Wow, your memoir is like watching a beautiful movie
Lee, yogi, Brisbane via whatsapp

I feel braver today, due to her courages choices
Emma, cancer patient, Brisbane via whatsapp

I’ve been deeply touched and moved. As a person who has lost both parents in medical settings, I have learned a lot from your journey and can only imagine how things may have been different.
Philippa, Sydney via email

I was glued to every page
Peter, Wollongong -via email

I never thought that a book on such a topic would interest me as it has
Virginia, academic, Brisbane via whatsapp

Initially I couldn’t put this book down reading the first 200 pages in one sitting. Then when I got to about page 280 I stopped and waited a couple of weeks, I didn’t want it toend! But it had to. It’s the most uplifting story about dignified dying and what family and freedom mean. It’s made me think about my parents, death, and living more deeply than I have in a long time. As the world becomes more confusing and living more complex this book brings us back to what’s important and how to be better humans.
James, entrepreneur, Sydney on Amazon

I can’t seem to put your book down. What a journey, so inspiring. Also love all the background stories about you and your mum.

This book surprised me in the best possible way. What begins as a deeply personal story about a conscious way of dying becomes a powerful reminder of how to truly live. Full of wisdom, beautiful storytelling, and heartfelt insights, it inspires greater presence, awareness, and joy. I couldn’t put it down, it touched me deeply. humans.
Sonja, entrepreneur, Valencia via whatsapp and Amazon below

I was lucky enough to meet the author at the book launch in Newcastle,Australia. "As She Chose" is a remarkably good read, given the subject material. I was pleased andsurprised at the uplifting narrative, and I learnt a lot about what it means to die well. I'm glad I read this book!
Unknown. Newcastle, Amazon

A candid journey of mother and son, told with flowing gentleness, love and compassion. It is a journey of beauty and formative memories, of abond so true that a son is able to be both strong and vulnerable alongside his mother's own strength and vulnerability, as she chooses to say goodbye—on her own terms. Tender, honest and deeply moving, this is a story of love, courage and the quiet grace of letting go.
Rebecca, psychologist, Sydney on Amazon

Thank you so much for writing your book. I feel very honored to have gotten a glimpse of what you and your mother’s journey was.

I found your book so hard to put down. It’s a world. I am so very cold too and so comfortable with. You are such anamazing writer such a wonderful caring person so intuitive so incredibly human.

So many times I felt like if I had a highlighter, I would highlight and highlight and things I would talk to you about. Putthe book would be completely highlighted. Thank you so much for sharing your journey.

This book will help so so many people. I will recommend it to anyone and everyone. Truly on the top five of best books I’ve ever read on any topic.
Mary, 61, death doula, Albany (US)

What an amazing story. Your mum sounds like such a strong and inspiring woman. It’s so easy to read.

As She Chose is a deeply moving and thought-provoking book that stayed with me after I finished reading it. I was already familiar with voluntary refusal of food and fluids (VRFF), but this book brought a deeply personal and human perspective to the subject. Rather than focusing on theory or debate, Oliver Christen shares the experience of walking alongside his mother as she consciously chose her own path towards death.

What touched me most was the way the book reconnects us with older, more conscious ways of approaching death. In a world where death is often hidden away or medicalised, it was refreshing to read a story that explores dying as a natural part of life and one that can be approached with intention, dignity, and acceptance.

You do not have to agree with the decisions made in the book to appreciate its message. One of its greatest strengths is that it encourages reflection rather than judgment. It opens the door to conversations many families avoid and provides an opportunity to discuss wishes, fears, and choices with loved ones before those conversations become urgent.

I was deeply touched by the love, respect, and courage shown throughout the story. Beyond the discussion of death, this is a book about family, autonomy, and the importance of honouring the wishes of those we love.

Whether you agree with VRFF or not, As She Chose offers valuable insights and invites readers to consider that there may be different ways of approaching the end of life. It is a compassionate and important book that I would highly recommend.
Andrea, death doula, Newcastle (AUS) via email and Amazon

As She Chose is Oliver Christen’s very personal account of his 86-year-old mother’s decision to end her life by voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED). It is not a medical or legal guide. Instead, he tells the story of what the decision meant for his mother and for the people who stayed close to her during the 24 days before she died.

What stands out most is the humanity of the book. Oliver Christen writes about the conversations they had, the emotions that surfaced, relationships that needed attention and the everyday care involved. His admiration for his mother’s independence and determination is clear, but he also writes honestly about what it was like for him to accompany her. The book shows that VSED is not simply an individual decision or a clinical process. It unfolds within relationships and has a profound effect on everyone involved.

Detailed first-hand accounts of VSED are still quite rare, which makes this book particularly valuable. It opens up conversations about ageing, losing independence, mental capacity and what matters to us towards the end of life. Although Oliver Christen clearly respects his mother’s decision, the book does not feel as though it is trying to persuade other people to make the same choice.
Alizoun, end of life doula, educator, Devon (UK), Goodreads

This is a book every Doula should read. Voluntary withdrawal from food is such a profound choice.
Denise, death doula training, Sydney in a Facebook group

I felt so peaceful reading it and learned a lot from your mum.
Beth, VAD doctor, Sydney via email.

I have the deepest respect and appreciation for the way you were present with your mother. What a gift for you both, and what a gift you have given the rest of us by sharing your story.

There are books that inform, and there are books that transform. This book does both. At the heart of this memoir is a mother who, finding that the quality of life she valued was slipping away, makes a deliberate choiceto meet death on her own terms while she still has capacity. She feared a future where a stroke or a hospital intervention might take away her ability to choose for herself, and that fear, rendered with unflinching tenderness by her son and author Oliver Christen, will resonate with anyone who has watched a parent diminish.

She chose to undergo Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED),also known as a death fast, an ancient spiritual practice rooted not in escape, but in intention. Christen moved in to accompany her, and what follows is a weaving together of memories, reflections, and daily moments of grace as a son bears witness to his mother's courage, clarity, and quiet strength.

More than a book about death, this is a book about love, about accompanying someone you cherish all the way to the threshold. It gives readers the language, the courage, and the permission to haveconversations that most families spend a lifetime avoiding. As a deathdoula, I will make this book required reading for anyone I work with who is contemplating VSED for themselves.
Candace, death doula, Melbourne on Amazon

I nearly didn’t come because of the topic (bit scary) but the interview with Oliver Christen, his comments about supporting his mum andgeneral vision and attitude about end-of-life learning was so insightful that I left more confident in dealing with my own transition and ready to participate in creating beautiful moments for my loved ones.
Rosalie 47, South Brisbane on whatsapp

The entire tone of Oliver’s presentation was one of grace and compassion, that can only come from firsthand experience.
Jamsheed 52, Brisbane on whatsapp

Oliver’s book was so timely and significant to me in helping my ownparents, who are doing their best to face their fears and concerns abouttheir own demise. I left feeling I’d confronted some of my fears by being more informed through Oliver’s incredible experience.
Sharon, 49 Gold Coast on whatsapp

It’s so great to interact with someone so personable and loving, so light and who included humour and laughter in his communications. Oliver’s lightness and laughter, often triggered by Lee through their obviousfriendship and years of trust, was his secret weapon when discussing both his mum’s journey and his own perspective on ‘death and dying’. I found the whole experience uplifting, informative and inspiring. I’ve since read Mr. Christen’s memoir, ‘As She Chose’, and feel ever so better prepared for life’s greatest challenge and most wondrous adventure.
Ross, 36 Ipswich on whatsapp

I find a companionship with your mum. I enjoyed the sense of humour in the many stories and unique experiences you and your mum had. The gradual letting go, the sleep and breathing patterns, the want to the end and the many letters of gratitude are all part ofan end of life scenario with peace, stillness and love. Some great lessons for the older age group.

But this memoir will not only appeal to many senior citizens but healthcare workers, the palliative care group and booklovers who will go through it just out of curiosity.
Sara, 91, doctor, India on whatsapp

As She Chose is a truly beautiful read. It is a thoughtfully told story of a mother, a son, their family and the journey to making a conscious decision to end to a life, truly well lived.

Prior to learning of the book, I was not aware Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED). I was moved by the grace, love and the poetic journey that VSED can be.

This is a book that will make you laugh and cry, more importantly it will educate you to the possibility of more choices for the ones we love.
Tim, Entrepreneur, Newcastle, Amazon

A book about a consciously chosen self-determined process of dying by death fasting written by the son who accompanied his mother on her way. No only was he able to create a peaceful and trustful atmosphere in which his mother felt held and safe, also he found the right words describing the process with sensibility. There by he is breaking the cultural taboo no to talk about death, the process of dying and how a person wants to die. Readers can tell the relief of his mother, when her children accepted her wish to die and her son promised to be there for her. We get to know the process of death fasting, the emotionally very intense happy and despaired moments the both are experiencing on their way and the loosening of the grip on life, the slow transition of the mother. By the way we get to know a very strong and determined woman and her likewise strong, spiritual and successful son and their impressive and moving relationship. I highly recommend reading this book!
Katrin, Psychologist, Frankfurt, Amazon

Totally Unexpected! This is a story I was not looking to hear or read, but I was put onto it by some friends. A son who agrees to and does take care of his mom, who seeks voluntary assisted dying support in Switzerland. This is a story of humanity, love, and humour, and of how we can make choices that ultimately lead to a peaceful and maybe even joyful passing of our loved ones. I liked the story so much I invited the author onto my podcast.  Highly recommended.
Pod, Don’t Let The Old Man In Podcast, Sydney, Amazon