Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
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- Create Date：2021-04-22 11:56:43
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Atul Gawande
- ISBN：1250076226
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Summary
Named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post， The New York Times Book Review， NPR， Chicago Tribune
Medicine has triumphed in modern times， transforming the dangers of childbirth， injury， and disease from harrowing to manageable。 But when it comes to the inescapable realities of aging and death， what medicine can do often runs counter to what it should。
Through eye-opening research and gripping stories of his own patients and family， Gawande reveals the suffering this dynamic has produced。 Nursing homes， devoted above all to safety， battle with residents over the food they are allowed to eat and the choices they are allowed to make。 Doctors， uncomfortable discussing patients' anxieties about death， fall back on false hopes and treatments that are actually shortening lives instead of improving them。
In his bestselling books， Atul Gawande， a practicing surgeon， has fearlessly revealed the struggles of his profession。 Now he examines its ultimate limitations and failures-in his own practices as well as others'-as life draws to a close。 Riveting， honest， and humane， Being Mortal shows how the ultimate goal is not a good death but a good life-all the way to the very end。
Medicine has triumphed in modern times， transforming the dangers of childbirth， injury， and disease from harrowing to manageable。 But when it comes to the inescapable realities of aging and death， what medicine can do often runs counter to what it should。
Through eye-opening research and gripping stories of his own patients and family， Gawande reveals the suffering this dynamic has produced。 Nursing homes， devoted above all to safety， battle with residents over the food they are allowed to eat and the choices they are allowed to make。 Doctors， uncomfortable discussing patients' anxieties about death， fall back on false hopes and treatments that are actually shortening lives instead of improving them。
In his bestselling books， Atul Gawande， a practicing surgeon， has fearlessly revealed the struggles of his profession。 Now he examines its ultimate limitations and failures-in his own practices as well as others'-as life draws to a close。 Riveting， honest， and humane， Being Mortal shows how the ultimate goal is not a good death but a good life-all the way to the very end。
Reviews
Summer
，
This book was so insightful and interesting and really reshapes the way we can think about our lives - not just the length but also the quality。 It's one I will definitely be thinking about for awhile and want to reread one day。 This book was so insightful and interesting and really reshapes the way we can think about our lives - not just the length but also the quality。 It's one I will definitely be thinking about for awhile and want to reread one day。 。。。more
Becky
，
Amazing book that gives a lot to contemplate。
Isabel Gonzaga
，
Started off slow， I’ll admit。 The early chapters felt dense with several statistics and medical jargon。 But this is an absolute must read for any medical trainee。 Dr。 Gawande dispels so many myths and expectations about palliative medicine and end of life care through so many lenses。 His personal and professional stories， and subsequent research/experiences with hospice， were very enlightening and inspiring。 Five stars。 Should be a required read for healthcare professionals， at any point in thei Started off slow， I’ll admit。 The early chapters felt dense with several statistics and medical jargon。 But this is an absolute must read for any medical trainee。 Dr。 Gawande dispels so many myths and expectations about palliative medicine and end of life care through so many lenses。 His personal and professional stories， and subsequent research/experiences with hospice， were very enlightening and inspiring。 Five stars。 Should be a required read for healthcare professionals， at any point in their training。 。。。more
Eileen
，
A very enlightening and， at times， moving account of what it means to grow old in America and to face the tendency to treat the elderly as a problem to be efficiently housed， medicated， and managed rather than as individuals who wish to be given their choices， even if those choices increase risks and costs。 The most encouraging parts of Gawande's book were the accounts of people that tried themselves to make life better for older people in their care， and who succeeded despite the pushback。 What A very enlightening and， at times， moving account of what it means to grow old in America and to face the tendency to treat the elderly as a problem to be efficiently housed， medicated， and managed rather than as individuals who wish to be given their choices， even if those choices increase risks and costs。 The most encouraging parts of Gawande's book were the accounts of people that tried themselves to make life better for older people in their care， and who succeeded despite the pushback。 What mattered in the end was to give people some autonomy and to hold on to a vibrancy in the way their lived their final years。 It's a book that everyone should read in order to consider what paths they might hope to follow and that I hope as a nation we are more willing to invest in。 The recent pandemic especially lays bare the cost of institutionalizing the vulnerable elderly。 。。。more
Laura
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Everyone who loves someone should read this。
Suzanne
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A very thought provoking book about how we care for those who become ill and terminally ill。 There is a lot on this book to chew on and consider as a human， medical provider， daughter， wife， etc。
Mallory Watson
，
I enjoyed this book and what he talked about but I cant believe he didnt mention occupational therapy a single time。 Many of the concepts he discussed are central in OT。
MariLee
，
Physician Atul Gawande's book discusses how we age， how we treat and care for those who are aged and frail， and those who are coming to their end of their lives， either through aging or through illness or infirmity。 He asks some important questions about how we can help those in these situations （including eventually ourselves） have their best quality of life to the end of their lives and gives some insights on how to make that happen。 Dr。 Gawande shares personal experiences to illustrate how we Physician Atul Gawande's book discusses how we age， how we treat and care for those who are aged and frail， and those who are coming to their end of their lives， either through aging or through illness or infirmity。 He asks some important questions about how we can help those in these situations （including eventually ourselves） have their best quality of life to the end of their lives and gives some insights on how to make that happen。 Dr。 Gawande shares personal experiences to illustrate how we can make this important part of life the best experience possible。 This is important information for everyone to read and discuss， especially those who are facing these decisions with aging parents or others who may need end-of-life care。 。。。more
Val
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Woah。 Some parts of this book were so painful to read。 Medical science and the people around and in it always fascinates me，， and this book just recounts so well the pros and flaws of it。 Really made me contemplate what life is living for， my time for living， and my fear of mortality。 Truly poignant prose =）
Rebekah Hastings
，
As I read this book， someone very close to my family was dying of cancer， so it was timely and poignant。 So much of what Atul wrote mirrored our experiences in the medical field as we tried to navigate the truth of how to help our loved one die well。 A lot of the book pertains to how our country has handled those that are older， and a lot deals with death in general。 Gawande writes with such an honesty and humility about the painful ways he had to learn that being a doctor is so much more than g As I read this book， someone very close to my family was dying of cancer， so it was timely and poignant。 So much of what Atul wrote mirrored our experiences in the medical field as we tried to navigate the truth of how to help our loved one die well。 A lot of the book pertains to how our country has handled those that are older， and a lot deals with death in general。 Gawande writes with such an honesty and humility about the painful ways he had to learn that being a doctor is so much more than giving information; doctors （and patients！） must ask the difficult questions that cut to the heart of the matter。 His honesty and criticism of his own field is also refreshing - he is willing to critique the medical field in order for change to really occur。 I especially appreciated his recounting of his father’s experiences; how that brought everything so much closer to home。 If you want to learn a lot about how we are all dying （our bodies themselves are markers of this is many ways） and important questions to ask when a loved one is faced with decisions on where/how to spend their last days/months/years， this book is so good。 。。。more
Michael
，
An easily digestible book written on a challenging topic， Being Mortal left me better prepared to face mortality when times to do so arrive。 Reading this was transformative。 At times， depressing--reading about the unavoidable aging process as a spry 20-some year-old already with trivial complaints of muscle aches or bone damage or memory slips。 At others， enraging--at the realization of an institution which is resistant to change， dooming me （or loved ones， in the nearer future） to the lifestyle An easily digestible book written on a challenging topic， Being Mortal left me better prepared to face mortality when times to do so arrive。 Reading this was transformative。 At times， depressing--reading about the unavoidable aging process as a spry 20-some year-old already with trivial complaints of muscle aches or bone damage or memory slips。 At others， enraging--at the realization of an institution which is resistant to change， dooming me （or loved ones， in the nearer future） to the lifestyle prescribed by available geriatric facilities。 And yet， I finished this book feeling overwhelming peaceful--prepared for tough conversations， consolable by others' shared hardships， and thankful for the sum of my experiences passed and yet-to-pass。Gawande's own synthesis of stories and passages and observations was strong。 His ability to separate his role as a doctor from a sort of star witness， especially in-the-moment when he acknowledged that he wasn't doing so， built a relatable foundation between him and me， the interested reader。 Arguments presented， such as the shrinking horizon of perspective when confronted with death or defining courage in the face of known and unknown factors， provided conclusive summaries to in-depth observations and discussions。 It made the entire book memorable in only a few words， like the titular phrase: The battle of being mortal is the battle to maintain the integrity of one's own life Unsurprisingly then， the power of language was an important focus， though perhaps more indirect。 This is characterized easily in his analysis of how to present tough diagnoses， as either an informative or paternalistic doctor。 Even without knowledge of medical ethics， it is observable by the intention with which Gawande begins diagnoses， saying only "I am worried。" His choice of words were impactful even when not at the focus of a story。 The use of "battle，" for instance， may not be encouraged when patients receive a difficult diagnosis; the language of "fighting" and "beating" cancer can leave parents feeling regretful that their child could have "fought harder" or "attacked" via a different treatment。 Gawande nonetheless uses "battle" to address the struggles and inevitability of old age， saying， In all such cases， death is certain， but the timing isn't。 So everyone struggles with this uncertainty--with how， and when， to accept that the battle is lost。 The power of his words underscores the conviction with which Gawande wrote them。While the arcing information and perspective of the book were well-constructed， individual threads of patient stories or research histories were sometimes sporadic。 Taking one or two days off between reading had me forgetting individuals' names and stories。 For the greater part of the book， each thread braided only loosely together， with no central kern throughout its entire course。 These threads were， however， tied together beautifully at the end with Gawande's own experience with his father。 It is a case study that perfectly exemplified his commitment to the ideas and beliefs he shared。I am thankful to have read this first on my own initiative， with no immediate need to face difficult questions posed within， like: What makes life worth living when we are old and frail and unable to care for ourselves？ When I do， I look forward to knowing this book offers both comfort and guidance for me and my loved ones。 。。。more
Katie
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[3。5 stars]
Shlomo Levi
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I am in tune with everything the author writes about on taking care of the elderly。 Family， to other peoples， in so-called undeveloped countries， is more than the wife/husband and children。 There is no imperative to leave home。 The idea no one to care for the elderly and which requires placing them in some "home" is so abhorrent， those from the developing world always ask the question - who are the civilised ones。 Atul's narrative is so present and the fact of death is so cogently exercised it i I am in tune with everything the author writes about on taking care of the elderly。 Family， to other peoples， in so-called undeveloped countries， is more than the wife/husband and children。 There is no imperative to leave home。 The idea no one to care for the elderly and which requires placing them in some "home" is so abhorrent， those from the developing world always ask the question - who are the civilised ones。 Atul's narrative is so present and the fact of death is so cogently exercised it is better to prepare for it rather than all these interventions that never improve the quality of life。 The brilliant dr he talks about in his book - the Geriatric expert - whose wife dies four days after the removal of POP on both legs begs the question， why all these medical interventions rather to generate profit for health industries rather than providing preventative and geriatric support so that it prepares people for their death。 If if death bothers you， if thinking about death is not being mortal， then please don't read the book。 Its is insightful and as much as it is wrenching。 。。。more
Paul Burkhart
，
A remarkable book that cannot help but shape and form you and the rest of your life。 It is honest， vulnerable， gracious， and wise。 It will also shake you and bring out fear and pain while forcing you to face and think about the hardest parts of human existence。 This book will not leave me for the rest of my life， and I am glad for that。
Sankalpana
，
Being Mortal addresses a critical issue of our times。 With rapid medical advancements， old age and death have become an institutionalised， medical experience。 People often end up trading the quality of their assured lifespan for slim chances of small increases in lifespan。Gawande has knit a beautiful story。 He starts with macro-level sub topics such as how and why death moved from the home to the hospital， the problems that shift brought， what alternatives have cropped up to solve it， etc。 He th Being Mortal addresses a critical issue of our times。 With rapid medical advancements， old age and death have become an institutionalised， medical experience。 People often end up trading the quality of their assured lifespan for slim chances of small increases in lifespan。Gawande has knit a beautiful story。 He starts with macro-level sub topics such as how and why death moved from the home to the hospital， the problems that shift brought， what alternatives have cropped up to solve it， etc。 He then addresses how doctors and family members can help their patients/loved ones maintain autonomy in their final stages。 I absolutely love that he also briefly addresses the topic of euthanasia / assisted death towards the end。 A key thought that stayed with me is that patients often end up making choices not according to their own priorities， but of their families。 For the family， the patient’s safety is the foremost concern， and they think it’s okay to sacrifice autonomy to ensure safety （and hence the demand for nursing homes）。 This may elongate lifespan， but has a detrimental impact on quality of life。 Autonomy - the ability to decide our path - is what makes life enjoyable。 Families need to become okay with the chances of the patient occasionally making poor choices， if it improves the quality of their lives。 The writing is crisp。 The book lingers on a topic for the right amount of time and then smoothly shifts to the next。 This book is highly relevant for everyone - most people have loved ones nearing old age， and fatal illnesses can strike even young people。 。。。more
Joyce
，
To me， this book deals with the question we all ultimately have to face: how do we want to die？I have always been afraid of death。 When I was younger， if the thought of death crossed my mind， I used to have to think about cartoons for half an hour， or I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep。This book helped me realize there are choices beyond assisted suicide the second your quality of life begins to drop， and prolonging your life by every means even if you are brain-dead。 It also helped me see that a To me， this book deals with the question we all ultimately have to face: how do we want to die？I have always been afraid of death。 When I was younger， if the thought of death crossed my mind， I used to have to think about cartoons for half an hour， or I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep。This book helped me realize there are choices beyond assisted suicide the second your quality of life begins to drop， and prolonging your life by every means even if you are brain-dead。 It also helped me see that a hospice doesn’t mean you’ve given up on life: it means you’ve accepted that you don’t have much time left， and your priority is now on living the best day for you everyday for time you have remaining。Reading this has truly transformed the way I think about the process of dying。 I used to just want to push the thought from my mind， pretend that it will affect everyone but the people I know。 But as someone said to me， not making a choice is in itself a choice。 This book has helped me see what the major options I can choose from are， and also given me a basic framework regarding how to go about making these choices。 And， just as importantly， how to talk to my loved ones so I can ensure their wishes are being carried out as well。 The Emanuels described a third type of doctor-patient relationship， which they called “interpretive。” Here the doctor’s role is to help patients determine what they want。 Interpretive doctors ask， “What is most important to you？ What are your worries？” Then， when they know your answers， they tell you about the red pill and the blue pill and which one would most help you achieve your priorities。 Highly recommended。 。。。more
Hugh Carter
，
Wow， this book is moving。 Just beautiful。 Strangely reminded me of a show called The Casketeers on Netflix about a funeral home in New Zealand。 What sounds grim and upsetting， when approached with almost radical compassion， becomes absolutely beautiful。Essential reading。
RWaggoner
，
Hard read。 Moral dilemmas seem hopeless at times。 The takeaway was useful though- talk about deaths me dying before it happens so you know how to honor the wishes of those you love。
Martha Krebill
，
One of the best books I’ve ever read。
Crimson_dagger24
，
Uncomfortable to read， becomes a drag in some places， but ends on a hopeful note。 Is quite depressing throughout。
Kelsey Barklund
，
Everyone in Health Care should read this book。 As a Physical Therapist this was a good read。
Amy
，
4。5 rounded up。I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in elder care， end of life issues， quality of life issues and people willing to think about advance directives and what's important to them in medical care and otherwise。 Author points out what medical model does well and where it falls short as well as offering some alternatives。 In the stories he shares， there are ideas for having the right conversation with medical professionals and with family or friends。 4。5 rounded up。I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in elder care， end of life issues， quality of life issues and people willing to think about advance directives and what's important to them in medical care and otherwise。 Author points out what medical model does well and where it falls short as well as offering some alternatives。 In the stories he shares， there are ideas for having the right conversation with medical professionals and with family or friends。 。。。more
Katie
，
I had to read this book for school and it was very eye-opening to our elderly populations' experiences and how our healthcare system treats them。 I think it is a great book to read if you are going into healthcare or are dealing with a loved one who is aging。"For more than half a century now， we have treated the trials of sickness， aging， and mortality as medical concerns。 It's been an experiment in social engineering， putting our fate in the hands of people valued more for their technical prowe I had to read this book for school and it was very eye-opening to our elderly populations' experiences and how our healthcare system treats them。 I think it is a great book to read if you are going into healthcare or are dealing with a loved one who is aging。"For more than half a century now， we have treated the trials of sickness， aging， and mortality as medical concerns。 It's been an experiment in social engineering， putting our fate in the hands of people valued more for their technical prowess than for their understanding of human needs。 That experiment has failed。。。 we seek a life of worth and purpose， yet are routinely denied the conditions that might make it possible， there is no other way to see what modern society has done。" 。。。more
Talia
，
Loved it。 Two noteworthy things:1） the author described a social experiment in which dogs， cats， and parakeets were introduced into nursing homes and how it drastic at improved the quality of life of the residents。 I freaking love that。 Why can’t that be the case at every nursing home？2） he also described the dichotomy between “informative doctor”， in which the doctor lays out the facts and has the patient choose a procedure/course of action， and a doctor who asks their patient about their bigge Loved it。 Two noteworthy things:1） the author described a social experiment in which dogs， cats， and parakeets were introduced into nursing homes and how it drastic at improved the quality of life of the residents。 I freaking love that。 Why can’t that be the case at every nursing home？2） he also described the dichotomy between “informative doctor”， in which the doctor lays out the facts and has the patient choose a procedure/course of action， and a doctor who asks their patient about their biggest fears and what they want most out of treatment。 Far too often we are met with informative doctor， while the latter is few and far between。 I wonder how much grief would’ve been saved if more doctors adopted the latter strategy。 。。。more
Minsoo Thigpen
，
Coming from a family of medical practitioners， I have read a couple of books that described memoirs of medical professionals reflecting on their last days。 Those books were important to read in understanding one’s personal and uncompromisingly honest views about death and living。 However， I also believe it is important to contextualize the culture around death around history， social paradigms， and intergenerational dynamics。 Gawande presents a compelling argument about how the culture of mortali Coming from a family of medical practitioners， I have read a couple of books that described memoirs of medical professionals reflecting on their last days。 Those books were important to read in understanding one’s personal and uncompromisingly honest views about death and living。 However， I also believe it is important to contextualize the culture around death around history， social paradigms， and intergenerational dynamics。 Gawande presents a compelling argument about how the culture of mortality has changed over time， and how modern medicine has failed us in some respects （i。e。 how modern medicine has treated death as just another problem to be solved instead of helping patients understand through grief and fear and pain what they truly want for their lives in the end） — I believe this book is a worthwhile read for everyone。 Because everyone will die one day and face loss of someone they love。 Gawande presents an immensely difficult topic， one that is often even hard to admit to oneself， with dignity for all patients he represents and shares the stories of and with humor and refreshing candor。 I feel as though I am listening to the musings of my surgeon brother， except organized and edited to be concise and clear though some passages were overly verbose。 I commend the author on not only practicing a very difficult discipline surrounded by death and disease every day， but reflecting on the humanity of the people he serves。 In our privatized medical industrial complex， it is often too easy to train doctors to center care — is it not easier to just inform the patient or customer what options they could have and let them decide？ This book is a reminder that there’s no victory over death， only the fight to ensure that there’s a life worth living till the end。 And that fight requires both the doctor and the patient to have conversations and center their care and treatments around what they value the most with the limited time we all have on this earth。 。。。more
Kate
，
Must read for anyone regardless of profession。 Our society views death as taboo but it’s a beautiful process if done well。 ♥️♥️♥️ learn to live your best life while dying！
Dillon Fisher
，
Confronting， emotional but important。 A book that will make you start to ask yourself some very important questions about what matters to you ， and face the idea of your own mortality。 Took me a while to get into this book but as the theory gave way to the authors personal experience it became a very interesting read。
Nicole
，
This not a book you pick up and take on vacation to read。 This is a book that is probably read a bit at a time to process then read a bit more。 I really appreciated the insight the doctor gave and how one chooses to spend their final days。 It really showed me how we all have choices and we have a voice to use， so when it is our/our spouse/our parents/our grandparents time to die that it is respectful for all。
Samaneh
，
I listened to its Audible。 Overall a great read and reminder of our mortality。 Both scary and liberating to think about。 I felt bored in some parts， but I still recommend checking it out。
Tyler
，