Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End is a fascinating book. Author and surgeon Atul Gawande tackles the tough subject of death, dying, and end of life care, but in an easy-to-read and informative manner. While Dr. Gawande admits that no one ever wants to talk about dying, he explains the importance of these conversations through patient anecdotes and his own personal experiences seeing his father die from cancer. Dr. Gawande also details many research studies, as well as explaining the advantages and disadvantages of hospice and assisted living facilities. The book includes four vital questions readers should ask themselves in regards to their own future and end of life care. While Being Mortal may seem bleak and somber, readers will find its information vital, making it a must-read book.
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 3 religious exclamations; 4 mild obscenities; 1 derogatory name.
Violence/Gore: A few secondhand reports of violence including an auto-pedestrian accident and drunk driver crash; brief non-detailed scene of violent death involving a fire at a nursing home and a suicide.
Sex/Nudity: A sexual reference regarding types of books and movies.
Mature Subject Matter:
Death of family members and friends, disease, aging, discussion of suicide and assisted suicide.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Patients use prescribed narcotics.
