Yours Truly: An Obituary Writer’s Guide to Telling Your Story

“Write your own story while you can,” exhorts Hagerty (The Fateful History of Fannie Mae), obituary writer for the Wall Street Journal, in this compassionate outing. Drawing on the life stories of famous and ordinary people, Hagerty explores how to write obituaries for oneself or loved ones, encouraging readers to shape their writing process by asking “What were you trying to achieve in life?” and “What was it like the first time you fell in love?” He counters the belief that obituaries should be somber with the story of a viral obituary that honored a mother as a “professional clipper of coupons” and a “terror behind the wheel.” Memorable details are vital to capturing a subject’s story, Hagerty contends, adding that the subject always knows the details best, which is why readers should consider writing their own obituaries. Hagerty remains focused on the ins and outs of obituary writing, meaning this will most likely appeal only to a niche audience. However, the abundant biographical sketches—which profile the cofounder of H&R Block and a Kentucky woman who fought for accessible health services—provide fascinating glimpses into the broad scope of humanity in a way that will appeal to fans of Humans of New York. This provides solid guidance on obituary writing, as narrow as that goal may be. (Dec.)