guard when someone famous has the temerity to die early.
The best parts were the stories - tales about people wanting to read their obit in advance or realizing they are being interviewed for their obit. (When Bette Davis realized that was happening, she took away the tea and came back with a shaker of martinis.) Also, some of the funnier obits and things overheard on the phone in the obit department.
The author bemoans, of course, the diminishment of well-done obits in the nation's newspapers, while admitting that they still have it pretty good at the Times. He also name-checks Ann Wroe at the Economist, who writes a one-page obit on the back page of each weekly issue. Ann has the attitude that he admires, an attempt to capture how the person saw the world, rather than how other people see that person.
All in all, a fun and informative book about a topic we don't usually think much about.
So, what is your obit going to look like? You might consider writing it now - it'll run someday, whether you do it or not.
There's a fair amount of discussion of the pre-written obits; the Times has about two thousand obits on file that would just need a little updating when someone dies. They do get caught off-guard when someone famous has the temerity to die early.
The best parts were the stories - tales about people wanting to read their obit in advance or realizing they are being interviewed for their obit. (When Bette Davis realized that was happening, she took away the tea and came back with a shaker of martinis.) Also, some of the funnier obits and things overheard on the phone in the obit department.
The author bemoans, of course, the diminishment of well-done obits in the nation's newspapers, while admitting that they still have it pretty good at the Times. He also name-checks Ann Wroe at the Economist, who writes a one-page obit on the back page of each weekly issue. Ann has the attitude that he admires, an attempt to capture how the person saw the world, rather than how other people see that person.
All in all, a fun and informative book about a topic we don't usually think much about.
So, what is your obit going to look like? You might consider writing it now - it'll run someday, whether you do it or not.
September 2, 2026
Clever and humorous yet informative. 10/10 would let this guy write my obit
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an advance copy of book that looks at how we remember the dead, how this has changed over the years, why we remember some, but omit others, and what makes up a person's life, the life lived, or the summation that comes when that person is gone.
My family had some warning when my father passed away, so we planned accordingly. Suits were checked for fit and cleaning. A hall was booked, grave and casket purchased and a priest rented. The hardest, besides his dying was the writing of my father's obituary. My brother and I took on the writing, both working for magazines at the time, with final edit given to my mother. This was probably the hardest writing I have ever done. How does one summerize a life, especially as seen through three sets of eyes. This was so hard that both my brother and I have vowed to die first, so we would not have to do it again. I can't imagine a stranger, on deadline trying to capture the life of a person, they might know through fame, but sometimes not. And yet there are so many obituaries that I have read that have given me a sense of who a stranger was, and what he meant. This is a true act of creation, and one with an interesting history, and one that takes a lot of skill. Are They Dead Yet?: The Art of the Obit by longtime newsman Sam Roberts, and is not just a history of obituaries, but a history of newspapers, how we mourn, and what we remember about the dead.
The book is a bit memoir, a bit how to write, and a lot of history and anecdotes about newspapers, journalism, the city of New York, and about handling grief and loss. Roberts is a longtime newsman, starting at the New York Daily news, working as reporter and editor, before moving to the New York Times, and later to the obituary desk. Roberts discusses how people are chosen to be featured, fame usually, but an interesting story does help. There are anecdotes about collecting information, and how many newspapers have a, well morgue of pre-written obituaries, many of them created by interviewing the people who are still alive, to be ready for that special day. In addition Roberts looks at the history of tabloids in New York, the loss of which means that people know little about the world around them, and those neighbors and friends who have left, sometimes without fanfare. There is a wondering about what we owe the dead, if even a few words will someday be too much for a data center or AI to care about.
I really enjoyed this book for many reasons, something that should be said about a book dealing with death, but it is true. Roberts story about writing, researching knowing when to skip bad things, and in some cases including them to give a whole profile of the dead. The book offers why people are chosen, and efforts made to change this, to add more minorities and woman, and not just the usual white business owner. The writing is very good, clear and concise like a good newspaper article, full of information.
There is humor, but a lot of sadness, an understandable sadness. People fear being forgotten, about dying alone, and dying unmourned. The idea of a few words, even from a stranger, discussing a person, even if they did nothing notable, at least to the public. Life is notable, something that come across in this book. An interesting read for tabloid history, writing, and about the people who left us, those forgotten and those who are unforgettable. I look forward to reading more by Sam Roberts.
My family had some warning when my father passed away, so we planned accordingly. Suits were checked for fit and cleaning. A hall was booked, grave and casket purchased and a priest rented. The hardest, besides his dying was the writing of my father's obituary. My brother and I took on the writing, both working for magazines at the time, with final edit given to my mother. This was probably the hardest writing I have ever done. How does one summerize a life, especially as seen through three sets of eyes. This was so hard that both my brother and I have vowed to die first, so we would not have to do it again. I can't imagine a stranger, on deadline trying to capture the life of a person, they might know through fame, but sometimes not. And yet there are so many obituaries that I have read that have given me a sense of who a stranger was, and what he meant. This is a true act of creation, and one with an interesting history, and one that takes a lot of skill. Are They Dead Yet?: The Art of the Obit by longtime newsman Sam Roberts, and is not just a history of obituaries, but a history of newspapers, how we mourn, and what we remember about the dead.
The book is a bit memoir, a bit how to write, and a lot of history and anecdotes about newspapers, journalism, the city of New York, and about handling grief and loss. Roberts is a longtime newsman, starting at the New York Daily news, working as reporter and editor, before moving to the New York Times, and later to the obituary desk. Roberts discusses how people are chosen to be featured, fame usually, but an interesting story does help. There are anecdotes about collecting information, and how many newspapers have a, well morgue of pre-written obituaries, many of them created by interviewing the people who are still alive, to be ready for that special day. In addition Roberts looks at the history of tabloids in New York, the loss of which means that people know little about the world around them, and those neighbors and friends who have left, sometimes without fanfare. There is a wondering about what we owe the dead, if even a few words will someday be too much for a data center or AI to care about.
I really enjoyed this book for many reasons, something that should be said about a book dealing with death, but it is true. Roberts story about writing, researching knowing when to skip bad things, and in some cases including them to give a whole profile of the dead. The book offers why people are chosen, and efforts made to change this, to add more minorities and woman, and not just the usual white business owner. The writing is very good, clear and concise like a good newspaper article, full of information.
There is humor, but a lot of sadness, an understandable sadness. People fear being forgotten, about dying alone, and dying unmourned. The idea of a few words, even from a stranger, discussing a person, even if they did nothing notable, at least to the public. Life is notable, something that come across in this book. An interesting read for tabloid history, writing, and about the people who left us, those forgotten and those who are unforgettable. I look forward to reading more by Sam Roberts.
September 4, 2026
I was sorely disappointed here. This was not what I expected and not really what I wanted. I expected a clever, insightful, even funny look at what it means to write obituaries, probably organized around supposed tips on how to write an obituary. With lots of funny examples and insightful philosophical proverbs on what it means to live, and to die, well.
That is not this book.
First allow me to give an example sentence from page 190, "They may be equipped with such perspicuity, that they can can penetrate a paid death notice to instinctively discover the personal and professional skeletons that transform an otherwise quotidian obituary into a front-page expose." That sentence takes nearly four lines, and I had to laugh because who is this written for? I'm by no means a genius, but I do consider myself fairly well read, and even I struggle to understand what he means by this sentence. How many 1-dollar words does the author need to use here? It reads like a thesaurus barfed all over the page. The entire book is written like this, with a devout need to show the reader just how smart the author is.
The book becomes a list of name drops for people nobody has ever heard of before. A parade of people from the journalism world who mean nothing to me as a read. Again, who is this written for? The only people would get these reference are his own friends in the journalism world. I don't care if this book is indeed that niche, but then maybe don't try to sell it as something everyone would enjoy or find insightful. The author is a journalist, we get it.
It gets worse from there because the only newspaper or journalism of any consequence is the New York Times. In fact, the only place in the world is New York, and what New York says must be true. The author is from New York, we get it.
The book descends even deeper into the realm of garbage when he starts becoming an apologist for not writing obits for women and brown people fifty, sixty, seventy plus years ago. Even a hundred years ago. Probably because most of the people he mentions did nothing of significance to be named in the paper. Especially the paper you spent the first one-hundred pages telling us how hard it is to get an obit into. The first guy to drive down a road is hardly worth gaining entry into an exclusive club with world leaders. Same with C and D-list celebrities. At the end of the day . . . who cares that the kid from some commercial nobody even remembers is gone.
Really, what becomes so sad, is that the potential is here for this book. I read the whole thing because I could see what the author maybe . . . wanted to do? (should have done?), I don't know. But when he gives example obits, they are funny. When he really stops to talk about what is important in a obit, it is insightful. When he discusses what really matters in life, he comes to within a hairsbreadth of actually saying what really matters. Not people's achievements, not their fame and their fortunes, but their family, their loved ones.
The insight is there, but the author is too busy dropping another name you won't understand, pulling out another obscure quote that doesn't add anything, mentioning a black woman for unknown reasons, or writing another indecipherable sentence just to prove how smart he is.
The book ultimately, is not funny, it's not insightful, and it's just not fun to read. This was a complete disappointment.
That is not this book.
First allow me to give an example sentence from page 190, "They may be equipped with such perspicuity, that they can can penetrate a paid death notice to instinctively discover the personal and professional skeletons that transform an otherwise quotidian obituary into a front-page expose." That sentence takes nearly four lines, and I had to laugh because who is this written for? I'm by no means a genius, but I do consider myself fairly well read, and even I struggle to understand what he means by this sentence. How many 1-dollar words does the author need to use here? It reads like a thesaurus barfed all over the page. The entire book is written like this, with a devout need to show the reader just how smart the author is.
The book becomes a list of name drops for people nobody has ever heard of before. A parade of people from the journalism world who mean nothing to me as a read. Again, who is this written for? The only people would get these reference are his own friends in the journalism world. I don't care if this book is indeed that niche, but then maybe don't try to sell it as something everyone would enjoy or find insightful. The author is a journalist, we get it.
It gets worse from there because the only newspaper or journalism of any consequence is the New York Times. In fact, the only place in the world is New York, and what New York says must be true. The author is from New York, we get it.
The book descends even deeper into the realm of garbage when he starts becoming an apologist for not writing obits for women and brown people fifty, sixty, seventy plus years ago. Even a hundred years ago. Probably because most of the people he mentions did nothing of significance to be named in the paper. Especially the paper you spent the first one-hundred pages telling us how hard it is to get an obit into. The first guy to drive down a road is hardly worth gaining entry into an exclusive club with world leaders. Same with C and D-list celebrities. At the end of the day . . . who cares that the kid from some commercial nobody even remembers is gone.
Really, what becomes so sad, is that the potential is here for this book. I read the whole thing because I could see what the author maybe . . . wanted to do? (should have done?), I don't know. But when he gives example obits, they are funny. When he really stops to talk about what is important in a obit, it is insightful. When he discusses what really matters in life, he comes to within a hairsbreadth of actually saying what really matters. Not people's achievements, not their fame and their fortunes, but their family, their loved ones.
The insight is there, but the author is too busy dropping another name you won't understand, pulling out another obscure quote that doesn't add anything, mentioning a black woman for unknown reasons, or writing another indecipherable sentence just to prove how smart he is.
The book ultimately, is not funny, it's not insightful, and it's just not fun to read. This was a complete disappointment.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Writing obituaries is about distilling the high and low points of a subject's life---into an article, yes, but also into a single opening paragraph that fairly summarizes their existence.
No book about death should be this entertaining! Then again, as the author mentions, obituaries are really not about death (indeed the word "died" is usually only mentioned one time per obit), but instead they are a memorialization of someone's life, and the way they chose to live it. Roberts has been writing obituaries for decades, and definitely knows the subject. His book is well written, and utterly absorbing.
Here are just a few of the topics discussed . . . at least the ones that I found most interesting:
- When young men were dying of AIDS in the mid-eighties, newspapers were reluctant to list that as the cause of death lest the subject's family be stigmatized.
- How do you report the death of a truly awful person? "The right to dignity," says the historian Mary Beard, "diminishes with time." Hence, Rolling Stone had no qualms using this headline: HENRY KISSINGER, WAR CRIMINAL BELOVED BY AMERICA'S RULING CLASS, FINALLY DIES.
- It's not a secret that newspapers keep "advance obituaries" on file for many of the rich and famous, but sometimes even they're caught by surprise. No one expected Michael Jackson to die at age fifty. Britney Spears, however, due to her erratic behavior, had her obit prepared by newspaper staff in advance when the singer was only twenty-six.
Roberts refers frequently to other books about obituaries (most are already on my to-read list), and liberally uses quotes.
Here are two of my favorites:
" . . . the lives of ninety percent of the population are so dull no one would be interested in them if they were written down... while the lives of the other 10 percent are so bizarre that no one would believe them . . . " - W.P. Kinsella
"Writing your obituary while you're still alive can offer clarity about your life and, mercifully, if you find something lacking, you still have time to revise." - Kelly McMasters
Excellent idea, I think. Now I've got to do something to make my future obit a little more interesting.
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for providing a physical ARC.
No book about death should be this entertaining! Then again, as the author mentions, obituaries are really not about death (indeed the word "died" is usually only mentioned one time per obit), but instead they are a memorialization of someone's life, and the way they chose to live it. Roberts has been writing obituaries for decades, and definitely knows the subject. His book is well written, and utterly absorbing.
Here are just a few of the topics discussed . . . at least the ones that I found most interesting:
- When young men were dying of AIDS in the mid-eighties, newspapers were reluctant to list that as the cause of death lest the subject's family be stigmatized.
- How do you report the death of a truly awful person? "The right to dignity," says the historian Mary Beard, "diminishes with time." Hence, Rolling Stone had no qualms using this headline: HENRY KISSINGER, WAR CRIMINAL BELOVED BY AMERICA'S RULING CLASS, FINALLY DIES.
- It's not a secret that newspapers keep "advance obituaries" on file for many of the rich and famous, but sometimes even they're caught by surprise. No one expected Michael Jackson to die at age fifty. Britney Spears, however, due to her erratic behavior, had her obit prepared by newspaper staff in advance when the singer was only twenty-six.
Roberts refers frequently to other books about obituaries (most are already on my to-read list), and liberally uses quotes.
Here are two of my favorites:
" . . . the lives of ninety percent of the population are so dull no one would be interested in them if they were written down... while the lives of the other 10 percent are so bizarre that no one would believe them . . . " - W.P. Kinsella
"Writing your obituary while you're still alive can offer clarity about your life and, mercifully, if you find something lacking, you still have time to revise." - Kelly McMasters
Excellent idea, I think. Now I've got to do something to make my future obit a little more interesting.
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for providing a physical ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for the ARC of this book!
I was really excited to get the opportunity to read this book. True story: when I was in 6th grade, we had to do a presentation on what we wanted to be when we grew up. I said I wanted to be a professional obituary writer. I was both not a thing, and too morbid. Then I said I wanted to be a water sommelier. Again, told that wasn't a thing. (Both are totally things, btw...). Finally, I decided to come up with something that would be seen as totally acceptable, a sports commentator. All these years later, I'm actually a teacher, but part of me never gave up the obituary writer or water sommelier thing.
Anyway, like I said, I was really excited to have the opportunity to read this book ahead of its publishing date. It manages to be both a personal memoir of sorts about Sam Roberts, while also giving the reader an informative look at the history and development of the obituary over time. There are stylistic tips and hints, an analysis of how to formulate an obituary for a person who may not have always been seen as a positive figure, but was still "important" nonetheless, and how the timing of one's death can impact the placement within the newspaper. There's also discussion of how the move away from physical newspapers to (mostly) online platforms has really helped the industry thrive.
All of this is done with humor. While I wouldn't say this book is full of laughs on every page, there is a great deal of humor and irony peppered in, keeping it exciting. We also get the chance to read excerpts of some obituaries, and get an understanding of what level of fame leads to what length of memorial. It also mentions the concept of the auto-obituary and the way that one may need to tread lightly when requesting information from someone, whether they be family member, or the soon-to-be-deceased.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable book, so I am giving it 4 stars.
I was really excited to get the opportunity to read this book. True story: when I was in 6th grade, we had to do a presentation on what we wanted to be when we grew up. I said I wanted to be a professional obituary writer. I was both not a thing, and too morbid. Then I said I wanted to be a water sommelier. Again, told that wasn't a thing. (Both are totally things, btw...). Finally, I decided to come up with something that would be seen as totally acceptable, a sports commentator. All these years later, I'm actually a teacher, but part of me never gave up the obituary writer or water sommelier thing.
Anyway, like I said, I was really excited to have the opportunity to read this book ahead of its publishing date. It manages to be both a personal memoir of sorts about Sam Roberts, while also giving the reader an informative look at the history and development of the obituary over time. There are stylistic tips and hints, an analysis of how to formulate an obituary for a person who may not have always been seen as a positive figure, but was still "important" nonetheless, and how the timing of one's death can impact the placement within the newspaper. There's also discussion of how the move away from physical newspapers to (mostly) online platforms has really helped the industry thrive.
All of this is done with humor. While I wouldn't say this book is full of laughs on every page, there is a great deal of humor and irony peppered in, keeping it exciting. We also get the chance to read excerpts of some obituaries, and get an understanding of what level of fame leads to what length of memorial. It also mentions the concept of the auto-obituary and the way that one may need to tread lightly when requesting information from someone, whether they be family member, or the soon-to-be-deceased.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable book, so I am giving it 4 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Are They Dead Yet? is an extensively and lovingly researched history of obituaries, told through the lens of the author’s journalism career, particularly his past decade working as an obituarist. The book is also a love letter to journalism, and I found it fascinating to read about the author’s career over the ages and how journalism has changed. This book made me laugh in many chapters, and made me tear up on occasion as well. I learned a great deal about historical events, and of course I reflected a lot on death.
Roberts sheds light onto topics many of us don’t consider, such as: Who deserves an obituary? How do you distill a life down into a single small paragraph? What makes someone’s life “good”? How do you write an obituary in advance?
While the book focuses on the history of obituaries, I found Roberts’ personal anecdotes to be some of the most compelling parts of the book. Towards the beginning of the book Roberts describes his childhood (and adulthood!) aversion to thinking about death, something I wish he returned to at the end. I was curious to see his current feelings around processing death after his decade of writing obits and was disappointed he didn’t return to that line of thought. Though the author says he will likely never write a memoir, I would be interested to read one by him in the future!
While I appreciated the extensive sources cited in each chapter (something I find lacking in many nonfiction books), on occasion I found the text to be bogged down by quotes, and anecdotes sometimes ended abruptly, giving me a bit of whiplash moving onto the next topic.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this read! I found it thoughtful, educational, and often humorous, and I recommend it.
Roberts sheds light onto topics many of us don’t consider, such as: Who deserves an obituary? How do you distill a life down into a single small paragraph? What makes someone’s life “good”? How do you write an obituary in advance?
While the book focuses on the history of obituaries, I found Roberts’ personal anecdotes to be some of the most compelling parts of the book. Towards the beginning of the book Roberts describes his childhood (and adulthood!) aversion to thinking about death, something I wish he returned to at the end. I was curious to see his current feelings around processing death after his decade of writing obits and was disappointed he didn’t return to that line of thought. Though the author says he will likely never write a memoir, I would be interested to read one by him in the future!
While I appreciated the extensive sources cited in each chapter (something I find lacking in many nonfiction books), on occasion I found the text to be bogged down by quotes, and anecdotes sometimes ended abruptly, giving me a bit of whiplash moving onto the next topic.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this read! I found it thoughtful, educational, and often humorous, and I recommend it.
August 17, 2026
I worked for a guy who called them "the Irish sports pages".
A different guy who I worked with said about another lawyer, "I am not wishing that he died, but I would smile if I saw his obit tomorrow morning."
I am following the cliche. The older I get, the more closely I read the obits.
This is a very clever book about obituaries. Sam Roberts has written over 1500 obituaries for the New York Times. He has studied the form, and he knows all of the stories.
He goes over the basics of obit writing. Get the reason the person is worthy of a NYT obit in the first line. Try to be accurate, without being snarky. Humor is very tricky. Tread carefully. Be careful of superlatives, "the first", "the biggest" "the only" are all dangerous. Some amateur fact checker will try to correct you.
He surveys the history of obits from bare bones death notices to elaborate mini biographies. He also outlines the different styles of obits. The NYT is fairly formal. Several of the English papers specialize in more prickly and uncomfortable ones. The digest papers look for sex and violence-tinged lives.
The NYT writes advanced obituaries for thousands of famous people. It is how they can have a full-page obit for a President or a movie star within hours of their death. He has a bunch of good stories about interviewing living subjects for their advance obits. Some enthusiastically help out. Some refuse it as ghoulish.
My favorite of the many good obits he shares was for Reginald Foster, the official Latinist for the Vatican. It ended "He died on Christmas Day at a nursing home in Milwaukee. He was LXXXI."
A different guy who I worked with said about another lawyer, "I am not wishing that he died, but I would smile if I saw his obit tomorrow morning."
I am following the cliche. The older I get, the more closely I read the obits.
This is a very clever book about obituaries. Sam Roberts has written over 1500 obituaries for the New York Times. He has studied the form, and he knows all of the stories.
He goes over the basics of obit writing. Get the reason the person is worthy of a NYT obit in the first line. Try to be accurate, without being snarky. Humor is very tricky. Tread carefully. Be careful of superlatives, "the first", "the biggest" "the only" are all dangerous. Some amateur fact checker will try to correct you.
He surveys the history of obits from bare bones death notices to elaborate mini biographies. He also outlines the different styles of obits. The NYT is fairly formal. Several of the English papers specialize in more prickly and uncomfortable ones. The digest papers look for sex and violence-tinged lives.
The NYT writes advanced obituaries for thousands of famous people. It is how they can have a full-page obit for a President or a movie star within hours of their death. He has a bunch of good stories about interviewing living subjects for their advance obits. Some enthusiastically help out. Some refuse it as ghoulish.
My favorite of the many good obits he shares was for Reginald Foster, the official Latinist for the Vatican. It ended "He died on Christmas Day at a nursing home in Milwaukee. He was LXXXI."
September 6, 2026
3.38 stars. I love reading obituaries, so I was a bit disappointed to find this book by an NYT obituarist "just alright" as Randy Jackson used to say on American Idol. Part of the disconnect is not author's fault -- I'm especially preoccupied with the short (mostly) ones about ordinary people, the "paid death notices" subtype, whereas author's main interest understandably is the ones he writes, longer pieces about prominent figures.
Even so....some funny or interesting anecdotes (ex. a mixup when Alfred Nobel's brother died led to publication of a nasty obit of Alfred himself, then best known for inventing dynamite, and this ostensibly inspired him to become a do-gooder and for instance endow the Nobel Prizes), some breezy chapters about tough calls they make concerning who merits an NYT news obit or the practice of writing them in advance and then filling in a few deets when the person actually dies, or differences between his work and how it's portrayed in shows/movies/novels, but on the other hand.....
......quite a bit of tedious enumeration of examples. If you didn't laugh at one report of something overheard in the NYT newsroom when eavesdropping on reporter's side of phone call with relative of the deceased, no worries -- 20 more are coming right behind it. Same with indignant calls from survivors nit picking obituary errors, or examples of celebs one isn't sure are still alive, or........I guess the book format freed him up to go long, but this one might have worked better as like a career retrospective article in a magazine or the like.
Even so....some funny or interesting anecdotes (ex. a mixup when Alfred Nobel's brother died led to publication of a nasty obit of Alfred himself, then best known for inventing dynamite, and this ostensibly inspired him to become a do-gooder and for instance endow the Nobel Prizes), some breezy chapters about tough calls they make concerning who merits an NYT news obit or the practice of writing them in advance and then filling in a few deets when the person actually dies, or differences between his work and how it's portrayed in shows/movies/novels, but on the other hand.....
......quite a bit of tedious enumeration of examples. If you didn't laugh at one report of something overheard in the NYT newsroom when eavesdropping on reporter's side of phone call with relative of the deceased, no worries -- 20 more are coming right behind it. Same with indignant calls from survivors nit picking obituary errors, or examples of celebs one isn't sure are still alive, or........I guess the book format freed him up to go long, but this one might have worked better as like a career retrospective article in a magazine or the like.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Being a huge history nerd, my definition of "fun" is very skewed. Case in point, when I saw Sam Roberts had written Are They Dead Yet?: The Art of the Obit, my only question was how fast I could get my hands on it. What could be more fun than writing obituaries?
Clearly, this book would be a laugh riot for anyone who enjoys Irish wakes. For the uninitiated, a "good" wake is when you end up smiling and laughing, telling stories about the deceased way more than crying and lamenting. Roberts brings that energy to the book along with the actual nuts and bolts of writing obituaries.
The book has a ton of great insights. Such as the fact that there is a database of obituaries already written for a bunch of people who are still very much alive. Or that calling the actual alive person for an interview to prep the obit is an actual thing which happens. It's just story after story of the interesting world of obituaries. The slight criticism I have is that each chapter tries to have a theme, but they often devolve (wonderfully) into a litany of stories. It is a truly minor issue that shouldn't sway anyone away from reading this one.
(This book was provided as a review copy by Bloomsbury Publishing.)
Clearly, this book would be a laugh riot for anyone who enjoys Irish wakes. For the uninitiated, a "good" wake is when you end up smiling and laughing, telling stories about the deceased way more than crying and lamenting. Roberts brings that energy to the book along with the actual nuts and bolts of writing obituaries.
The book has a ton of great insights. Such as the fact that there is a database of obituaries already written for a bunch of people who are still very much alive. Or that calling the actual alive person for an interview to prep the obit is an actual thing which happens. It's just story after story of the interesting world of obituaries. The slight criticism I have is that each chapter tries to have a theme, but they often devolve (wonderfully) into a litany of stories. It is a truly minor issue that shouldn't sway anyone away from reading this one.
(This book was provided as a review copy by Bloomsbury Publishing.)
August 29, 2026
I’m not sure I’d ever encountered the word obituarist before I listened to this book, despite having read at least one other book about obituaries. Since it was used repeatedly here, there’s a good chance it will stick in my gray matter, and acquiring a new vocabulary word is always reason for celebration.
This made me think about obituaries in ways I hadn’t considered. In the context of choosing who gets a NYT obituary: of the people who died, which are the most marketable for our audience? (That’s not the way the author puts it, but that’s what it boils down to.) If you don't make the cut, death notices in the NYT can easily run into thousands of dollars, which is a good reminder that the ultimate winners are always the skinny guy in the hooded cloak with the scythe, and Capitalism.
There are plenty of excerpts from obituaries sprinkled throughout, along with anecdotes about interviewing people about their own obituaries, and plenty of humor. Here’s my favorite line from the book, which technically has nothing to do with an obituary:
I once met a woman who had grown up in Nazi Germany and asked her what it was like. Her guarded four-word reply could easily have encapsulated what would have been a revealing autobiography: “It wasn’t my fault.”
August 21, 2026
Are They Dead Yet?: The Art of the Obit is a witty and surprisingly profound exploration of what obituary writing reveals about the way we remember other people. Drawing on nearly a decade behind the New York Times obituaries desk and more than 1,500 obituaries, Sam Roberts demonstrates that an obituary is rarely just about death,it is an attempt to distill an entire human life into a few carefully chosen words.
What makes the book especially compelling is the range of questions it raises about legacy and memory. Who deserves to be remembered? What parts of a life belong in the final record, and what should remain private? Roberts explores these questions with humor, behind-the-scenes insight, and a journalist's sharp eye, showing how difficult it can be to decide what ultimately defines a person.
For readers interested in journalism, writing, biography, history, and the peculiar ways society thinks about death, Are They Dead Yet? offers an engaging and memorable perspective. Its central message,that there is no such thing as an ordinary life,gives the book an emotional dimension beneath its wit.
What makes the book especially compelling is the range of questions it raises about legacy and memory. Who deserves to be remembered? What parts of a life belong in the final record, and what should remain private? Roberts explores these questions with humor, behind-the-scenes insight, and a journalist's sharp eye, showing how difficult it can be to decide what ultimately defines a person.
For readers interested in journalism, writing, biography, history, and the peculiar ways society thinks about death, Are They Dead Yet? offers an engaging and memorable perspective. Its central message,that there is no such thing as an ordinary life,gives the book an emotional dimension beneath its wit.
Review of advance copy
Some my think this is a morbid topic for a book but it is amazing how many people read the obituaries in the newspaper first before the news. We are fascinated by the lives and death of other people, especially if they are famous or a celebrity. Sam Roberts looks at the history of the death notice and and how it has evolved over the years to become a short biography of a person, a record of their life. it is an archive of their history, their family ties and their successes and failures.
Roberts shares so many examples of famous, funny and unusual obits .
Files of prewritten obituaries are kept so that when someone important dies they can go to press with the information immediately. Sometimes they have been written to far in advance and the person lives many years longer than expected. So the obit needs to be proofread before going to press to make sure it is still accurate. Maybe there is a prewritten obit in a file somewhere about you..
Roberts shares so many examples of famous, funny and unusual obits .
Files of prewritten obituaries are kept so that when someone important dies they can go to press with the information immediately. Sometimes they have been written to far in advance and the person lives many years longer than expected. So the obit needs to be proofread before going to press to make sure it is still accurate. Maybe there is a prewritten obit in a file somewhere about you..
September 14, 2026
The way you spent almost a decade writing about nearly 1,500 lives and still managed to find something new to say about each one, that's a patience most writers don't even attempt. Honestly, "Are They Dead Yet?" sounds like it's going to make me think about obituaries as something way bigger than just dates and causes of death. I just have this small wish to hear from you directly someday about which obituary out of all of them stuck with you the most. I have to say, the potential here is incredible. I’d love to share some ideas on how we could bring this to life visually. Reach out to me on Discord: leowarrior_04 or tumblr: leowarrior011 if you're interested in discussing more. Keep up the great work!
August 31, 2026
This was a terrific book. Sam Roberts is a writer who has been writing obituaries the New York Times for several decades. He begins with something of a memoir, or at least an explanation of how he came to be assigned to the dead beat. He easily moved into his outlook on how writing obituaries is a service to humanity. From his general philosophy Roberts begins recalling examples. What follows is a series of themed chapters that have Roberts telling stories from his life among the dead. This is a fun read that is surprisingly profound. I highly recommend it for anyone who expects to die at some point.
August 12, 2026
I enjoy reading obituaries in the paper every day and was interested to learn some behind-the-scenes information. Because each obit is a mini biography (or in some cases, autobiography) of a person, we often get a sense of the deceased’s personality and their relationship with their family and friends, which I find fascinating. This book had some of that but there was a lot of ancient history, too, which wasn’t as interesting to me. Thank-you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing, and Mr. Roberts for the ARC of this title.
August 22, 2026
I listened to the audiobook version and found the book to be well written and interesting for its obit coverage through the years with a focus on the New York Times obits. Interesting to find out about statistics that can be derived from analyzing years of obits. The audiobook became a little tedious in chapters 10 and 11 with the repetition of obits that really didn’t hold my interest. But on the whole, it is a worthy book if you are not dead yet.
August 29, 2026
Interesting, largely self referential (I know it's his book, but c'mon, is it about what the title says? Or his work? ) book about writing obituaries. Although it does often hit it's mark in trying to be lighthearted, it also really digs into the minutiae and drags a bit. Also, when discussing the 'art' vs his own experiences he gives multiple references, from books about writing obits, that made me question how much this particular book is needed.
August 11, 2026
This book is a perfectly readable look at writing an obituary. It has a certain wit and wryness to it that makes it enjoyable, but it doesn’t stand out from other books of its ilk. Much of the same territory gets covered here.
September 7, 2026
A short but mostly-effective look at “the art of the obit.” Certain chapters were more interesting than others, as the Author attempts to place his own work within the broader context of this niche micro-history.
3/5 stars.
3/5 stars.
September 9, 2026
Almost quit on this one but glad I stuck it out. Who knew there was so much to be said about writing an obituary? There were some fascinating stories and insights. Overall while I'm glad I read it, it was just okay.
September 12, 2026
Highly entertaining and great stories. Surprisingly the organization, the development of key themes leave something to be desired.
Sooo many stories; tends to get confusing. But, illuminates a real art.
Sooo many stories; tends to get confusing. But, illuminates a real art.
August 4, 2026
ARC from Bloomsbury. I think I’d give this a 3.5. I liked it, but as an obituary enthusiast it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.
August 27, 2026
DNF. Audiobook. Kinda interesting to start but then repetitive and I lost interest. Via Libro FM educator ALC program.
August 31, 2026
It had some interesting aspects and some antidotal information, However I felt it being a bit repetitive and a bit analyatical.
August 31, 2026
Thank for you Libro.fm for the ALC :)
Review to come.
Review to come.
September 3, 2026
3,5 stars;
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews