Description

Recognized as one of the Best Books of the Year by The Washington Post, The New York Times Book Review, NPR, and Chicago Tribune, this thought-provoking work is now available in paperback, complete with a new reading group guide.

Modern medicine has made remarkable advancements, turning once-deadly experiences like childbirth, injuries, and disease into manageable conditions. However, when it comes to aging and the end of life, medical interventions often prioritize treatment over well-being, sometimes doing more harm than good.

Through compelling research and deeply personal stories about his patients and family, Atul Gawande explores the unintended suffering caused by this approach. Nursing homes, focused primarily on safety, restrict residents’ choices, including what they can eat. Meanwhile, doctors—often uneasy discussing the realities of death—offer ineffective treatments that may prolong suffering rather than improve quality of life.

As a practicing surgeon and bestselling author, Gawande has candidly examined the challenges of his profession. In Being Mortal, he confronts its greatest limitations and failures, considering both his own experiences and those of others. Honest, gripping, and profoundly humane, this book argues that the true goal is not simply a peaceful death, but a fulfilling life—right up to the very end.