33 pages • 1 hour read
Atul GawandeBeing Mortal: Illness, Medicine and what Matters in the End
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2014A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Being Mortal: Illness, Medicine and what Matters in the End, Atul Gawande investigates the shortcomings of modern medicine in handling end-of-life care, advocating for a compassionate approach that prioritizes quality of life over merely prolonging it. Drawing from his personal and professional experiences, he shares stories of individuals, including his own family, to illustrate the benefits of accepting mortality realistically and ensuring patients' dignity and wishes are honored.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Atul Gawande's Being Mortal: Illness, Medicine and What Matters in the End is praised for its profound insights into end-of-life care, blending personal stories with medical analysis. Critics commend its compassionate approach and thought-provoking narrative but note a somewhat repetitive structure. Overall, it’s a crucial read for those interested in the human side of medicine.
Who Should Read Being Mortal: Illness, Medicine and what Matters in the End?
The ideal reader for Atul Gawande's Being Mortal: Illness, Medicine and What Matters in the End is someone interested in medical ethics, end-of-life care, and the human side of aging. Fans of Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air and Abraham Verghese's Cutting for Stone will find this profound and compassionate narrative much to their taste.