ARE THEY DEAD YET?: The Art of the Obit
他們死了嗎？：訃聞的藝術
內容介紹
「我最鍾愛的城市群像，匯集的並非名人傳記，而是那些關鍵人物的群像。」——《芝加哥論壇報》評《紐約客》
捕捉死亡認知的重塑時刻：當疫情持續永久改變全球與死亡的關係，《他們死了嗎？》引領我們抽離現實，審視對逝者的追思方式、對其生平的記憶殘存，以及對遺留事物的認知。
由屢獲殊榮的《紐約時報》(The New York Times) 著名訃聞撰稿人山姆．羅伯茲(Sam Roberts)帶來一場關於訃聞藝術的探討：我們記住了哪些人、如何遺忘，以及這能教會我們如何尋找人生的真正意義。
終究來說，你會更想念誰？你的市長還是郵差？
在《紐約時報》的訃聞版工作近十年後，山姆．羅伯茲深知，訃聞的本質並非死亡本身。事實上，訃聞通常僅在文章中提及死亡一次。在他的職業生涯中，他撰寫了近 1,500 篇訃聞，而這讓他領悟到，訃聞的真正意義在於如何為一個人——甚至是他當天早晨才第一次聽聞的名字——提煉出其一生的精髓。
在《他們死了嗎？》一書中，山姆．羅伯茲探討了撰寫簡潔卻足以定義一生的訃聞時所面臨的重大問題。誰值得擁有一篇訃聞？我們如何決定撰寫對象？一名訃聞記者如何選擇該納入或省略的內容？當可能令人尷尬的資訊，像是犯罪紀錄、婚外情或不尋常的死因，浮出檯面時又該如何處理？「留下遺風」以及「死後聲名大噪」究竟意味著什麼？而當這些死後被視為重要的事蹟，與生前真正重視的事物截然不同時，又該如何面對？
山姆帶著幽默、智慧與幕後故事深入探討訃聞寫作的種種面向，包括《紐約時報》如何為 2,000 多篇預撰訃聞定期更新內容、美國在 911 事件及疫情後與死亡逐漸轉變的關係、訃聞中歷來用來美化人生敘述的委婉語，以及其他的議題。透過這一切，山姆用他的個人和職業經歷來證明他在漫長的生涯中所認識到的事實：這世上沒有平凡無奇的人生。
作者介紹
一位在紐約新聞界擁有 50 年資歷的資深記者，現為《紐約時報》(The New York Times)訃聞記者，並曾擔任該報城市事務特派記者。他曾主持《紐約時報》電視節目《特寫》(Close Up)，以及Podcast《紐約限定》 (Only in New York)(後被收錄成同名書籍)與《黨團會議》(The Caucus)。他的著作包括《紐約人》(The New Yorkers)、《27 座建築概括的紐約史》(A History of New York in 27 Buildings)、《101 件物品概括的紐約史》(A History of New York in 101 Objects) 和《中央車站》(Grand Central) 等。他的文章曾刊登於《紐約時報雜誌》(NYT Magazine)、《新共和》(The New Republic)、《紐約》(New York)、《浮華世界》(Vanity Fair)、《外交事務》(Foreign Affairs) 和 《航空郵件》(Air Mail)。他同時也是美國聯邦國家紀念堂(Federal Hall)的歷史顧問。他與妻子現居於紐約。
書評
“As a one-stop history, etiquette guide, and miscellany, Are They Dead Yet? goes down like a dirgeful beach read.” ―Harper's Magazine
“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
“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
“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
“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
“[Roberts employs] adroit use of language, wit, and observation . . . Readers will revel in this lively book of the dead.” ―Publishers Weekly
“A brisk, witty look at writing about the dead.” ―Kirkus
“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
“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
“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?
“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
“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
“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