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Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End | Atul Gawande
In "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 ending Medicine 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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anushareflects
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Pickpick

A profoundly difficult read because it holds up a mirror to what we all will inevitably face - old age, disease, death. It is an extremely powerful work filled with information and language that we need to learn in order to contemplate the decisions that come with our mortality and those of our loved ones. It can be terribly depressing in many parts and the futility of our lives overwhelmed me at times, but it is necessary reading for everyone.

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CSeydel
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“Our most cruel failure in how we treat the sick and the aged is the failure to recognize that they have priorities beyond merely being safe and living longer.”

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CSeydel
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Nonfiction bracket. My only nonfiction of the month, and my final read of 2023. Incredible book. Anyone with aging parents or who plans to get old themselves should read this. Equal parts medicine, psychology, history, and philosophy. It was so hard to choose an overall winner here.

Lindy Loved this. I‘ve read it twice so far. 3mo
37 likes1 stack add2 comments
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carolpharmd

“You live longer only when you stop trying to live longer.”

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

This exploration of death, illness, and the meaning of dying with dignity and purpose was so thought provoking. It made me think a lot about end of life questions and answers which resonated with me as my parents are aging and it feels like we are entering a new chapter. so highly recommend this accessible and well written book. Great on #audio. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

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CuriousG
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Continuing 30 book recommendations in 30 days.

Day 2: This is a book that I have recommended widely and without reservation. It isn't just about dying; it has expanded my understanding of how I want to live and also how I want to communicate with those around me about my wishes. Yes, it is mostly focused on quality of life for those who know they are nearing the end of their lives, but it is so much more than that. Just read it! #30recsin30days

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JoeMo
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, and some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookaDay2023

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Lcsmcat
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Pickpick

There‘s so much to think about in this book! The early chapters are the most difficult, but persevere- it‘s ultimately a hopeful book. I love that Gawande doesn‘t offer easy fixes, or proclaim that we need to go back to the “good old days.” And he is global in his views, not elevating one culture over another. My elderly mother has read this, as has my sister. Now we just have to start having the difficult conversations. Not my family‘s forte!

Graywacke An incredible, perspective changing book. 13mo
Lcsmcat @Graywacke It is! And while I‘m recommending it to people, I have a hard time explaining it. 13mo
Graywacke @Lcsmcat oh, me too. We don‘t associate talking about death with anything positive. But this is an oddly uplifting look at death. 13mo
Lcsmcat @Graywacke And not just death, but frailty. People I‘ve tried to explain this to think it‘s all about funeral plans and DNRs. And what I found so gripping was thinking about how to give our elders a dignified life of their own choosing, while not being neglectful. It‘s a fine line. 13mo
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451Degrees
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Pickpick

Words cannot sum up the complete awe and appreciation I have for this book. I have read this book over the last year not because it wasn‘t a good read but because I wanted to take in all that it has to offer. The importance of asking our loved ones how they want the end of their life handled and the reality that we need to think the same of ourselves! An absolute pick!

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KinaReads
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new read

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451Degrees
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I‘m chipping away at this fantastic read but I just had to share this quote. I am often obsessive about end of life decisions and prepping and telling others to think about it too! This just resonated so much with me that we as a society just don‘t understand that there‘s so much more to dying than just prolonging it to the point of suffering!

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MatchlessMarie
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Pickpick

That moment at the end of your audiobook when you hear “we hope you‘ve enjoyed being mortal” 👀 #AwesomeApril This was a very well rounded perspective on how we treat the aging and dying and all the gray areas that come into play. This would be a good one to come back to/study for sure.

Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏 2y
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JoyBlue
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Pickpick

My second reading of this book took me down a different path than the first. Read my full review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#being-mortal-medicine-and-what-matte...

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MatchlessMarie
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I think decrepitude is my new favorite word 👵🏻

Tamra Great word! 2y
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violabrain
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Pickpick

Despite its subject matter, I found this book ultimately hopeful. Definitely a lot to think about in here.

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Smarkies
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Pickpick

This was a hard book to get through because of the subject matter - I see aging in myself and those I love around me. But it is a very important book to read regarding the subject matter.
A definite pick for me.

Nutmegnc I saw him in person ( precovid!) and he discussed the circumstances around writing this book and the situation of healthcare in general and end of life care. He was a really interesting speaker. 2y
Smarkies @Nutmegnc what a treat! 2y
tokorowilliamwallace @Nutmegnc This is neat. I got to see two author lectures of their books and lives from local public library events when I lived just outside the Baltimore city line (Christina Dalcher and Eric R. Thomas), and a 3 hour 'ego depth work in the second half of life' lecture by Washington, D.C. Jungian analyst literally right before the pandemic hit and the shut down began, and I'm so glad I got to experience those! Orlando public library system step up 2y
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batsy I really want to read this. But caring for an aging mother who was recently ill—feel like it might hit too close to home at the moment. I keep putting it off. 2y
Smarkies @batsy it was really hard for me to get through the first few chapters. I really had to space out my reading of it because at times I was quite "stressed" by what he was explaining. 2y
Nutmegnc @batsy yeah, with the pandemic, I‘m pretty much at my emotional max. I‘m so sorry you‘re dealing with family health problems on top@of that. 2y
batsy @Smarkies I get what you mean and thanks for mentioning that! I will read it but will try to attempt it when I'm feeling ready. 2y
batsy @Nutmegnc Thank you for your kind words. And yes, I feel most people are at their capacity with the stress of the last two years. I hope it gets better for all of us. 2y
Nutmegnc @batsy We can only hope. 2y
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Tineke
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Pickpick

This is a thoughtful book about a difficult subject. It made me think about my end of my life and about my dad's. I think I might have to talk to him about what he wants and what he doesn't want and that's difficult. I didn't agree with the part about assisted suicide in my country and how it's a failure that apparently 1 in 35 people have sought assistance in 2012. I found out 4% of deaths in 2020 were assisted, mostly by a GP.
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Tineke I'm talking about my country. The author talks about doing what the patient wants to keep quality of life until the end. And I find it a bit weird that he's judging assisted suicide and how many people ask for it. If that is what people want, then let people do that. Not all people want to go to a hospice. I can understand people wanting to end their life with a clear mind, knowing exactly what's happening. 3y
Tineke I don't find this a failure inherently. Both ways, hospice and assisted suicide, sound like they have things saying for them.
TBR since July 24th. 2020; 263 pages.
(edited) 3y
BarbaraBB Agree! 3y
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CuriousG
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Help! I'm going to be going on a 3 week holiday and need to choose my books to take along. I have some ebooks already but prefer physical copies. Limited on weight though so need to narrow down my choices...which ones do I bring along??

EvieBee Homegoing for sure! 3y
CuriousG @EvieBee That is definitely one of the front-runners atm! 3y
FelinesAndFelonies Leave Good Company. Super disappointing. 👎🏽 3y
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StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Home Going & Little Bee. (The God of Small Things & Jonny Appleseed is heavy reading for a vacation imo) 3y
JamieArc Another vote for Homegoing! Don‘t leave home without it 😊 3y
Hestapleton Another vote for Homegoing! So so so good. 3y
Chelsea.Poole I just read Think Again and loved it! Have a great vacation! 3y
CuriousG @EvieBee @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego @JamieArc @Hestapleton Okay - Homegoing has officially made the cut! 3y
CuriousG @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Heaving reading is ki d of my favourite, so those other two might actually be good to take along too! And I've been looking forward to Little Bee as well 3y
21 likes9 comments
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451Degrees
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No better place to read this book! #wahclellafalls #hikesandbooks

CuriousG This might be one of my favourite books ever! And I also enjoy reading outdoors 🙂 3y
TiredLibrarian @451Degrees @CuriousG I loved that book. I'm going through some of those issues with my 90 year old mother, and it really changed my perspective in many ways. 3y
451Degrees @CuriousG there‘s definitely something different about reading outside!❤️ 3y
451Degrees @TiredLibrarian I can only imagine😕 it‘s been an enlightening and tough read. I haven‘t experienced any of this yet but I‘m glad I‘m getting to read it now! Wishing you the best with your mom❤️ 3y
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MallenNC
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Back when Book Riot had a subscription box, this was one of the selections I received. I am so glad because I probably wouldn‘t have read this otherwise. It‘s a great, thoughtful look at mortality and how modern medicine may not always have the human individual‘s best interests at heart. It immediately came to mind for today‘s #ConflictedWords prompt, #PersonVsDeath

Eggs I agree about modern medicine not having human interests at its heart ❤️ 3y
MallenNC @Eggs He writes about how medical school trains doctors to look for the next test or next operation and not at whether that course of action is right for the person‘s quality of life. That‘s the main focus of the book for me, what is “quality of life”? 3y
Eggs Yes as if “doctoring harder” is the answer @MallenNC 3y
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Brooke_H
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Pickpick

Engrossing, accessible, moving, pertinent to every human. A great read.

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Brooke_H
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Loreen
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Pickpick

This book is not a feel good kind of book. It‘s informative, helpful, and a book a everyone with elderly parents needs to to read.
#nonfiction
#mttbr

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Hilary427
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Pickpick

Such a good book! Being that I‘m in my 30s, end of life care honestly doesn‘t pop into my mind all that often, but I love the way this was written. I was hesitant to read a book written by a surgeon, but he is a gifted author. Loved it!
⭐️:4/5

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SaraBeth_RN
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#12 of 2021. This book was recommended to me as a new grad RN working in an oncology/end of life unit at my local hospital. I‘ve always told myself, “you need to read that.” Six years later, I finally did. Such an amazing look at how we as humans face our own mortality and that of our loved ones. But even more than that, it illustrates how we as healthcare providers can do so much more for our dying patients!!

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Cruble88
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Pickpick

Wow! What an amazing read. Made me really think about the care I give as a nurse. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, but especially those in health care. Sometime I‘m just looking at the right now picture and I forget to figure out what is most important to my patients. This book has helped me to look at each person differently and to try harder to be a sounding board and advocate for them. #whatmattersmost #autonomymatters

JakeRuble I dig you 3y
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Cruble88
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I‘m excited about this one! I haven‘t read a nonfiction book in so long. It‘s been hard to get into reading again since I graduated nursing school and now that I finally crave it again with fiction, I think it‘s time for nonfiction. A friend of mine lent this to me, I‘m a chapter in and already loving it!!!
#returntoreading #nurselife #weareallmortal

MallenNC This is a great book. I read it years ago and I still think about it. 3y
Cruble88 @MallenNC I‘m really liking it so far and my friend lent me 3 of his other books as well 3y
MallenNC @Cruble88 This is the only one I‘ve read but I‘d like to read his others. 3y
Cruble88 @MallenNC I‘ll definitely be posting my thoughts on all of them. 3y
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Thousand-Lives
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Pickpick

I was hesitant to read a book about mortality and end of life during a pandemic, and in a season of life when my anxiety is very high; however, I found this book to be very engaging and thought-provoking in a way that did not trigger me. I am a medical speech-language pathologist and found this important from a professional standpoint, but this is truly a book for everyone. I highly recommend it. The audio narration was very well done.

CuriousG I feel the same about this book- somehow comforting and not anxiety provoking. It is amazing! 3y
Thousand-Lives @CuriousG Yes! Truly a wonderful book. I‘m glad you also enjoyed it. 3y
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mjtwo
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Pickpick

3 - 7 Nov 2020 (audiobook)
Confronting and thought-provoking, particularly in light of my mother‘s death at 56. If we had our time again, I would try to do things differently. I certainly would recommend this to people who are facing the death of a parent or loved one.

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cajunsyd
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Pickpick

Everyone should read this book at some point. There are so many wonderful pearls on how to navigate aging and how to live a fulfilled life all the way through to the end. There is something for everyone, no matter your age.

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cajunsyd
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1. Making seniors‘ lives more fulfilling
2. A hug from my husband, obviously
3. 1920‘s flapper era

@Eggs
#wondrouswednesday

Eggs Thoughtful responses ❣️ Thanks for joining in 👏🏻👏🏻 3y
23 likes1 comment
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cajunsyd
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Looking forward to another interesting book from Gawande. I loved his other books.

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MallenNC
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1. By horoscope I‘m a fire sign and I also got fire from the quiz.

2. Being Mortal (tagged) really changed my views on aging and end of life

3. I‘m in the middle of several but I‘m starting Deacon King Kong by James McBride and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

@Eggs #WonderousWednesday

Thanks for tagging me @TheSpineView If anyone hasn‘t been tagged and wants to play, I tag you!

TheSpineView You're welcome! 😊📚💜 4y
Eggs Being Mortal: stacked—I need to read this! 4y
MallenNC @Eggs I recommend it often! I read it years ago and still think about it. 4y
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JulAnna
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Me and my reading buddy, enjoying the sound of the birds this morning 😊

ScientistSam Cute puppy ❤️ 4y
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Josee.lit.a.lu.et.lira
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Pickpick
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Addison_Reads
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When it comes to books #aboutadoctor or about medicine, I highly recommend Atul Gawande. His books are so well written and informative.

#MagnificentMarch @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 👨‍⚕️📚🙌🏻 4y
OriginalCyn620 👍🏻📚🩺 4y
33 likes2 comments
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Billypar
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Pickpick

Excellent look at the problems with end of life care when efforts to sustain life take precedence over quality of life. Gawande considers innovative alternatives to nursing homes, hospice care, and the problems with long-shot treatment options that leave patients miserable. He also uses examples from his own life that parallel his research. Everyone should read this, as we will likely face the decisions described for ourselves or our loved ones.

Reviewsbylola I just finished this one and I agree, it‘s essential reading. 4y
Aimeesue ❤️❤️❤️Atul Gawande❤️❤️❤️ (edited) 4y
Billypar @Reviewsbylola @Aimeesue It was the kind of material I didn't exactly look forward to reading but he makes a compelling case why we shouldn't avoid thinking about these issues. 4y
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Reviewsbylola
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Pickpick

This was quite an odd choice to be listening to as COVID-19 ramped up. It really makes the reader consider what end of life should look like. So many things that we leave up to medical professionals, but do they have the same goals in mind as their patients?

This wasn‘t necessarily a book I couldn‘t put down, but it is a book that everyone should read.

CuriousG Loved this book - it is on my list to re-read for sure 4y
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Ncostell
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Pickpick

This is a book that I‘ve put off reading but am so glad that I finally got to it as it‘s a book that I‘m sure I‘ll return to again. Dr. Gawande takes a much needed look at the issues of care for the elderly and at end of life decisions with such compassion. Not an easy subject or an easy read but an important one that will prompt many meaningful thoughts and discussions.

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AvidReader25
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Final round up for 2019!

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Amiable
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Day 14 of #adventrecommends ... a well-written exploration of how we live, and why we should think about how we die and what really matters in the end.

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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

This is a great example of nonfiction. It‘s so well written that even though I wasn‘t sure I was interested in the subject matter at first, I couldn‘t put it down. The author is a doctor and discusses end-of-life care. He cites research, his own experience with patients, & his experience with his father‘s death. It‘s a powerful book, driven by real examples of hospice and nursing care, mixed with the history and cultural differences. Recommended!

BkClubCare I read this and gave to my mother, who gave to one of her besties who gave it to someone else and she says EVERYONE is wanting to read it! 4y
AvidReader25 @BkClubCare I think it‘s such an important book. It really opens up a conversation about caring for the elderly and what is best for them. 4y
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RinaBrahmbhattBarot
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Pickpick

What are those books for you? It's such an insightful book...sad at times but it has moved me to take an action, something beautiful coming up next year for our elderly community!!!

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Anshul82
Pickpick

To get me back into reading.

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SG2014
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An extra hour means I get a little more of this.

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