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Sam Roberts' New Book Explores the Art of Obituary Writing
8/13/2026, 4:39:33 AM
Sam Roberts' New Book Explores Obituary Writing
Journalist Sam Roberts, a veteran of The New York Times, has authored the book *Are They Dead Yet?: The Art of the Obit*. In a recent PBS NewsHour podcast, Roberts discussed how his decades-long work on roughly 1,600 obituaries informed the book’s focus on the craft of memorializing lives rather than dwelling on death.
Obituary Desk at The New York Times
Roberts explains that the Times maintains a dedicated team of nine reporters who produce both advance and same-day obituaries. The department is considered a coveted placement within the newsroom, attracting applicants who view it as a prestigious beat rather than a career dead-end. The team’s mandate includes preparing obituaries for prominent figures as well as for “quirky” individuals whose stories might otherwise remain untold.
Valuing Everyday Lives in Obituaries
The interview highlights Roberts’ belief that there are “no ordinary lives.” He cites the paper’s post-9/11 series on victims of the World Trade Center attacks and the COVID-era pieces on ordinary people lost to the pandemic as examples of how the obituary desk expands its scope beyond celebrities. By asking whether readers would miss a mayor or a mailman more, the Times underscores the impact of everyday contributors, echoing Thomas Carlyle’s “Great Man” debate in favor of the “spade-maker” who shapes history through ordinary labor.
How Obituaries Shape Cultural Values
Roberts argues that the collective body of obituaries mirrors what a culture values, revealing societal priorities through the lives it chooses to commemorate. The book therefore serves as both a guide for journalists and a commentary on the evolving criteria for public remembrance. As the podcast concludes, Roberts suggests that the continued emphasis on diverse, inclusive storytelling will keep the obituary desk relevant in an era of rapid cultural change.
