Influencing Death - by Penny Hawkins Smith

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A hospice nurse's unflinching look at life, death, and redemption.

Death is undeniable and unavoidable. We must accept it; there is no other choice. But coming to terms with our mortality can profoundly influence how we live-and how we die. Having been a hospice nurse for decades, Penny Hawkins Smith is an expert on death and dying. As a recovering alcoholic and former drug addict, she knows what it means to change course and become a meaningful contributor to society. Through her work with death, Penny found her purpose in life.

In Influencing Death, Penny brings transparency and levity to the grim topic of death while revealing truths about the reckless past that influenced her decision to become a hospice nurse. Using down-to-earth, compassionate storytelling, she transports readers into the room with dying people and their families, laying bare the raw and real human emotions and behaviors people have when life and death are hanging in the balance.

Weaving together dual narratives of death and life, Penny challenges us to see how embracing our own mortality-and the mortality of the people we love-can help us live more fully and approach the end of life with greater acceptance, grace, and peace.

Review Quotes

"This memoir is an extraordinary blend of humor, heartfelt storytelling, and valuable insights. Penny's wit and engaging style make even the most challenging moments feel accessible, while the touching anecdotes offer a deep understanding of end-of-life care. It's not only an enjoyable read but also an educational one that guides the reader to look at their own mortality without dreading it." -Julie McFadden, RN, New York Times bestselling author of Nothing to Fear

"Influencing Death is a brutally honest book about living and dying. Hospice Nurse Penny exposes what happens at the end of life with her straight-shooting and entertaining style. Penny tells it all, including the pain points of her own life story. With a huge dose of courage, Penny reminds us that patients . . . and hospice nurses are people first and foremost." -Sammy Winemaker, palliative care physician, author of Hope for the Best, Plan for the Rest

"Influencing Death turns a universally challenging topic-death-into an easy read. Demystifying death by sharing her life, Penny's humor, joy, and authenticity will evoke laughter, tears, and essential conversations among loved ones everywhere." -Jennifer A. O'Brien, MSOD, award-winning author of The Hospice Doctor's Widow and Care Boss

"A moving account of how a hospice nurse arrived at TikTok fame, . . . Influencing Death is about personal transformation and working to demystify the inevitability of death."-Foreword Clarion Reviews