Fascinating tidbits from the database of the New York Times obituaries
4/30/2001
Is the length of one's New York Times obituary an indicator of fame? If so, then Cray Research founder Seymour Cray (66 inches) was more famous than IBM patriarch Thomas Watson Jr. (53 inches). As this book indicates, however, the length and placement of your final notice is also influenced by competing news of the day, the time and day that your death becomes news, and other factors. Ball and Jonnes skillfully combine interesting (if not always meaningful) data from the New York Times obituaries database and other sources, with compelling narrative about many people whose obits appeared in the Times. A number of individual entrepreneurs (including Watson, but not Cray) are portrayed. Read it cover to cover or browse through; it's a good read.