In “Being Mortal,” Gawande tackles the daunting challenge of how medicine can help people face death with honesty and dignity. He explores the hopes and fears of patients and doctors, burnishing the case for better end-of-life care. In “The Emperor of All Maladies,” Gawande tells the story of cancer from the earliest.
For who is this book for ?
This book is for people who are generally interested in health and wellness, as it tackles the difficult topic of death and how to face it with dignity.
Pros :
- Well written
- Engaging read
- Insightful
Cons :
- Gawande’s writing can be dense at times
- The book doesn’t have a clear structure
- Gawande jumps around in time quite a bit
Learn more about the author
Atul Gawande is a surgeon, writer, and public health leader. He practices general and endocrine surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. A staff writer for The New Yorker since 1998, he has also been a contributing editor to Harper’s magazine since 2000. In 2003 he was a senior fellow at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. He is the author of four books: Complications; Better; Atul Gawande on Surgery (a collection of his surgical essays); and The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right.
Reader Reviews
“This book is an excellent and insightful exploration of the human experience of death and dying. Atul Gawande does an admirable job of highlighting both the progress that has been made in modern medicine with regards to treating serious illness, as well as the shortcomings this progress often brings about. In particular, he underscores the importance of having a candid conversation with our loved ones about our wishes for care near the end-of-life, regardless of whether or not we are currently facing a life-threatening diagnosis.”
“Gawande is one of our finest physician-writers, and in this book he tackles perhaps the most human (and humane) of subjects: how we deal with death. The result is a powerful, insightful read that will leave you thinking about how you want to live your remaining days.”
“This book is an exploration of how modern medicine can prolong life but often at the expense of the quality of that life. Gawande has written a powerful and important work.”
“Gawande is at his best when he brings human stories into the discussion. Being Mortal should be mandatory reading for anyone who wants to think more deeply about this most important of topics.”
