You may not have heard of Julian Hill, for example, but he revolutionized our lives as the inventor of nylon, and you'll learn more about him in The Last Word.

For 10 years, "The Economist" has included unique and original obituaries in a popular column. The selections are remarkable because of the people written about

The New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2020 Time Magazine's 100 Must-Read Books of 2020 NPR's Best Books of 2020 National Book Award in Poetry, Longlist Frank

Among his devoted fans, his pieces were known simply as McGs. Robert McG. Thomas Jr. commemorated fascinating, unconventional lives with signature style and wit

Including an index to all obituaries and tributes appearing in the Times.