'This accessible book describes the experiences of a wide range of individuals (both professionals and the general public) in relation to death and dying, and uses these experiences to helpfully inform and advise those who may be experiencing death and dying for the first time.'

Dr Morag Farquhar, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge.

'From the personal to the practical - debunking the myths and the medical jargon about death. The D-Word offers a new language and literacy for death and the dying process in a world disconnected from the meaning and life-giving aspects of the final stage of our journey on earth. This book is an indispensable tool for a clinician, client or family member. The personal stories are deeply moving and inspiring, and interspersed with clear, caring, practical guides on each stage of the death process. It belongs on the shelf of every doctor, nurse, therapist, counsellor and psychologist.'

Annabel McGoldrick, psychotherapist (working as a family therapist at South Pacific Private Hospital, in private practice and lecturing at Sydney University).

The D-Word is a very contemporary book addressing many issues of concern to both health professionals as well as the community. It encompasses not only practical approaches to working with and supporting dying people, but also the history of care for dying people, the language used and many experiences of people. I particularly appreciated chapter 4 where the voices of the various faith traditions are able to speak for themselves. And the chapter "having the conversation" is an important one for anyone concerned with care for a dying person.

Professor Margaret O'Connor AM, President, Palliative Care Australia.Vivian Bullwinkel Chair in Palliative Care Nursing, Monash University, Australia.

It is a rare gift that Sue Brayne delivers in her very practical yet compassionate work, The D-Word: Talking about Dying.  Her gift of open and honest dialogue about the many aspects of dying - from the medical to the spiritual to the everyday realities - is wrapped in a style that invites participation on a unique level.  Sue hand-picks universal emotions from the heavens and brings them gently down to earth.  The D-Word is heartfelt, true, and uncomplicated. I highly recommend this for everyone, since death is, as she puts it, "something which conclusively is going to happen to us all".

Megory Anderson, author of Sacred Dying: Creating Rituals for Embracing the End of Life and Attending the Dying. Founder and Executive Director of Sacred Dying Foundation, USA.

Dying involves us all. Whether you are a professional carer or interested member of the public this book will speak to you! Full of real-life stories and perspectives from those directly involved with the dying, Sue offers valuable insights and guidance. This much needed addition to the literature should be found in every hospice library, made available to patients and relatives and be required reading for all students of palliative care.

Hilary Lovelace, Community Palliative Care Registered Nurse, Auckland, New Zealand; Research Assistant, Dr. Peter Fenwick's End of Life Experiences Study, UK.

The D-Word: Talking about Dying constitutes a major contribution to our understanding of the realities of dying. It is an inspirational book and will touch the hearts of many but this is not a sentimental book, it will cause you to pause and think. It seeks to open up conversations about death and dying, within families, between patient and doctor, and in the wider society. In my view, this is to be welcomed as we all face death but often we do not talk though our fears and preferences until it is much too late. The book is easy to read and littered with richly evocative stories of dying. It is an excellent book and a valuable asset to all on the way to our common fate.

Professor Sheila Payne, Director of the International Observatory on End of Life Care, Help the Hospices Chair in Hospice Studies and Co-Director of the Cancer Experiences Collaborative, Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, UK.