Humanists Online (Scotland)

Kathryn Mannix writes:
"It’s a simple truth: We all die.

It’s a complicated truth: we all fear dying, and we all fear it in different ways, according to our individual circumstances and life experiences."
For Demystifying Death Week we'll be discussing her book 'With the End in Mind' on Tuesday 5th May online.

Described as “ illuminating and beautiful” by Cathy Rentzenbrink, in The Times.

An unprecedented book by palliative medicine pioneer Dr Kathryn Mannix exploring the biggest taboo in our society and the only certainty we all share: death.

Told through a series of beautifully crafted stories taken from nearly four decades of clinical practice, her book answers the most intimate questions about the process of dying with touching honesty and humanity. She makes a compelling case for the therapeutic power of approaching death not with trepidation but with openness, clarity and understanding.

With the End in Mind is a book for us all: the grieving and bereaved, ill and healthy. Open these pages and you will find stories about people who are like you, and like people you know and love. You will meet Holly, who danced her last day away; Eric, the retired head teacher who, even with Motor Neurone Disease, gets things done; loving, tender-hearted Nelly and Joe, each living a lonely lie to save their beloved from distress; and Sylvie, 19, dying of leukaemia, sewing a cushion for her mum to hug by the fire after she has died.

These are just four of the book’s thirty-odd stories of normal humans, dying normal human deaths. They show how the dying embrace living not because they are unusual or brave, but because that’s what humans do. By turns touching, tragic, at times funny and always wise, they offer us illumination, models for action, and hope. Read this book and you’ll be better prepared for life as well as death.

Our Book Group is drop-in friendly, attendance is flexible, and you join-in when you choose to, no guilt.

We aim to center the experience around relaxed and informal discussion, themes, and community. We value open dialogue, diverse viewpoints, and thoughtful exploration.

Enjoy lively conversation, and a Zoom room full of people who care about ideas, ethics, and being human in the world.

Kindly facilitated by our volunteer book group facilitators Gillian, Jenny, and Shelley.