Death’s Summer Coat by Brandy Schillace Summary
Overview of Death’s Summer Coat
Journey beyond taboos with "Death's Summer Coat," where Brandy Schillace unveils global death rituals from Tibetan sky burials to Victorian grief industries. This thought-provoking exploration fuels the "death positive" movement, asking: Why wait for winter when we can discuss mortality while summer's sun still warms our backs?
Similar books to Death’s Summer Coat
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Key takeaways
The Paradox of Modern Mortality
We've become strangers to death in the West. While death cafes and live-tweeted final moments might seem morbid novelties, they represent desperate attempts to reclaim what we've lost only recently-our ability to discuss death openly. This taboo is strikingly new, emerging just 150 years ago when we began replacing direct language about mortality with euphemisms and avoidance. Meanwhile, in many cultures worldwide, death remains an everyday conversation. As one Indian respondent noted: "Death is discussed from the time the first pet or grand-uncle dies." Our medical establishments now fight death at all costs, with companies like Google's Calico investing billions to literally "cure death." Yet despite these efforts, everything dies. This universal truth connects us across time and culture-from ancient burial rituals to modern hospice care. What makes humans unique isn't just that we die, but that we know we will die. Unlike animals who primarily recognize death as an event, we understand it as both event and process. This awareness begins remarkably early-children often contemplate mortality while observing dead insects or questioning what happens to elderly relatives. Even as we live, we experience small deaths daily. Our body completely regenerates itself every seven to ten years, with different tissues replacing themselves at varying rates. The transition from the abstract "I will die someday" to the immediate "I am dying" represents a fundamental shift in perspective that often prompts deep reflection on life's meaning and legacy.
When Grief Became a Disease
Death Rituals: Finding the Familiar in the Strange
From Victorian Mourning to Modern Detachment
Medicine's Complicated Dance with Death
Reclaiming Our Relationship with Mortality
Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to Death’s Summer Coat Summary in 8 Minutes
Break down key ideas from Death’s Summer Coat into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Flash Card Mode - Top 7 Insights from Death’s Summer Coat in a Nutshell
Distill Death’s Summer Coat into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.
Fun Mode - Death’s Summer Coat Lessons Told Through 24-Min Stories
Experience Death’s Summer Coat through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Personalize Mode - Read or listen to Death’s Summer Coat Summary in 0 Minutes
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Get the Death’s Summer Coat summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.