More than 310,000 copies of this book (in its 14 editions) have sold so far. It is a small encyclopedia of death-related problems: social, emotional, philosophical, and practical. It is written simply and sensitively, drawing substantially on direct experience. The earliest editions were typeset by Ernest's printing students as a fundraising project for their school. Sales exceeded expectations, and Ernest expanded and improved it through 14 editions, culminating in the current book, one of the best-sellers from Upper Access.