“Wise and deeply moving.” ―Oliver Sacks “Illuminating.” ―Janet Maslin, The New York Times “Beautifully written . . . In his newest and best book, Gawande has provided us with a moving and clear-eyed look at aging and death in our society, and at the harms we do in turning it into a medical problem, rather than a human one.” ―The New York Review of Books “Gawande's book is so impressive that one can believe that it may well [change the medical profession] . . . May it be widely read and inwardly digested.” ―Diana Athill, Financial Times (UK) “Being Mortal, Atul Gawande's masterful exploration of aging, death, and the medical profession's mishandling of both, is his best and most personal book yet.” ―Boston Globe “American medicine, Being Mortal reminds us, has prepared itself for life but not for death. This is Atul Gawande's most powerful--and moving--book.” ―Malcolm Gladwell

Introduction 1 1 - The Independent Self 11 2 - Things Fall Apart 25 3 - Dependence 55 4 - Assistance 79 5 - A Better Life 111 6 - Letting Go 149 7 - Hard Conversations 191 8 - Courage 231 Epilogue 259 Notes on Sources 265 Acknowledgments 279