NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The definitive resource on perhaps the single most universal human concern: death.Even more relevant than when it was first published, this edition addresses contemporary issues in end-of-life care and includes an all-embracing and incisive afterword that examines the state of health care and our relationship with life as it approaches its terminus. How We Die also discusses how we can take control of our own final days and those of our loved ones.
"Nuland's work acknowledges, with unmatched clarity, the harsh realities of how life departs… There is compassion, and often wisdom, in every page." —San Francisco Examiner
Download and start listening now!
"Nuland the surgeon walks the average reader through the processes that will take the lives of most people (heart attacks and strokes) and moves through the unusual ones such as murder before ending with the treatment choices that may face us at the end of our lives. He urges people to examine what they mean by "death with dignity" and to think hard about the cost-benefits of painful treatments that can prolong life but offer no cure." — Maureen (4 out of 5 stars)
"Nuland the surgeon walks the average reader through the processes that will take the lives of most people (heart attacks and strokes) and moves through the unusual ones such as murder before ending with the treatment choices that may face us at the end of our lives. He urges people to examine what they mean by "death with dignity" and to think hard about the cost-benefits of painful treatments that can prolong life but offer no cure."
“Engrossing…We are in the hands of a remarkable portraitist whose cultivated thought…quietly and informatively instructs and advises us on a subject of universal concern.”
“Eloquent and uncommonly moving…Nuland writes with unsentimental passion.”
“Nuland’s work acknowledges, with unmatched clarity, the harsh realities of how life departs…There is compassion, and often wisdom.”
“Nuland combines the clinical eye of a physician with…emotional and philosophical reflectiveness.”
"Eloquent and uncommonly moving… Nuland writes with unsentimental passion.
"Engrossing… We are in the hands of a remarkable portraitist whose cultivated thought…. quietly and informatively instructs and advises us on a subject of universal concern.
"Nuland's work acknowledges, with unmatched clarity, the harsh realities of how life departs… There is compassion, and often wisdom, in every page.
"Nuland combines the clinical eye of a physician with… emotional and philosophical reflectiveness.
" I read this when I was much younger, so I didn't find it depressing at all. It's told compassionately and without condescension. I might feel differently now that I'm 100! "
" A very objective and yet humane investigation, by a gifted writer, of death and issues surrounding it. Highly recommended. "
" This was the best book that I could have read in order to understand (if you really can) the process of death in humans. It was written in a clear down to Earthmanner. I felt I was able to have better insight and anticipation of what lay ahead for my Mom and sister. Both of them were terminally ill and have since died. "
" I read this a while back, after my dad passed from cancer. It was fascinating and so informative - helpful in a way no doctor or priest had ever been. I'm reading it again to hopefully understand my mom's current journey. "
" Fascinating. Not for the faint of heart due to its clinical descriptions, but an eloquent description of how death is approached. "
" Remember how you couldn't stay awake in biology class years ago? That's because it wasn't framed around what happens when all these biological processes go awry. Short answer: we die. I loved this book, learned a ton, and appreciated the author's perspective. "
" This is a well written book! The author really goes into the the psychology behind dying and that there really is no grace going into it. The author discusses many mental/emotional aspects of dying. The author is clearly well educated and knowledgeable in this field. "
" This is a great book if you would like to know about the physical responses that the body goes through while dying and after death. Each chapter is framed with, i believe, a factual story about someone who suffered with the condition that the chapter is about. Sad and fascinating. "
" Not as morbid as you might expect. Gives the best explanation of how the heart and lungs work I've ever read. "
" This book describing the physiological aspect of how our bodies shut down at the end of life was very helpful to me after my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. It's very well written by a doctor. "
" Interesting. I had been dreading/wanting to read this. It was not as frightening nor as interesting as I had anticipated. Turns out death, like much of life, is mundane and could be done much better with a little more attention paid to it. "
" We all need to know so much more about the dying process, so we can make it a part of living--after all, that's what it is! "
" Drags a bit as might be expected for a non-story driven book, but very informative. It's kind of like if an inexperienced pre-adolescent came across a sex book filled with mechanical breakdowns of positions, as described in personal anectdotes. "
" Phenomenal book. Best assigned reading of my entire collegiate career. Changed my view on aging, death, and dying, and offered many, insightful new perspectives. I am so glad I read it at 20! "
" I had to read this book in high school (I went to a weird high school). I remember it kind of freaked me out, but in a fun way. I need to read it again to give it a more accurate rating, but three stars for the memories. "
" As if I needed more details to fuel my constant fear of death... "
" I read this book because I don't have any plans on dying anytime soon, and I think it may have helped lend me a few more years. How many books can you say that about? "
" I laughed...I cried...I thought. Seriously I did. Loved this book. I really enjoyed the author's personal accounts of his experience with life and death. "
" As a social worker this book has already proven useful and I've only read the chapter on heart disease! Nuland explains in discernible language describing bodily processes from several different angles giving the reader a good conceptualization of bodily cause and effect. "
" It was good but I lost interest towards the end and was never able to finish the book. "
" I would not recomend this book to anyone unless you are a doctor or like text book reading about how people die. espeshaly ways the heart can malfunction and kill you. "
Sherwin B. Nuland, MD, is clinical professor of surgery at Yale, where he also teaches bioethics and medical history. In addition to his numerous articles for medical publications, he has written for the New Yorker, New Republic, New York Times, Time, and New York Review of Books. He writes a regular column for American Scholar entitled The Uncertain Art. He lives in Connecticut with his family.
Audiobooks Were Restored to Your Cart
[ShoppingCartItemsAddedOnMerge] audiobook(s) were left in your cart from a previous visit, and saved to your account for your convenience. You may view or remove these audiobooks on the shopping cart page.