The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels

"Trust me that you’ll be captivated by this book about death. The Unclaimed tells remarkably vivid, intimate stories about four people in Los Angeles whose bodies went unclaimed after they died – a more common phenomenon than you’d probably guess. The authors, both sociologists, follow neighbors and friends whose abiding care goes unrecognized by the state, and local government workers who are determined to bring dignity to people who’ve been abandoned in death. This lyrical and moving book raises profound questions about what we owe our family, our neighbors and our fellow citizens."