Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving

Written by Mo Rocca

Narrated by Mo Rocca

From beloved CBS Sunday Morning correspondent and humorist Mo Rocca, a rigorously researched, “funny and smart” (Jon Stewart) book that celebrates the dead people who have long fascinated him.

Mo Rocca has always loved obituaries—reading about the remarkable lives of global leaders, Hollywood heavyweights, and innovators who changed the world. But not every notable life has gotten the send-off it deserves. His quest to right that wrong inspired Mobituaries, his #1 hit podcast. But here, in this “delightful, hilarious romp through history” (Booklist) he has gone much further, with all-new essays on artists, entertainers, sports stars, political pioneers, founding fathers, and more. Even if you know the names, you’ve never understood why they matter...until now.

Take Herbert Hoover: before he was president, he was the “Great Humanitarian,” the man who saved tens of millions from starvation. But after less than a year in the White House, the stock market crashed, and all the good he had done seemed to be forgotten. Then there’s Marlene Dietrich, well remembered as a screen goddess, less remembered as a great patriot. Alongside servicemen on the front lines during World War II, she risked her life to help defeat the Nazis of her native Germany. And what about Billy Carter and history’s unruly presidential brothers? Were they ne’er-do-well liabilities…or secret weapons? Plus, Mobits for dead sports teams, dead countries, the dearly departed station wagon, and dragons. Yes, dragons.

Rocca is an expert researcher and storyteller who offers “joy for curious minds” (Walter Isaacson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Steve Jobs and Leonardo da Vinci), and with his dogged reporting and trademark wit, he brings these men and women back to life like no one else can. “In our fact-challenged times, Rocca’s joyful tour through the didja know’s of history is an unexpected antidote” (The New Yorker).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Nov 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781508294931

Mo Rocca

Mo Rocca is a correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning, host of the hit Mobituaries podcast, and host of The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation. He’s also a frequent panelist on NPR’s hit weekly quiz show Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! and host and creator of Cooking Channel’s My Grandmother’s Ravioli. Rocca is coauthor of the New York Times bestselling Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving and author of All the Presidents’ Pets: The Story of One Reporter Who Refused to Roll Over.

Reviews for Mobituaries

[Marrian Duda · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Stuff you might not have known about dead people! I really enjoyed Mobituaries, read by Mo. Mo obviously did extensive research on his subjects and presents it in an entertaining way. Definitely worth a listen!

[Charles Kovacs · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I drive a semi truck everyday and i love listening to the stories of people i once knew but really didn't know their life history. Ive enjoyed every single one Mo talks about. You wont be sorry.

[littlet1261 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent! Funny, entertaining, educational. A must listen to! Great book!

[MDDODDS · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely fabulous! I am now a convert to this wonderfully charming, insightful author.

[Betty Bennett · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Despite the title, this is a very funny book. The author reviews the history and demise of famous people, animals, and even trees. Included in his telling includes character traits and hitherto unknown deeds of kindness done by people we tend to marginalize or ignore. The scoundrels were also fairly treated.

[FMK-Nana GTab · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Interesting listen with great mini biographies. Quite a few of the people I don't know about but it still provide great lesson to be learnt. Mo Rocca's entertaining story telling style makes this even more pleasent.

[carol thomas · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Witty , well researched with fun thrown in. Theme played out well and learned new things about people I was familiar with as well as learned things about people I had had not heard of before. Mo was a good narrator for his own material.

[Steven Stankevitz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great reading. Great author. Couldn’t put it down. So much information

[Jason · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If I hadn’t been listening to the podcast I would have given 5 stars but it is largely the same. Lovely ending though

[dandiercks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Never having listened to Rocca’s podcast, I wasn’t sure what to expect from his book of the same name. As it turned out, I enjoyed the book, although I must admit, about 2/3 of the way through,, I began skimming, especially during the sidebar stories.Rocca features the stoies of many well known people with some not so well known stories in their lives. Others who are less well known have their stories told as well. Rocca writes longer pieces separated by shorter sidebars of people of fit the theme he is discussing at that point in the book. I found out some interesting things about celebrities I thought I already knew. But, until Rocca told their stories, who knewa?An enjoyable book that can be picked up and put down through several settings. Perfect for the doctor’s office and/or for bedtime.

[Laura McDaniel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely love Mo Rocco! He has a way with memories he was able to transport me back to the “way back” in the station wagon. This is the best way to describe why I love this book so much! He writes with such humor, compassion, and detail I am so sorry that I have finished the book! I was already a fan from his work on Sunday Morning but now I am a super fan! Please write another book soon!!!!!!!

[capewood · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

2021 book #71. 2019. Based on a podcast, a series of essays on people, places and things that have either been forgotten or not remember correctly. Interesting read. A wide variety of topics from the death of some oak trees at Auburn U to Lord Byron's aid to Greek revolutionaries

[knightlight777 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A compilation of strange and unusual lives and how they were seen upon their eventual demise. The book at times was entertaining with some unusual or odd tales interspersed. If found myself wanting to get through it however as it dragged on and I eventually rejoiced in its own demise.

[narshkite · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was an enjoyable light listen. Well suited 1o listening for 15 or 20 minute intervals. I found when I listened for longer than that it just started to drone on like Charlie Brown's teacher.I am one of those people who loves going down internet rabbit holes, often about discrete historical events or figures, and Rocca clearly belongs to this tribe as well. He is clever and funny, and many of the snippets here are fun and interesting. I knew a lot of the information packed in here (see above re rabbit holes, and also, like Rocca, I used to read the World Book Encyclopedia for fun) but some was new, and some things I knew I had forgotten about and enjoyed being reminded.In the end this was a pleasant trivia-filled escape from Coronavirus and police murdering Black people, and I really needed that escape.

[marthahuntley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I gave this one a 5-star rating because it's just such an enjoyable book - quirky, informative and fun. I've always been fond of a well-written obituary, and this is a book full of them! Not just people, but a country (Prussia), reputations, movements, and trees are memorialized here with grace and humor. I like Mo Rocca on TV (mostly CBS This Morning) and he did not disappoint!

[formerenglishteacher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Never having listened to Rocca’s podcast, I wasn’t sure what to expect from his book of the same name. As it turned out, I enjoyed the book, although I must admit, about 2/3 of the way through,, I began skimming, especially during the sidebar stories.Rocca features the stoies of many well known people with some not so well known stories in their lives. Others who are less well known have their stories told as well. Rocca writes longer pieces separated by shorter sidebars of people of fit the theme he is discussing at that point in the book. I found out some interesting things about celebrities I thought I already knew. But, until Rocca told their stories, who knewa?An enjoyable book that can be picked up and put down through several settings. Perfect for the doctor’s office and/or for bedtime.

[jetangen4571 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

historical-figures, historical-research, history, verbal-humor, world-history *****People, places, things, TV shows, and more! Anyone who has any kind of interest in any kind of history will geek this book as much as I do. I never had a lot of interest in TV (working off shifts is part of it) so I've never seen the author's contributions there, but I have now subscribed to the Mobituaries podcasts. I'm tempted to list the chapter headings, but that would get crazy. So, I'll just leave you with the idea that this is a great read and also a great gift.I requested and received a free ebook copy from Simon and Schuster Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

[dmclane_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The concept is intriguing, but the idea of reading a book full of obituaries is also off-putting. What I found was a book full of trivia data, often amusing, often biased, and often about presidents and/or persons in the film and music entertainment industry. It was surprisingly enjoyable, on several occasions I found myself ‘sharing’ with my spouse, “did you know, that. . .,” and certainly read quickly. In short, not macabre as I had feared, and a fun read, leaving me with the impression that probably everyone has at least one notable mention in their lifetimes’. It just takes a genius of an idea and a fanatic researcher to find the noteworthy and make it entertaining. I predict you will like this book.