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Are They Dead Yet?
- Author
- Sam Roberts
- Narrator
- Nathan Osgood
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Publish Date
- 11 August 2026
- Run Time
- 8 hours 39 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
"Mordantly wonderful." —CARL HIAASEN
"I almost died laughing." —ROZ CHAST
"My own departure would not be so bad if only Mr. Roberts could write the obit!" —KAI BIRD
From celebrated New York Times obituarist Sam Roberts, the art of the obit: Who we remember, how we forget, and where we find the true meaning in a life.
After nearly a decade behind the obituaries desk at the paper of record, Roberts knows obits aren't really about deaths. In fact, they usually only mention dying once. Over the course of the nearly 1,500 obituaries he has written throughout his career, he has instead come to understand that they're about distilling an entire life lived—for someone whose name he may have learned that morning.
In Are They Dead Yet?, Roberts explores the major questions that arise from the task of producing a succinct yet record-defining account of a life. Who deserves an obituary, and how do we decide who gets one? How does an obituarist choose what to include—and to omit? What happens when embarrassing information, like a crime, affair, or wonky cause of death, makes itself known? What makes a legacy, a claim to fame? And what happens when that claim to fame, so important in death, isn’t what mattered in life at all?
With wit, wisdom, and behind-the-scenes intrigue, Roberts examines the practice of writing advance obituaries, of which there are more than 2,000 on hold and regularly updated at the New York Times, America's relationship to death in the wake of 9/11 and the pandemic, classic euphemistic language, and more. Through it all, Roberts brings his humor, shrewdness, and experience to prove what he has learned from a long career in death: There’s no such thing as an ordinary life.
Critics Review
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By far the most enjoyable book I’ve read in a long while . . . Sam Roberts [is] an obit writer sans pareil . . . If only dying itself were half as interesting. Or as funny.
Brett Stephens, New York Times
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As a one-stop history, etiquette guide, and miscellany, Are They Dead Yet? goes down like a dirgeful beach read.
Harper's Magazine
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Pithy and engaging.
The New Yorker
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A charmingly digressive history, part-time how-to and all-around appreciation of newspaper death notices, from a master of the form.
The Chicago Tribune
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Utterly delightful . . . Part memoir, part history, and wholly wonderful.
Air Mail, Editors' Choice
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“Delightful... Obituary-writing is a serious occupation but, surprisingly, it also has its lighter moments. Roberts captures these and pays warm-hearted tribute to his fellow obituarists as well as their deserving (and sometimes undeserving) subjects. He is a genial...guide through the complexities of the genre.
Jewish Book Council
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A multifaceted look at the history and evolution of the obituary, and, as a byproduct, the daily newspaper industry... One of the pleasures in reading Roberts’ book is the plethora of snippets from memorable obituaries by Roberts himself, as well as others.
Atlanta Journal Constitution
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Delightful... Roberts is one of America's most accomplished obituary writers, he is uniquely qualified to introduce readers to the language of death that has long permeated the newspaper business... Are They Dead Yet? serves as both a history lesson and a reminder of the traditions that shaped American journalism.
On Point
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Roberts offers a wry, witty, deeply researched survey of the art and history of the obituary, reflecting on why obituaries matter and what it’s like to be charged with writing them . . . Are They Dead Yet? will fascinate dyed-in the-wool New Yorkers, history buffs and media mavens alike.
Bookpage
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Lively, entertaining, deeply perceptive, and occasionally very funny...One of those books that gives us a new appreciation and greater understanding of something we thought we already knew.
Booklist
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Roberts is master not only of writing obits but also of writing about the art of writing obits. He shares the stories behind the stories, many of Jewish leaders and cultural figures, with undertones of humor.
Hadassah
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With wit, wisdom, and a touch of melancholy, New York Times obituarist Roberts...provides a thorough history of the obituary, that last homage to a life, which, he ironically notes, is often written by someone else as the final word on the deceased... An admirable read on a fascinating piece of social history.
Library Journal
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[Roberts employs] adroit use of language, wit, and observation . . . Readers will revel in this lively book of the dead.
Publishers Weekly
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A brisk, witty look at writing about the dead.
Kirkus
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The sad decline of local newspapers means the near-extinction of full-time obituary writers. Sam Roberts, one of the best, does a mordantly wonderful job of dissecting the delicate craft of summing up the dead. Next time you’re invited to a funeral, stay home and read this book instead. You’ll get the gist.
CARL HIAASEN, #1 New York Times bestselling author
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Sam Roberts makes death seem hilarious and positively endearing. A master of the mini-biography, Roberts reminds us of the pleasures of the obituary page. It is all about the life—and the thought occurs to me that my own departure would not be so bad if only Mr. Roberts could write the obit!
KAI BIRD, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of American Prometheus
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Sam Roberts's Are They Dead Yet? is a must for anyone who loves obituaries. I almost died laughing.
ROZ CHAST, New York Times-bestselling author of Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?
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It can be hard to admit that obituaries are one of your favorite parts of a paper. Sam Roberts is a maestro composer of the form, and here he gives us a long, loving look into how obits are created. Oddly, this book is fun!
JOHN McWHORTER, New York Times bestselling author
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"Are They Dead Yet? is amusing, informative, anecdotal, revelatory, digressive, surprising—I could go on, but I'll end with this: Death has never been so much fun.
DANIEL OKRENT, Pulitzer Prize finalist and first New York Times public editor
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Writing obituaries calls for a finely balanced blend of sensitivity, truth-telling, decorum, boldness, humanity, and philosophy . . . Few know the challenges of the job better than Sam Roberts, a (the?) leading obituary writer at The New York Times . . . An engrossing voyage through the practice of his trade.
ANN WROE, Obituaries Editor, The Economist
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Details
- Author
- Sam Roberts
- Narrator
- Nathan Osgood
- Duration
- 8 hours 39 minutes
- Release Date
- 11 August 2026
- ISBN
- 9781639736003
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Genre
- Sociology: death and dying, News media and journalism
Synopsis
Bloomsbury presents Are They Dead Yet?: The Art of the Obit by Sam Roberts, read by Nathan Osgood"Mordantly wonderful." —CARL HIAASEN"I almost died laughing." —ROZ CHAST"My own departure would not be so bad if only Mr. Roberts could write the obit!" —KAI BIRDFrom celebrated New York Times obituarist Sam Roberts, the art of the obit: Who we remember, how we forget, and where we find the true meaning in a life.After nearly a decade behind the obituaries desk at the paper of record, Roberts knows obits aren't really about deaths. In fact, they usually only mention dying once. Over the course of the nearly 1,500 obituaries he has written throughout his career, he has instead come to understand that they're about distilling an entire life lived—for someone whose name he may have learned that morning. In Are They Dead Yet?, Roberts explores the major questions that arise from the task of producing a succinct yet record-defining account of a life. Who deserves an obituary, and how do we decide who gets one? How does an obituarist choose what to include—and to omit? What happens when embarrassing information, like a crime, affair, or wonky cause of death, makes itself known? What makes a legacy, a claim to fame? And what happens when that claim to fame, so important in death, isn’t what mattered in life at all? With wit, wisdom, and behind-the-scenes intrigue, Roberts examines the practice of writing advance obituaries, of which there are more than 2,000 on hold and regularly updated at the New York Times, America's relationship to death in the wake of 9/11 and the pandemic, classic euphemistic language, and more. Through it all, Roberts brings his humor, shrewdness, and experience to prove what he has learned from a long career in death: There’s no such thing as an ordinary life.
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