Yours Truly, James R. Hagerty
Yours Truly, James R. Hagerty
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Yours Truly
An Obituary Writer's Guide to Telling Your Story

Author: James R. Hagerty

Narrator: James R. Hagerty

Unabridged: 6 hr 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/24/2023


Synopsis

Someday, your life story is likely to be boiled down to a few lines. If you leave things to chance, your obituary is almost sure to be solemn, formulaic, and full of errors—an obligatory final chapter written in haste by others. James R. Hagerty, longtime obit writer for The Wall Street Journal, knows how to get the job done right: Do it yourself, starting now, while you still can.

In this heartfelt and reassuring guide, Hagerty explains how to preserve your personal history—from crafting a brief obituary for newspapers and websites, to a more thoughtful and detailed mini-memoir for those close to you. Through his personal stories, on-the-job anecdotes, and insights, you will learn what to include, what to leave out, and how to provide historical context, record oral histories, and make the most of details, all with candor and wit. Best of all, you'll find that reviewing your life story helps you think about what you're doing with your time on Earth and whether you're on the right path. It isn't too late to improve the narrative with a stronger ending.

Telling your story your way can be the best gift you ever give to friends and loved ones—and yourself.

About James R. Hagerty

James R. Hagerty is an author and journalist who has worked at The Wall Street Journal for nearly forty years. He is the paper's only fulltime obituary writer. His article "An Obituary Writer Writes One for Himself" drew an outpouring of reader responses, which inspired his book, Yours Truly. A graduate of the University of North Dakota, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Anne

*****Publishing December 27, 2022***** ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ James R. Hagerty is an obituary writer for the Wall Street Journal. His purpose in writing this book is to teach the general public how to write a more accurate obituary as often obituaries are written by a family member or friend who is grief stricke......more

Goodreads review by Kuang

This book is very thought-provoking and highly recommend to everyone who wants to figure out the meaning of life. I’ve written the review and submit to a venerable Taiwanese magazine for online publication. Please have a look if interested😊 Link: [URL not allowed]......more

Goodreads review by Sylvia

In “Yours Truly,” James R. Hagerty encourages us to write down our life stories, making our memories come alive for those closest to us. Through his experience as an obituary writer for the Washing Post, Hagarty has acquired a unique understanding of what a person’s life story can mean to those left......more

When I read the book's title and cover, I was curious. I just had to check out this book, so I requested it. The book's author did a wonderful job with infusing humor and an upbeat vibe while explaining how to write your own obituary and why. This book is full of wonderful tips and examples on how to......more