Being Mortal: Atul Gawande

by Mr. Chapter

Being Mortal: Story Shortened into 35 minutes or less! Being Mortal is a book written by Atul Gawande and it is a book that closely observes concepts of death, aging and mortality. When trying to bring these topics to his readers as closest as possible, Gawande uses many examples from real life. Some of them include examples of case studies of his fellow doctors, while some of them include his own research, which he did while observing his own patients and even family members. This book is also a good guide for people who want to know how to live and how to help their family members through their last days, months or years of life. In his book, Gawande also speaks about how elderly people take care of themselves and how do they live when taking care of themselves becomes impossible due to sickness and/or old age. Here he tries to objectively comprehend everything that institutions like hospitals, nursing homes and hospices offer and offers both negative and positive aspects of those institutions. To show his readers that what he is talking about in his book is genuine and authentic, Gawande uses many personal stories that are intermingled with each of segments mentioned above. Being Mortal is an interesting literature, because even though it talks about 'heavy' things like mortality, aging and the inevitable death, it does so by objectively talking about that from a perspective of an expert. Here Is A Preview Of What You Will Get: In Being Mortal, you will get a shortened version of the story In Being Mortal, you will find the book analyzed to further strengthen your knowledge. In Being Mortal, you will get some fun multiple choice quizzes, along with answers to help you learn about the book. Get a copy, and learn everything about Being Mortal.

Genres: Science, Medicine, Nonfiction, Health, Audiobook, Medical

42 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2016

Reviews

[Dianne Mirmow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read!!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gentle and realistic discussion of a very difficult subject. We will all die and we will all probably watch a loved on get ill and die, frequently for a lingering illness or old age. Dr. Gawande provides guidance on thinking about the end both from a medical and personal perspective. I've always admired his articles in the New Yorker. I highly recommend this book for anyone facing the illness of a loved one.

[Patricia Ibarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book written by Atul Gawande, who has devoted his life to working with the elderly, and his research has been focused on working to improve their quality of life. He explains that a big problem is that as time passes by there are fewer geriatricians, and it is now when they are most needed as people are living longer lives. in his book, he explains the main trends that have been followed in the care of the elderly and expresses some of his concerns and disagreements about how old people are seen and considered. He not only complains about what he does not like but also offers different options, which are accepted by many but rejected by others as well. More important than the options offered, I found that it was very important to read this book to understand more clearly what growing old really means and implies, and to consider the two most important worries we have about the old people we love: what do they cherish more, their safety or their happiness and emotional well-being.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting in an unexpected way. A welcome nonfiction gem.

[David Walley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book and as a physician I wish I had read this book before I had retired. I have always seen that the main enemy is to be battled within medicine suffering and grief. Obviously we always try to prolong life when we feel it is beneficial for the patient, but the author says that we should concentrate for more and well-being. Well-being is something that we tend to leave for the patient alone to deal with instead of being involved with it and I think we have a lot of things we can offer. Of course as a physician we are all caught up in the fact that we have an oversized ego and because we generally do not like to break bad news to patients tend to give an overly optimistic view of their prognosis. This does them no benefit in the long-term. This is an excellent book and I think it ought to be part of the teaching of all medical students.

[marianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande is an insightful look at how we handle aging and the end of life. Gawande examines how the medical system often focuses on extending life without considering the quality of that life; sharing real stories from patients and his own family to show the challenges people face as they grow older. This book stands out because it doesn't focus on pointing out the problems but offers alternatives to the way we think about elder care. It raises important questions about what peopler really value at the end of their life such as connection and freedom. Very thoughtful read and helps you reflect on how we care for the people we love when that time comes.

[Annamarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read!
Thank you to Dr. Gawande for showing us a different perspective and demonstrating how to have difficult conversations with our loved ones.
We NEED this book.
I have recommended it to everyone in my sphere of influence; neighbors and friends, colleagues, family, my aged-nearing-elderly parents and my 5 siblings and spouses.
How important it is that we learn to have these difficult conversations. NOW

[Elias Villiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-rounded, thoughtful analysis of the current state of care for the elderly and dying and its deficits in the world of modern medicine. I especially like that it doesn’t just point out the deficits, but also describes promising alternatives that have been shown to offer better quality of life to patients and elderly people without having a compromising effect on health, mortality or finances.

[Sneha Koka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really amazing book when it comes to viewing life and death from the point of view of the person experiencing it - from a value system perspective and not just an emotional one. Couldn't put it down once i started it! Really great to read for anyone who has parents they support because one day, you will get to the point where you may need to support your parents' decisions or help make them.

[Mimi Pollack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is important knowledge to have. The role of palliative medicine was well explained and experienced through this book. A work that is very respectful of mankind, and individuals who are losing control over their well being, and their being alive at all. A good book to help in making difficult choices between prolonging life, and at what cost.

[Navid Tavoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

He has seen the mortality concept in medicine in a way that most physicians have not.

[Beverly]

Pallative care in in our day and age!

[Sarthak · Rating 5 out of 5]

taught me about death and what life is like in the later ages

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

About medicine and what matters at the end. Lots of food for thought.

[Kim Lurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something you don't want to think about, but that you need to think about. Easy to follow even though compelling and profound.

[Amelie Krug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book on end-of-life care and difficult choices that must be made regarding ageing. Atul Gwande gives us a humane insight on what matters most as life nears its end.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for, well everyone - those with aging parents and the aging parents themselves. A place to start difficult conversations.

[Geni · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that has many things to consider in living and mortality.

[Barbara Rhine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book incredibly moving. It made me cry. It made me think about my own mortality, and that of just about everyone I know who is my age, plus those I knew who now are gone. Gawande tells us personal stories, critiques his own doctor's profession, wants wholesale change in how aging and end-of-life issues re dealt with, and yet he writes it all infused with compassion for all of us, thrown upon the earth as we are, exposed to the chances and terrors of life. I recommend this book for all to read--simple as that.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole book In a simple words ‘’compassion’’, ‘’acceptance’’, ‘’surrender’’ …his role in help the elderly to cope with the end of their Journey. I got sucked in reading it, sharing my experience with my grandma, I felt extremely what he wanted to share with the audience. A very touching book

[Karyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Gives you so much to think about.