In this survey of changing perspectives of suicide throughout history, Minois examines how a culture’s attitudes about suicide reflect its larger beliefs & values. He addresses a wide range of questions drawn from theology, law, literature, science, & medicine. The survey covers attitudes from classical Greece & Rome through the Enlightenment, to emerging developments in 19th & 20th centuries. Minois concludes with comments on the most recent developments in suicidology, the debate over euthanasia, assisted suicide, & the right to die. (66 refs)