‘I’ve been with thousands of dying people and people do joke around’ – What new books from a hospice nurse, ICU doctor and philosopher tell us about death

Often a taboo subject, here three authors have discovered valuable insights about death from people on their deathbed, those who died and were resuscitated and curious children

What can people who die and are resuscitated teach the rest of us about living our best lives? Telling people his new book is about exactly such patients usually leads to one of two reactions, says Dr Matt Morgan. “Some people changed the subject faster than you can say ‘eulogy’, while others leaned in, morbidly fascinated,” says the author and intensive care doctor at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

If you are still reading, chances are you are in the latter category. So, the 10 case studies Dr Morgan chose for his just-published book, A Second Act, might arouse your curiosity. “I’ve worked as an intensive care doctor for over 20 years, caring for patients who are in the thick fog between life and death. I’ve met hundreds of people who have died, were resuscitated and lived,” he says. “I’ve long thought that these are the people that we should be listening to, not influencers or business gurus. They know what really matters.”