Being Mortal

Books | Social Science / Death & Dying

4.7

(1.3K)

Atul Gawande

#1 New York Times BestsellerIn Being Mortal, bestselling author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its endingMedicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming birth, injury, and infectious disease from harrowing to manageable. But in the inevitable condition of aging and death, the goals of medicine seem too frequently to run counter to the interest of the human spirit. Nursing homes, preoccupied with safety, pin patients into railed beds and wheelchairs. Hospitals isolate the dying, checking for vital signs long after the goals of cure have become moot. Doctors, committed to extending life, continue to carry out devastating procedures that in the end extend suffering.Gawande, a practicing surgeon, addresses his profession's ultimate limitation, arguing that quality of life is the desired goal for patients and families. Gawande offers examples of freer, more socially fulfilling models for assisting the infirm and dependent elderly, and he explores the varieties of hospice care to demonstrate that a person's last weeks or months may be rich and dignified.Full of eye-opening research and riveting storytelling, Being Mortal asserts that medicine can comfort and enhance our experience even to the end, providing not only a good life but also a good end.

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More Details:

Author

Atul Gawande

Pages

304

Publisher

Henry Holt and Company

Published Date

2014-10-07

ISBN

1627790551 9781627790550

Ratings

Google: 4.5

Community ReviewsSee all

"One of the best books I’ve ever read. Atul Gawande wrote a book about a subject I didn’t want to think about but masterfully explained why it’s so important to understand mortality. He even uses personal stories. An all time great non fiction book."

Sheldon Rapoza

"Very well written book that highlights the beauty of life and dying with dignity. Illness doesn’t have to be scary "

Skye

"This was absolutely fanominal and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the different cases that Atul had been a part of. Interestingly enough, my favorite message that was displayed in this book was that doctors should focus more on the patient’s desires and lifelong goals just as much as their physical health. This broadened my view on what we as people seek in our final years. When you envision someone on their death bed, you don’t truly wonder what they sought in life and what they wanted to spend their final days doing. Most doctors just worry about the physical condition that they are in without taking enough time to consider the things that matter to them most."

Bella Coulter

"4.5<br/>This is a difficult subject for many people but this author tackles it with<br/>Pose and life examples...he wrote well and certainly educated me on this subject"

J w

Jfly winslow

"This book is so informative on the process of aging and mortality. I loved this book and urge everyone to read it. It’s heart wrenching and will give you a different perspective on how we deal with the aging process and death as a family, a culture and also as health providers. I’ve read other books from Atul Gawande. He is a brilliant surgeon and an amazing writer. This book was hard to read but I was unable to stop turning the pages. "

Cheyenne Santana

"As a healthcare worker, this book brought up difficult decisions that I see every day being left too long. Americans are uncomfortable with illness and death, but we would be better served to talk about it BEFORE putting our loved ones in positions to make decisions. "

M O

Melissa Olson

"Great and thought provoking read. Made me really aware about aging and changed how I relate to seniors. Honestly a must read!"