Death for Beginners is a lyrical, absurd, wise and heartbreaking memoir about the illness and death of Chris Gerolmo's wife, Joan. Humbled and transformed by the loss of his wife with whom he shared a passionate and sometimes volatile love, and not at all consoled by those who endeavored to comfort him with easy answers, Chris offers his own clear-eyed observations on facing the inevitable reality of death. There is grace in these pages, but there is also struggle, fear and humanity. You will find it hard to shake.