He describes in the book how his old dad died: stupendous. He had diabetes and just slowed down his breathing one day, after having thanked every health care caretaker in his home, assumed meditational posture, and died after three days of this. Just stopped breathing after his breathing had slowed down for three days. Amazing. I believe some hardcore meditational practitioners  who never smoked or drank can have such stupendous death. 

The section I am reading suggests ways to meditate with awareness about our own death or that of a loved one. To become familiar with impermanence. I have to do these exercises as I read them. I tend to but have not this week end.