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January 2015 Vol. 52 No. 5

In this excellent book on the ethics of death, Steffen (Lehigh Univ.) and Cooley (North Dakota State Univ.) cover, succinctly and well, both the major aspects of ethical thinking and the central major ethical theories.  The volume offers a unique natural law approach that begins by seeking to articulate a common agreement on an issue.  For instance, for the death penalty, the authors note that "states ought ordinarily not kill their citizens" and then proceed to analyze the issue ethically from various perspectives.  The authors cover the major "death" issues—abortion, the death penalty, war, suicide, physician-assisted suicide, and euthanasia.  For these issues, pro and con arguments are offered, and the complexities of each issue are expertly explored.  Further, the two authors—scholars in religious studies and philosophy, respectively—engage each other in a probing debate that allows each perspective to enrich the discussions.  This unique book is well worth exploring.

--J. A. Kegley, California State University, Bakersfield

Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above; general readers.