Picture an American mortician who turned death into a fascinating, funny, and fearless conversation—meet Caitlin Doughty! With her bestselling books and a knack for demystifying the end of life, Doughty has become a leading voice in the death positivity movement, blending humor, heart, and hard truths about mortality.
As a licensed mortician and the founder of her own funeral home in Los Angeles, Doughty brings authenticity to her storytelling. Her books, like Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and From Here to Eternity, explore global death practices while advocating for sustainable, meaningful funeral options. Ready to dive into her world?
The Making of Caitlin Doughty
Born on August 19, 1984, in Oahu, Hawaii, Caitlin Doughty grew up with a curiosity about death sparked by a childhood encounter with mortality. After studying medieval history at the University of Chicago, she pivoted to mortuary school, driven by a desire to confront society’s fear of death. Her early career in a San Francisco crematory exposed her to the funeral industry’s quirks, inspiring her to write and reform.
Doughty’s YouTube series, Ask a Mortician, launched in 2011, blending wit and wisdom to answer quirky questions about death. This platform catapulted her into the public eye, laying the groundwork for her literary career and her mission to make death a less taboo topic.
Caitlin Doughty’s Unforgettable Stories
Doughty’s writing is candid, humorous, and deeply human, weaving personal anecdotes with cultural insights. Her debut, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory (2014), is a memoir that recounts her crematory days with raw honesty. It’s both a love letter to the dead and a critique of the modern funeral industry’s excesses.
In From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death (2017), Doughty explores global death rituals, from Bolivian skull ceremonies to Japanese bone-cleaning traditions. The book celebrates diverse approaches to mortality, urging readers to rethink Western practices. Her third book, Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? (2019), answers kids’ quirky questions about death with charm and clarity, proving her range.
Her style—part memoir, part anthropology—makes complex topics accessible. Doughty’s humor disarms readers, while her advocacy for eco-friendly options like natural burials shines through. Each work challenges death denialism, inviting readers to embrace mortality with curiosity.
Why Caitlin Doughty Matters
Caitlin Doughty has reshaped how we talk about death, making it less frightening and more human. Through her books, YouTube channel, and The Order of the Good Death, a nonprofit she founded, she’s built a movement that champions transparency in the funeral industry and celebrates death as a natural process. Her influence spans readers, activists, and even policymakers pushing for greener funeral laws.
By blending humor with advocacy, Doughty has empowered countless people to plan meaningful, affordable farewells. Her work reminds us that confronting death can be a radical act of living fully, leaving a legacy that’s as vibrant as her storytelling.
About Caitlin Doughty
- Born: August 19, 1984, in Oahu, Hawaii
- Key Works: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, From Here to Eternity, Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?
- Notable: Founder of The Order of the Good Death and Undertaking LA
Snag Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and dive into Caitlin Doughty’s witty, eye-opening world of death positivity!