smolgalaxybrain's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
bookfairy99's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
This book really changed the way I look at aging, mortality, and what it means to live a life that's truly meaningful. I believe everyone should read this, no matter your age or stage in life.
The book begins by exploring how we, as a society, often fail to address the needs and desires of the elderly and the terminally ill. Instead of focusing on their quality of life, our medical system tends to prioritize extending life at any cost, even if it means giving up the very things that make life worth living. Gawande is an incredibly skilled storyteller. He weaves together anecdotes from his own experiences as a surgeon with broader historical and societal context. The result is a compelling and accessible narrative that had me hooked from the very first page.
One part that really resonated with me was Gawande's discussion of how society has shifted from venerating elders to venerating the independent self. He writes, "The veneration of elders may be gone, but not because it has been replaced by veneration of youth. It's been replaced by veneration of the independent self." This observation made me recognize that the value we place on independence can sometimes come at the expense of respecting and honoring the wisdom and experiences of our elders.
Gawande also writes beautifully about how people don't view their lives as merely the average of all its moments. He says, "For human beings, life is meaningful because it is a story. A story has a sense of a whole, and its arc is determined by the significant moments, the ones where something happens." This quote had a deep impact on my perspective of my own life. It serves as a lovely reminder to focus on the moments that matter most and to embrace the narrative of our lives.
In conclusion, "Being Mortal" is a thought-provoking, compassionate, and deeply personal exploration of aging, mortality, and what it means to live a meaningful life. I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's a must-read that will leave you with valuable insights and a fresh perspective on life.
The book begins by exploring how we, as a society, often fail to address the needs and desires of the elderly and the terminally ill. Instead of focusing on their quality of life, our medical system tends to prioritize extending life at any cost, even if it means giving up the very things that make life worth living. Gawande is an incredibly skilled storyteller. He weaves together anecdotes from his own experiences as a surgeon with broader historical and societal context. The result is a compelling and accessible narrative that had me hooked from the very first page.
One part that really resonated with me was Gawande's discussion of how society has shifted from venerating elders to venerating the independent self. He writes, "The veneration of elders may be gone, but not because it has been replaced by veneration of youth. It's been replaced by veneration of the independent self." This observation made me recognize that the value we place on independence can sometimes come at the expense of respecting and honoring the wisdom and experiences of our elders.
Gawande also writes beautifully about how people don't view their lives as merely the average of all its moments. He says, "For human beings, life is meaningful because it is a story. A story has a sense of a whole, and its arc is determined by the significant moments, the ones where something happens." This quote had a deep impact on my perspective of my own life. It serves as a lovely reminder to focus on the moments that matter most and to embrace the narrative of our lives.
In conclusion, "Being Mortal" is a thought-provoking, compassionate, and deeply personal exploration of aging, mortality, and what it means to live a meaningful life. I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's a must-read that will leave you with valuable insights and a fresh perspective on life.
flory_valley's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
lauralauralaura's review against another edition
5.0
Deeply reported. A kind of history and ethnography of end of life care in the modern US. I first read this book after it came out in 2014 and rereading it this year helped me see how much it influenced me to relentlessly nudge my aging parents to make decisions and take actions that will support their quality of life. This is a transformative book.
megmro's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting and informative look at something that is a bit hard to think about: what will happen when loved ones become too old to live on their own. Gawande shares many stories of different elderly people in their final years, and what they and their families chose to do in light of their declining health -- whether that meant a nursing home or living with family.
Beyond this, he talks about how geriatric medics differs from general practice; specifically, when to stop treating certain illnesses, and how our measurement of "living better" changes past a certain age. He also talks about the physiology of dying, and how to talk to loved ones about things like being revived. All these logistical discussions draw from a higher idea of deciding what makes life worth living for each person, and for you.
A very interesting, sometimes sad, always meaningful book.
Beyond this, he talks about how geriatric medics differs from general practice; specifically, when to stop treating certain illnesses, and how our measurement of "living better" changes past a certain age. He also talks about the physiology of dying, and how to talk to loved ones about things like being revived. All these logistical discussions draw from a higher idea of deciding what makes life worth living for each person, and for you.
A very interesting, sometimes sad, always meaningful book.
anniereadsnshares's review against another edition
4.0
BEING MORTAL - ATUL GAWANDE
"Tuổi già là những chuỗi ngày mất mát!"
"Và nghịch lý đau lòng chính là đây: Chúng ta vừa khám phá ra rằng việc nuôi dưỡng tâm hồn mới chính là điều quan trọng và cần thiết nhất đối với cuộc sống của con người, nhất là khi họ đã ở tuổi xế chiều."
"Nỗi sợ của con người đối với bệnh tật và tuổi già không chỉ nằm ở những mất mát mà chúng ta sẽ chịu đựng khi sống trên đời quá lâu, mà nó còn là nỗi sợ cô độc và cách ly."
"Cách duy nhất để cái chết của bạn không vô nghĩa là nhìn nhận bản thân bạn như một phần của điều gì đó lớn lao hơn: một gia đình, một tập thể, hay một xã hội. Nếu không nghĩ được như thế, sự khả tử và cái chết sẽ chỉ còn là cơn ác mộng tồi tệ nhất của bạn."
"Tuổi già là những chuỗi ngày mất mát!"
"Và nghịch lý đau lòng chính là đây: Chúng ta vừa khám phá ra rằng việc nuôi dưỡng tâm hồn mới chính là điều quan trọng và cần thiết nhất đối với cuộc sống của con người, nhất là khi họ đã ở tuổi xế chiều."
"Nỗi sợ của con người đối với bệnh tật và tuổi già không chỉ nằm ở những mất mát mà chúng ta sẽ chịu đựng khi sống trên đời quá lâu, mà nó còn là nỗi sợ cô độc và cách ly."
"Cách duy nhất để cái chết của bạn không vô nghĩa là nhìn nhận bản thân bạn như một phần của điều gì đó lớn lao hơn: một gia đình, một tập thể, hay một xã hội. Nếu không nghĩ được như thế, sự khả tử và cái chết sẽ chỉ còn là cơn ác mộng tồi tệ nhất của bạn."
tatakamille's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0