Playing Possum: Insights into Mortality from the Animal KingdomIn Playing Possum, we embark on a profound exploration of how animals perceive death and dying, unraveling what these insights reveal about our own relationships with mortality. Through the remarkable behavior of the opossum, which paralyzes itself when threatened-its body temperature plummeting and emitting the scent of decay-we are invited to consider mortality from a fresh perspective. This captivating journey is enriched by the engaging stories of diverse creatures: ants that attend their own funerals, chimpanzees meticulously grooming their deceased, dogs that navigate their connections with caregivers in unexpected ways, crows that avoid the sites of carcasses, elephants that obsessively collect ivory, and whales that carry their dead for weeks. Each narrative serves as a testament to the complexity of animal cognition and emotion, challenging the notion that only human experiences of death hold significance. With humor and empathy, the author an esteemed expert in animal cognition and ethics encourages readers to broaden their understanding of mortality beyond human-centric frameworks. Blending philosophical insights with groundbreaking research from behavioral science and comparative psychology, Playing Possum dismantles the anthropocentric biases that often cloud our perception of the natural world. In the end, this thought-provoking work reveals that when it comes to death and dying, we are just another animal, navigating the intricate tapestry of existence alongside our fellow beings. Join us in this enlightening exploration that not only deepens our understanding of the animal kingdom but also enriches our perspective on life and mortality itself.