Two deaths one summer: the mother suddenly and easily, doing her task; the father slowly and miserably, not believing what he had taught everyone else. His mythology let him down.” The author tells this story, then presents essays on The Denial of Death,” Our Aging Population,” and We Need a Mythology.” He then analyzes and evaluates 32 beliefs and metaphors dealing with death, arranged according to source: Infantile Wishing, Contemporary Media, Socio-Political Movements, Practical Observation, Religion and Philosophy. The final essay asks, Whose Task Is This?”.