And All the Earth a Grave

A satirical science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The book delves into society’s bizarre relationship with death and commodity, illustrating how marketing can influence consumer behavior in extreme ways. It explores themes of mortality, societal norms, and capitalist culture through a mix of humor and dark absurdity. The narrative begins with an error in a coffin company’s bookkeeping that leads to an unprecedented advertising campaign, turning coffins into the hottest holiday gift item. As the campaign unfolds, coffins become status symbols, resulting in a societal frenzy where people begin to embrace death as a new lifestyle. The story details the repercussions of this shift, including the decline of traditional industries and the rise of an odd culture surrounding death. In the end, the world is left reeling in a post-apocalyptic state, inhabited by a few survivors who must navigate a landscape filled with unclaimed coffins, highlighting the absurdity and tragic consequences of such a radical societal change.