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Published by New Modern Arcade
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
'A thoughtful, brilliantly researched and, at times, surprisingly funny look at the final moment that comes to us all' Dominic Hughes, BBC Health Correspondent
'A candid, necessary investigation into the ethics of ageing and the machinery of dying in the 21st century' David Heymann, senior fellow, Chatham House
A comprehensive, thought-provoking exploration of death and a rumination on how our own mortality affects how we live our lives.
Timor Mortis – Latin for ‘fear of death’ – contemplates the fragility of life, exploring the myriad ways in which we confront our mortality, whether through stoicism, suffering, dignity, humour or grief. Public health doctor Richard Coker delves into the historical, biological, and psychological underpinnings of these experiences, as well as the moral complexities of human nature. He examines how our understanding of death has evolved, particularly through the lens of both his personal clinical and public health expertise.
At a time when the role of medicine in end-of-life care is receiving increasing attention across public, policy and political spheres, Richard reflects on how the medical profession navigates, and sometimes fails to negotiate, this delicate process. Through unsettling examples, such as the humour that may be found in even the most unusual settings such as in giving an AIDS diagnosis to a young man, a professional failure in communication over resuscitation wishes, the desperation of a man too breathless to speak and the expectation to coordinate a death to fit a royal schedule, Timor Mortis invites readers to reflect on ageing, death and our relationship with a journey we will all take.
Beyond addressing the philosophical and practical facets of mortality, Timor Mortis uniquely integrates a critical examination of contemporary societal phenomena that shape our relationship with death. The book also offers a compelling analysis of the political and economic forces at play in the business of death. By venturing into these rarely discussed intersections of commerce, policy and personal mortality, Coker provides a fresh and urgent perspective on the challenges of achieving a ‘good death’ and what this looks like in the modern era.
'A candid, necessary investigation into the ethics of ageing and the machinery of dying in the 21st century' David Heymann, senior fellow, Chatham House
A comprehensive, thought-provoking exploration of death and a rumination on how our own mortality affects how we live our lives.
Timor Mortis – Latin for ‘fear of death’ – contemplates the fragility of life, exploring the myriad ways in which we confront our mortality, whether through stoicism, suffering, dignity, humour or grief. Public health doctor Richard Coker delves into the historical, biological, and psychological underpinnings of these experiences, as well as the moral complexities of human nature. He examines how our understanding of death has evolved, particularly through the lens of both his personal clinical and public health expertise.
At a time when the role of medicine in end-of-life care is receiving increasing attention across public, policy and political spheres, Richard reflects on how the medical profession navigates, and sometimes fails to negotiate, this delicate process. Through unsettling examples, such as the humour that may be found in even the most unusual settings such as in giving an AIDS diagnosis to a young man, a professional failure in communication over resuscitation wishes, the desperation of a man too breathless to speak and the expectation to coordinate a death to fit a royal schedule, Timor Mortis invites readers to reflect on ageing, death and our relationship with a journey we will all take.
Beyond addressing the philosophical and practical facets of mortality, Timor Mortis uniquely integrates a critical examination of contemporary societal phenomena that shape our relationship with death. The book also offers a compelling analysis of the political and economic forces at play in the business of death. By venturing into these rarely discussed intersections of commerce, policy and personal mortality, Coker provides a fresh and urgent perspective on the challenges of achieving a ‘good death’ and what this looks like in the modern era.
Product Details
- Publisher: New Modern Arcade (July 30, 2026)
- Length: 336 pages
- ISBN13: 9781917923712
Raves and Reviews
“Part memoir, part meditation, Richard Coker guides us through the works of an astonishingly diverse array of writers and thinkers, brought to life by historical and recent examples and all set within a disarmingly honest and brave account of his personal journey”
– Sir Nick Black, professor of health services research, London School of Tropical Hygiene & Medicine
“Drawing on his extensive first-hand experiences as a doctor, public health practitioner, academic and human being during some of the darkest years of the AIDS pandemic, Richard Coker gives us an insightful and comprehensive analysis of the medical, philosophical, ethical and sociological complexities of death and dying. Especially topical in today’s world, Richard’s engaging and intimate writing – part memoir, part academic analysis – brings life and energy to a complex and under-discussed subject that affects every one of us”
– Jane Anderson, chair of the National AIDS Trust
“A thoughtful, brilliantly researched and, at times, surprisingly funny look at the final moment that comes to us all, but which we find so hard to think and talk about. It’s one of those books so packed full of great quotes and fascinating facts, that you constantly want to turn to the person next to you and say, “Did you know…”. I enjoyed it immensely and was left feeling both enlightened and somehow reassured in equal measure”
– Dominic Hughes, BBC Health Correspondent
“Timor Mortis is a timely reflection on what it means to live in the shadow of our own death in the 21st century. By blending his own experiences with current social commentary, Coker examines how our relationship with death has been outsourced to institutions and shaped by the systems designed to manage it. He then investigates how knowledge of our own death shapes our lives, and in the final chapters challenges us to take back control. It is a candid, necessary investigation into the ethics of ageing and the machinery of dying in the 21st century”
– David Heymann, senior fellow, Global Health Programme, Chatham House
Resources and Downloads
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eBook 9781917923712
