Lakewood Book Club: Briefly Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur

About The Lakewood Book Club

Join us for our seasonal Lakewood Book Club. Selected books vary in style and perspective, covering anything from living in the presence of death and dying, to local history or cemetery history. Get ready to learn and connect with our amazing community at this special event. Treats and coffee provided!

Registration is required - spaces are limited.

You will need to purchase your own copy of the book (or audio book) to read ahead of the event. We encourage shopping locally at Magers & Quinn or other area booksellers.

Depending on the number of attendees, we will either have a large group discussion or break out into smaller groups. Discussion questions and topics will be provided to spark conversation, but we encourage you to bring your own questions as well!

About This Month's Book

Briefly Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur

(Memoir; End-of-life planning)

In her debut book, Alua Arthur presents mortality not as taboo, but rather as the most enriching conversation we can have as communities, as families, and as humans. But taboo-breaking conversations about death were not always part of her world. Arthur recounts her own transformation, through deep depression brought on by losing loved ones, to finding her calling as a death doula. With courage, authenticity, compassion and humor, Arthur acknowledges fear and then urges us to examine it. She shows people that through examining the reality of one’s eventual death, we are not alone, we put death in context by living fully, and we make end-of-life decisions that express love to our communities and families. A prominent voice in the end-of-care professional community, Arthur founded Going with Grace, an organization that exists to help people answer the question, "What must I do to be at peace with myself so I may die peacefully?"

Location

The Lakewood Book Club will be onsite at Lakewood. We will announce the exact location closer to the event.

The Lakewood Heritage Foundation

This event is sponsored in part by the Lakewood Heritage Foundation, which supports educational programming and the preservation and restoration of Lakewood’s landscape, art, architecture and public spaces—for the benefit of all.

FAQs

Can anyone attend this event?

All are welcome - you do not need to be associated with Lakewood or have family/friends at Lakewood to attend this event. Please keep in mind that we are an active cemetery, and we ask that you are quiet and respectful of anyone who may be visiting loved ones onsite.

What are my transportation and parking options?

Free parking is available on the sides of all roads inside the cemetery, unless signage indicates restrictions. Metro Transit bus lines 6 and 23 stop directly outside of Lakewood's front gates, at 36th & Hennepin Ave, a walk of ~2 blocks to the Garden Mausoleum. Bicyclists can lock up at a rack near Lakewood's front gates and walk from there.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No, printed tickets are not required. We will have a guest list at the door.

Questions? Call the Lakewood events line at 612-540-5165 or email to [email protected].

Host or Publisher Lakewood Cemetery