Attempting to demythologize the process of dying, Nuland explores how we shall die, each of us in a way that will be unique. Through particular stories of dying--of patients, and of his own family--he examines the seven most common roads to death: old age, cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's, accidents, heart disease, and strokes, revealing the facets of death's multiplicity. "It's impossible to read How We Die without realizing how earnestly we have avoided this most unavoidable of subjects, how we have protected ourselves by building a cultural wall of myths and lies. I don't know of any writer or scientist who has shown us the face of death as clearly, honestly and compassionately as Sherwin Nuland does here."--James Gleick
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Great read; very interesting and thought provoking:
The language is superb! Dr. Nuland writes about the scientific medical truths in such an artistic and beautiful language. I like the way he starts off a serious subject with such drama and fiction (so it seems); but then tapers it to the serious facts of life. He draws us from a fiction to nonfiction with interest and enthusiasm. He makes the facts of death so real and natural that it takes the fear of death out of us; it becomes quite acceptable. His language really is beautiful. The way death... more info
Comforting:
How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter
When I found out that my 80 year old grandmother had advanced cancer and was choosing not to treat it... I found myself suddenly afraid for her because I was uncomfortable with the fact that I didn't know what would happen to her at the end. I didn't know anyone with cancer who chose not to remove it or treat it with chemo. I bought this book because it gave me exactly what I wanted to know and didn't try to beat around the bush about the bodily... more info
To the wastebin!:
Prepare yourself for a collection of voyeuristic anecdotal accounts of the dying experience. This book is void of any commendable consequence. I could not even offer it as a donation to a charitable organization. The book has been discreetly relegated to the trash bin beneath the putrifying garbage. There it will remain until next Tuesday, trash pickup day.
Facing the end of life:
Technical informations, personal experiences, history and philosophy put the reader face to face with the end of life aspects. Informations that will help take decisions when death is near.
The magnifying glass over physiology let the reader think about many others aspects of life.
