In September 2023, Simon Boas was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer at the age of 46. Over the following year, he compiled his reflections on life into a book titled “A Beginner’s Guide to Dying,” set to be published posthumously in October. In a recent interview with Emma Barnett on the Today Programme, Boas shared his acceptance of death and the sense of peace he found in his final months, now under hospice care.
Boas expressed surprising happiness and contentment, having found value in the time to prepare for his passing and reflect on his life. His career as an aid worker in conflict zones like Gaza, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Ukraine exposed him to death regularly, which he believes has helped him face his mortality. His experiences as a Samaritan, often speaking to people at the end of their lives, reinforced his belief in the importance of confronting and accepting death.
Boas emphasized the significance of living life fully and cherishing small acts of kindness, which can have a lasting impact. He reflected on his family’s upcoming challenges and hoped his positive outlook would help them cope. Citing George Eliot’s “Middlemarch,” he highlighted the profound influence of unrecognized, everyday actions on the world.
Despite losing the ability to eat due to treatment side effects, Boas looked forward to enjoying Muscadet and rollups, with his oncologist’s blessing, and spending time with his family. Ready for his final day, he found solace in the words of Julian of Norwich: “All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.
