“Upbeat, practical and immensely useful . . . Hagerty shares a simple, good-natured approach that can work for anyone. He shows you how to make sense of your life narrative, how to tell it in an engaging way – and how to have a surprisingly good time as you create the story you’ve always wanted to share.”
—George Anders, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of “The Rare Find” and “You Can Do Anything.

“There is no one who understands the treasures to be found in life stories better than James R. Hagerty.”
—Bob Greene, New York Times bestselling author of “Duty: A Father, His Son, and the Man Who Won the War.”

“James R. Hagerty, a specialist in lives well lived, has written a book to die for.”
—David Shribman, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of “I Remember My Teacher.”

“Nobody knows more than James R. Hagerty about the stories we tell of the recently departed—and how to make sure you leave behind a good one.”
—Charlie Jane Anders, author of “All the Birds in the Sky” and “Never Say You Can’t Survive.”

"James R. Hagerty’s advice is spot on in his inimitable witty style."
—Kay Powell, retired news obituary editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"If you’ve ever thought of writing your life story, this is the book you need to do it. Acclaimed obituary writer James R. Hagerty provides practical tips, writing advice and heartwarming stories for inspiration. He makes the case, in this highly readable and entertaining book, that every life story is worth telling. Take Hagerty’s advice and do it, and enrich your own life in the process!" —S.J. Peddie, author of “Sonny: The Last of the Old Time Mafia Bosses

"With gentle wit, deep empathy, and a reporter’s sharp eye for detail, James R. Hagerty takes readers by the hand and guides them through the greatest story of all: their lives. This beautiful book will show you how to write your own obituary, but it will also show you a few things about how to live."
—Bryan Gruley, author of the award-winning “Starvation Lake” trilogy.

"In Yours Truly, James R. Hagerty presents a master class in writing not just an obituary, but writing the story of a life with kindness, humor, and truth. This book is a must-have for anyone who cares about how they’ll be remembered, and for those who want to honor a loved one by sharing their unforgettable story."
—Rachael Herron, bestselling author of Fast-Draft Your Memoir

"You might think that a book about obituaries, written by an obituary writer, is about death–but you’d be wrong. “Yours Truly” is very much about life and is a must-read for anyone who expects, eventually, to die. That’s pretty much all of us (unless you have some secret the rest of us missed.) Hagerty’s premise is that writing our own obituary not only eliminates the possibility that someone will get our story wrong, but also provides us with a guide for living here and now. The idea is: write down how you want to be remembered and then live into it. This book sparkles with compelling stories–humorous, poignant, and as engrossing and readable as a first-rate novel. Once I’d started reading “Yours Truly,” I couldn’t put it down until I’d finished the very last sentence. It really is that good."
—Mort Crim, author of “Anchored: A Journalist’s Search for Truth.”