"This excellent book gives a comprehensive overview of the processes that delineate life and death. In the body, the many different systems, composed of organs, tissues, and cells, work cooperatively to maintain homeostasis. When homeostasis is not able to be maintained, pathology will occur. Death, whether sudden or gradual, is a process that may take a few minutes or much longer. The changes, with examples, from the cellular to the systems level, are explained. The difficulty of determining a time of death is noted, and some medical and legal aspects of death are outlined. The aftermath of death, such as preservation of the scene, the need for an autopsy, and the part that forensic scientists may play, add to the story. Postmortem changes are defined, and the role of agents of decomposition (e.

g., insects and microorganisms) in the continuing web of life is elucidated. The prose is lucid and free of jargon, and difficult physiological concepts are presented clearly. Excellent diagrams and real-life stories of people (e.g., a young man with cystic fibrosis and a woman who will be donating her body to science) put a human face on the subject. Timely topics such as hospice care, euthanasia, organ and body donation, cryogenics, and burial practices are included. This volume would be a useful discussion tool.

" --Science Books & Films.