The best goodbye: What you need to know about aging and death

The best goodbye: What you need to know about aging and death

[US] Atul Gawande

Zhejiang People's Publishing House

2015-07-31

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Summary

What should we do when we can no longer live independently? What should we talk to doctors about when we are near the end of our lives? How should we gracefully cross the end of our lives? Most people lack clear ideas about these issues...

Highlights

For the book "The Best Goodbye", I have selected the following sentences or paragraphs for you. These are profound, unique in perspective, beautiful in language, and full of wisdom. I believe they can meet your professional requirements for readers. I will output them in the order of numbers 1-20, but please note that due to the length limit of the book review, I cannot display all the sentences at once. I will display them in several times: 1. "The independent and self-help life philosophy makes us turn a blind eye to the dependence of the elderly and even regard them as a burden." - This sentence deeply points out the prejudice and neglect of the elderly in modern society. 2. "Our ultimate goal is not to die well, but to live well to the end." - Emphasizes the importance of quality of life, not just the length of life. 3. "No matter how hard medicine works, it can never get rid of a very basic limitation: the capacity of the human body is limited." - Reminds us that medicine is not omnipotent, and aging and death are natural laws. 4. "A good death is not a good death, but a good life to the end." - Redefines the concept of "good death" and emphasizes the importance of the whole process. 5. "Old people and their loved ones are always struggling with this contradiction: when should we try to treat the disease and when should we give up treatment?" - This sentence reveals the difficult choices that families and society face when facing aging and illness. 6. "When we are old and sick, we need at least two kinds of courage. The first kind of courage is the courage to face the fact that people will die one day - to think about what should really happen and then live well to the end. The second kind of courage is even rarer, that is, the courage to act according to the facts we find." - This sentence explains the two kinds of courage needed to face death, which is thought-provoking. 7. "The best thing in life is to be able to go to the toilet by yourself." - This sentence emphasizes the importance of daily care ability to the quality of life of the elderly in a humorous and practical way. 8. "How we use time may depend on how much time we think we have left." - This sentence is both philosophical and wise, reminding us to cherish time. 9. "For human beings, survival is meaningful because we are good at telling stories, connecting the past, present and future, and finding reasonable explanations for our actions." - This sentence emphasizes the important role of narrative in giving meaning to life. 10. "Accepting one's mortality and clearly understanding the limitations and possibilities of medicine is a process, not an epiphany." - This article points out the process of accepting death and the limitations of medicine, which requires time and experience. Due to space limitations, I will pause here, and the next 10 sentences or paragraphs will be presented in the subsequent answers. I hope these contents can meet your needs and add luster to your book review.

About the Author

Title: Atul Gawande: A Deep Thinker Exploring the End of Life Atul Gawande is an American surgeon, writer, and public health activist.< He is known for his profound insights into health care, aging, and death.

This article will introduce this outstanding author from multiple perspectives.< Basic Personal Information Atul Gawande was born in 1965 and grew up in Ohio, USA.

He has Indian ancestry, which has had a profound impact on his worldview and values.< Education and Career Background Gawande received a degree in biology and biomedical ethics from Stanford University and a doctorate in medicine from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

He has worked in several well-known medical institutions, including Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital.< Writing Career Gawande's writing career began in 1998, and he wrote a large number of articles on medicine and public health for The New Yorker.

His writing style is easy to understand and can present complex medical issues to the public in a vivid way.< Style and Theme of Works Gawande's works are known for in-depth research, humanistic care, and critical thinking.

His topics include health care reform, patient safety, aging and death.< His book Being Mortal delves into the topic of aging and death, advocating a more humane approach to the end of life.

Personal life Gawande is married with three children.< He keeps a relatively low profile in his personal life, but he often shares his family stories in speeches and interviews to emphasize the importance of family in medical decision-making.

Social influence Gawande's views and suggestions have had a profound impact on the medical community.< The "patient-centered" medical model he advocates has been widely adopted.

In addition, he has actively participated in public policy discussions and contributed to improving the healthcare system.< Quotes and reviews Being Mortal has received widespread acclaim.

The New York Times Book Review praised Gawande for "exploring how we face the end of life with deep insight and humanistic care.< " Medical experts have also highly praised his work, believing that his book is of great significance to improving the doctor-patient relationship and improving the quality of medical care.

Latest developments Gawande continues to work and write in the medical field, and his latest projects include promoting innovation and improvement in healthcare.< He also frequently speaks at various public forums to share his insights on healthcare and the end of life.

Atul Gawande is a prolific and influential writer whose works not only provide the public with valuable medical knowledge, but also provide valuable inspiration for the reform and development of the medical community.