Our Last Best Act

Our Last Best Acticon

Planning for the End of Our Lives to Protect the People and Places We Love

by Mallory McDuff

Publisher
Broadleaf Books
Publication
Dec 07, 2021
Format
Paperback/Softback
Illustrated
No
Price
18.99
Dimensions
5 x 8 in
ISBN
9781506464466
Pages
211
Age
Adult 18+
Category
General Nonfiction

Rights Sold

LanguageEnglish AudioCountryWorldwideAgent-BuyerTantor Media

Description

As we begin to contemplate death and to embark on practical planning for life's end, many of us long to leave a legacy beyond a transfer of money and property--one that ensures a sustainable earth for our loved ones, our communities, and generations to come. But where do we even begin?

With the sudden deaths of both of her parents, Mallory McDuff found herself in a similar position. Utterly unprepared both emotionally and practically, she began to research sustainable practices around death and dying, determined to honor their commitment to caring for the earth. For McDuff, an educator and environmentalist, what started as a highly personal endeavor expanded into a yearlong exploration and assessment of green burials, aquamation, green cemeteries, home funerals, and human composting.

In Our Last Best Act, McDuff bridges the gap between environmental action and religious faith by demonstrating that when the two are combined, they become a powerful force for the greater good. Full of practical information and support, this book equips readers to make decisions for their own end-of-life planning. In a world experiencing a climate crisis and a culture that avoids discussions about death and dying, this book opens the conversation about the choices we make--and how it's possible for our death to honor our values, create a sustainable legacy, and help to heal the earth.

Awards & Endorsements

Dayna Regerro, documentary filmmaker and founder, Climate Listening Project
"Mallory's writing is soul-filling, offering truth desperately needed in this time of climate catastrophe. Our Last Best Act is a timely read for revisioning living and dying, beautifully grounded with love for self, family, community, and planet."

Author(s)

Mallory McDuff

Mallory McDuff

Mallory McDuff teaches environmental education at Warren Wilson College in the Swannanoa Valley near Asheville, NC. She grew up on the Gulf Coast in Fairhope, Alabama, where her parents connected faith to environmentalism through actions such as giving up driving for Lent. With her two daughters, she lives in a 900-square foot rental on campus with a view of cows, sheep, and a donkey named Tallulah. She has a Ph.D. in environmental education.

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