Mark Vanhoenacker created a "singing will," a playlist of music to comfort a dying friend. Music's emotional power can reach the dying, and many now curate playlists to guide them into the next life.

Frank Ostaseski, author of The Five Invitations, aims to help people live fully by embracing life’s fragility. He encourages living in the present and highlights wisdom from those nearing death. His ideal death is one where he can fully embrace the moment.

Sigrid Nunez’s What Are You Going Through explores a character’s choice to end her life using euthanasia drugs, examining themes of mortality, personal choice, and the inevitability of death. Nunez reflects on her characters’ complex journeys, blending fiction with raw emotional exploration of dying.

Barbara Karnes, a hospice pioneer, wrote about end-of-life care to help families understand the dying process. Her work focuses on simplifying death-related conversations and honoring its sacredness.

Joanne Jacobson’s Every Last Breath: A Memoir of Two Illnesses explores her journey through chronic illness and witnessing her mother’s end-of-life process. Her memoir reflects on the proximity of death, transformation, and resilience.

Dr. Mario Garrett, gerontologist and author, advocates for celebrating aging and nurturing relationships. He values solitude, prefers a proactive exit, and would return as a tree to witness time's passage.

In Creating Positive Passings, Suzanne O'Brien shares her deep connection to end-of-life care, emphasizing unconditional love and the release of self-judgment. Her work highlights the importance of spiritual awareness in the dying process.