Being Mortal
Illness, Medicine and What Matters in the End
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Being Mortal
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Narrated by:
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Robert Petkoff
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By:
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Atul Gawande
About this listen
For most of human history, death was a common, ever-present possibility. It didn't matter whether you were five or fifty - every day was a roll of the dice. But now, as medical advances push the boundaries of survival further each year, we have become increasingly detached from the reality of being mortal.
So here is an audiobook about the modern experience of mortality - about what it's like to get old and die, how medicine has changed this and how it hasn't, where our ideas about death have gone wrong. With his trademark mix of perceptiveness and sensitivity, Atul Gawande outlines a story that crosses the globe, as he examines his experiences as a surgeon and those of his patients and family, and learns to accept the limits of what he can do.
Never before has aging been such an important topic. The systems that we have put in place to manage our mortality are manifestly failing; but, as Gawande reveals, it doesn't have to be this way. The ultimate goal, after all, is not a good death, but a good life - all the way to the very end.
Published in partnership with the Wellcome Collection.
Wellcome Collection:
Wellcome Collection is a free museum and library that aims to challenge how we think and feel about health. Inspired by the medical objects and curiosities collected by Henry Wellcome, it connects science, medicine, life and art. Wellcome Collection exhibitions, events and books explore a diverse range of subjects, including consciousness, forensic medicine, emotions, sexology, identity and death.
Wellcome Collection is part of Wellcome, a global charitable foundation that exists to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive, funding over 14,000 researchers and projects in more than 70 countries.
©2019 Atul Gawande (P)2014 Macmillan AudioWhat listeners say about Being Mortal
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Philip
- 21-08-2019
Totally Transformative
Gawande takes one of the most challenging taboos of our time and, using insight, the experiences of others who are dying or have died, and his experience as a son whose father died, asks us to think differently about dying. In the 21st century we think we have conquered so much with technology that we can conquer death and live forever. But Gawande’s insightful narrative gets us to think anew about living well and dying without going down kicking and screaming. The author exhorts us to focus on the person who is dying—which will one day be us—and see how we can make the inevitable as good an experience as possible, remembering that a person’s death, importantly, leaves the living behind with their memories and experiences. I found this book to be totally transformative. Being Mortal should be read by every health professional and anyone working with older people or those dying from a life limiting disease.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 14-10-2019
thought provoking and intoxicating in essence
an amazing book, with an intoxicating storyline, emotional and captivating all at once, a must read for anyone in the health care industry for a fresh perspective on aging and informing the way we care for others in the clinical setting
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- ML
- 16-12-2023
Thought provoking, eye opening, a must read
This is one of the most thought provoking books I have ever read. It is sad to read, but it really opened my mind as to how I should approach looking after my elderly parents. The fact this book is written by a surgeon makes it even more compelling when he questions whether modern medicine is approaching aging and dying in the right way. I didn’t know when I read the book that I would be applying what I learned so soon with my parents, but I am now using all the things I have learnt from reading this book to guide me through my journey of looking after my dying parent.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jenny Smith
- 20-11-2022
Profound and moving
A wonderful, wise book full of insights about living well amidst aging, illness and dying.
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- MR DOMINIC A ERNST
- 25-12-2022
Exceptional
As the son of a sufferer of Parkinson’s / PSP, this book has helped me in many ways, including being more forceful preventing the prospect of further dehumanisation of my father. A worthy read for everyone, and I have recommended to many.
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- Anonymous User
- 09-02-2024
This insight is a gift to all human beings - especially the young who will one day be old.
Thank you Dr Gawande, for your insight, your efforts and your gift.
This book is a wake up call and a reminder - we will all died, if we are lucky we will be old when that happens and if we have read this book we will be educated in these matters - we will understand we have options.
This is a universal lesson book for me and I will listen to it often.
I will buy a hard copy and place it at eye height on the bookshelf between ‘The little prince’ & ‘The four agreements’. In friendship Tracey Mor
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- Emma
- 08-06-2019
Eye opening
This book had made me think about how I might live my final days, should I be lucky enough to be able to plan for this . Really thought provoking - the narration was excellent.
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- Pennyqt
- 10-03-2019
Everyone should read this book
This is a very well written book. Everyone should read this to understand and be empathetic to their parents, older family or friends situation. Great book.
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- Brian Chan
- 27-02-2024
A proactive approach to plan for death
I am sure I am not the only reader feeling grateful for the author’s candidate explanation of what most of us will eventually face, and how we could proactively plan for our final days. A rare topic well written.
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- Anonymous User
- 21-05-2019
Being Mortal
What a fantastic book for everyone! As a Registered Nurse working in Aged Care I have already (only just) started implementing the pot plant for dementia patients. It’s just a fantastic insight into all aspects of medicine and a must read for all people working in the medical field.
My brother in law who is anaesthetist recommended the book to me after he read it.
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