This sociological work examines the phenomenon of the Death Café a regular gathering of
strangers from all walks of life who engage in death talk over coffee tea and desserts. Using
insightful theoretical frameworks Fong explores the common themes that constitute a death
identity and reveals how Café attendees are inspired to live in light of death because of
death. Fong examines how the participants' embrace of self-sovereignty and confrontation of
mortality revive their awareness of and appreciation for shared humanity. While divisive
identity politics continue to foster neo-tribalisms and the construction of myriad others Fong
makes visible how those who participate in Death Cafés end up building community while being
inspired toward living more fulfilling lives. Through death talk unfettered from systemic
control they end up feeling more agency over their own lived lives as well as being more
conscious of the possibility of a good death. According to Fong participants in this
phenomenon offer us a sublime way to confront the facticity of our own demise-by gathering as
one.
