Being Mortal by Atul Gawande — Book Summary and Notes
Medicine has prevailed in modern times, making birth, injury, and infectious disease less traumatic. However, as Gawande observed in his medical career, the goals of medicine seem to frequently contradict the interests of the human spirit.
Medicine has prevailed in modern times, making birth, injury, and infectious disease less traumatic. However, as Gawande observed in his medical career, the goals of medicine seem to frequently contradict the interests of the human spirit—hospitals isolate the dying, monitoring vital signs long after the efforts to cure have been abandoned.
Many people believe that our role as medical practitioners is to ensure health and survival, but the truth is... Medicine is to enable well-being.
The Book in Three Sentences 🎯:
- Whatever the limits and travails we face, we want to retain the autonomy — the freedom — to be authors of our lives.
- At least two types of courage are required in aging and sickness.
- The Courage to Confront the Reality of Mortality.
- The Courage to Seek Out the Truth.
- One has to decide whether one’s fears or one’s hopes are what should matter most.
Being Mortal
Medicine and What Matters In The End By Atul Gawande