Overview

From the moment the first humans were faced with the death of another, the question has been: What do we do now? At seventeen, Martin Thompson stepped into his first job in his family's funeral home. In the stillness of that initial night shift, wondering what to do next, he realized that every generation has asked the same ancient question: What do we do now? What they created in answer to that question-those first rituals, those first small acts of mercy-were the true beginnings of funeral service. Before there were doctors or builders or soldiers, taking care of the dead wasn't a job but rather an instinct-a sacred reflex of compassion that stretches back 7,000 years. Heart and Humanity honors those wide-ranging acts of compassion. From the Chinchorro people of Chile to the Egyptians, from Greek, Roman, and Victorian mourning culture to the modern era, this book features a series of vignettes that depict the traditions-each bearing the distinct faith, fear, and ingenuity of its people-of those who have stood in quiet courage and made a decision to do something to honor the deceased. Laced with both tenderness and history, this is not a book about death. It's a book about what people have done-since the first recorded breath stopped-to make sure love doesn't stop with it.

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Martin Thompson is a second-generation funeral director from Fort Worth, Texas, and the owner of Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home and Martin Thompson & Son Funeral Home.He began his career in funeral service at seventeen, following in the footsteps of his father, Guy Wilbur Thompson Jr., who taught him that serving others with compassion and dignity is life's greatest calling. Over the past fifty years, Martin has cared for thousands of families and helped shape the profession he calls ""the oldest on earth.""Martin is also the author of Funeral Begins with Fun: A Funeral Director's Humorous Memoir of Growing Up to Run the Family Business-and More Tales from Six Feet Above. His writing blends humor, heart, and humanity-the same qualities that define his life's work.When he's not at the funeral home, Martin enjoys writing, playing golf, sharing stories from a lifetime in service, and celebrating the small moments of laughter and grace that remind us of what it means to be human. He lives in Fort Worth with his wife, and two dogs, whose love and patience have been constant companions through every long day and late night.

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