Introductions

Design for Dying contains two introductions: one by Leary and one by R. U. Sirius. Leary introduces readers to the event that incited the book: his 1995 diagnosis of prostate cancer. This led him to think more thoroughly and more practically about how he wanted to die. "Even if you've lived your life like a complete slob," Leary writes, "you can die with terrific style. I call it 'Designer Dying."' Leary poses a handful of questions related to main taining a life of "self-reliance and personal growth," which he addresses in the rest of the book.

Sirius's introduction discusses Leary's original plan, to die on the Internet, and fantasizes about what such a death might have looked like. He praises Leary for his honesty and his unrelenting critique of dishonest discourse and claims that Leary's dying "performance" was successful.

Chapter 1

Leary recounts "making a pact" with his...