What if the final chapter of life could be approached with the same presence, intention and grace as the journey that came before it? In As She Chose, Oliver Christen offers a deeply moving memoir that gently opens the door to this question through the intimate story of accompanying his mother during her conscious end-of-life journey.
Rather than focusing on controversy or ideology, Christen writes from the heart, sharing a story of love, acceptance and profound human connection. Over 24 days, he transforms his mother’s room into a peaceful sanctuary where music, family stories, nature and quiet companionship become as important as medical care. Through this deeply personal experience, he explores what it means to “die well” and whether death can be embraced as a natural, meaningful part of life rather than something to be feared or resisted.
Born in Switzerland and now based in Australia, Christen draws on the different cultural approaches to ageing, autonomy and compassionate end-of-life care he has encountered, inviting readers to reflect on questions many people are increasingly asking:
• What does it mean to “die well”?
• Have we become disconnected from the emotional and spiritual dimensions of death?
• How do we accompany someone through dying without trying to fix or control the process?
• Why are conversations around conscious dying and death literacy becoming more mainstream?
• Can death become a meaningful—even sacred—part of life rather than something purely medicalised and feared?
Ultimately, As She Chose is a gentle meditation on letting go with dignity, presence and love. It encourages us to see death not simply as an ending, but as an integral part of life’s journey—one that can be met with courage, compassion and grace.
Reviewed by Conscious Living
Title:Â Â Â Â Â As She Chose
Author:Â Â Â Oliver Christen
Publisher: ‎ Animara Press
ISBN-10: ‎  1764067827
ISBN-13: ‎  978-1764067829
Website:Â Â Â https://www.choosingtogo.com
