Sam Roberts Explores the Art of Obituaries in New Book 'Are They Dead Yet?'
Sam Roberts, a veteran journalist with the New York Times, has released a new book titled 'Are They Dead Yet? The Art of the Obit.' The book draws from Roberts' experience writing nearly 1,500 obituaries for the Times, focusing on the life stories behind the obituaries rather than the deaths themselves. Roberts employs the 'Rosebud Method,' inspired by Citizen Kane, to uncover the defining moments in individuals' lives. The book also discusses the occupational hazards of obituary writing, including the 'Rockefeller curse,' where three Times reporters who wrote advance obituaries for David Rockefeller predeceased him. 
