Making Friends with Death by Judith L. Lief Summary

Making Friends with Death explores Buddhist approaches to mortality, blending mindfulness practices, contemplative exercises, and insights from the Tibetan Book of the Dead. It teaches readers to embrace death as a natural part of life, offering tools to reduce fear, cultivate compassion, and support others facing terminal illness.

This book is ideal for caregivers, healthcare professionals, and individuals seeking to confront their own mortality. It’s also valuable for Buddhists or mindfulness practitioners interested in applying contemplative traditions to end-of-life challenges.

Yes—its pragmatic blend of spiritual wisdom and actionable advice (like mindfulness exercises and caregiver guidelines) makes it a unique resource for reframing death constructively. Reviews highlight its compassionate tone and practical relevance.

Lief focuses on integrating death awareness into daily life through Buddhist practices, unlike memoirs or clinical guides. Her methods emphasize moment-by-moment mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation rather than abstract philosophy.

• Awareness exercises: Observing impermanence in everyday moments.
• Loving-kindness meditation: Cultivating compassion for oneself and others.
• Caregiver slogans: Simple reminders like “Meet suffering with openness”

Lief adapts Tibetan Buddhist teachings on the afterlife to address modern anxieties about dying. She emphasizes preparation through mindfulness rather than literal rebirth concepts, making ancient wisdom accessible.

Yes. While rooted in Buddhism, the exercises and insights (e.g., accepting vulnerability) are framed for broad applicability. Non-religious readers appreciate its psychological and emotional pragmatism.

Some reviewers note its Buddhist framework may limit appeal to non-practitioners. Others desire more diverse cultural perspectives beyond Tibetan traditions.

Judith Lief’s work is contemplative and Buddhist-inspired, while Laura Pritchett’s Making Friends with Death uses humor and personal stories. Lief targets spiritual growth; Pritchett focuses on practical death preparation.

Key guidelines include:

• Avoiding platitudes: Engage authentically with dying individuals.
• Mindful presence: Prioritize listening over “fixing” suffering.
• Self-care: Maintain emotional resilience through meditation

Lief reframes fear as a natural response, encouraging readers to explore it through mindfulness rather than suppress it. Practices like breath awareness help build acceptance of mortality’s inevitability.

• “Death is not an emergency, but an opportunity for awakening.”
• “Meeting death with openness softens its hold on our lives.”

These lines underscore the book’s focus on transformative acceptance.