"The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Awakening Upon Dying" is a spiritual guide that explores the stages of death and afterlife from a Tibetan Buddhist perspective. It provides instructions for the dying and the living, offering meditative and contemplative techniques to prepare for death, navigate the intermediate state (Bardo), and achieve liberation. The book serves as a manual for understanding the transition from life to death, making it less of a fearful experience and more of a conscious, spiritual journey.

"A Death in the Family" is a deeply personal and introspective narrative that delves into the complexities of familial relationships, childhood, death, and memory. The protagonist, a writer, is forced to confront his past and his relationship with his alcoholic father after his death. The novel explores the impact of this death on the protagonist's life and his struggle to come to terms with his complicated feelings of love, resentment, and guilt. The narrative is a profound exploration of the human condition, the intricacies of family dynamics, and the lasting impact of grief and loss.