James R. 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...

"Mo Rocca has always loved obituaries--reading about the remarkable lives of global leaders, Hollywood heavyweights, and innovators who changed the world. But not every notable life has gotten the send-off it deserves. Rocca chronicles the stories of the people who made a difference, but whose lives -- for some reason or another -- were never truly examined." --

"A collection of more than two hundred obituaries published in The Economist since the column was introduced in 1995. Editors Keith Colquhoun and Ann Wroe wrote each of the highly acclaimed obituaries for the column. These are remarkable because of the unpredictable selection of subjects, the surprising lives they lead, and the style in which they are written"--Provided by publisher.