The Craft of Dying. The Modern Face of Death by Lyn H. Lofland.

I really, really good read. This book includes a 86 page essay, an excellent introduction by John Troyer and an epilogue by Ara A. Francis, which discusses how (and if) things have changed since the Craft of Dying was first published in 1978. It also includes endnotes and a long bibliography. 

The essay discusses 3 main topics: 

1. The situation of Modern Dying - in the past, maybe until 1 century ago, "dying," the stage in which a person knew their lives were ending, lasted minutes, hours or days. In modern times, thanks to scientific and technological advances, we can know well in advance if we are affected by a terminal illness. This knowledge makes the "dying" stage more prolonged than before. In addition to this, and because of how western societies are organised, death takes place in secularised and bureaucratic contexts (e.g. hospitals.) Because of this the dying are organisationally segregated. 

2. Individual constructions about death - discusses how dying is shaped through 4 dimensions of choice: space (if death takes a central role in the dying's life or if it's only marginal), population (to spend last days with others who are in the same situation), knowledge (who knows about the dying) and stance (attitude towards death). There are also other factors, that could be out of control, but which affect the process greatly: the disease process, the social organisation and culture of medical practice, the available resources, the surrounding others. 

3. Collective Constructions - discusses the Happy Death Movement, which appeared in the mid 70s, and which promoted reforms such as: A. Talk more about death (to oppose death as taboo). B. Rearrange death - less dying in hospitals which are poor settings for dying, promote Dying Places (like hospices) and Home Death. C. Alter the structure of the law - to look into euthanasia, death with dignity, and natural death.