Why read Modern Death?

Book cover of Modern Death: How Medicine Changed the End of Life

Book description

"Warraich's elegant and poignant book takes us on an unforgettable journey....He succeeds in humanizing a complex topic." ―Siddhartha Mukherjee, New York Times bestselling author of The Gene

There is no more universal truth in life than death. No matter who you are, it is certain that one day you will…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Modern Death as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Elizabeth Anne Wood

Author

Before I read this book I hadn’t understood the many different ways that scientists have defined “death.” (Are you dead when your heart stops? When you stop breathing? When your brain function ends?)

Reading this gave me a much deeper understanding of the medical, legal, and ethical issues around declaring someone dead, while also helping me understand that the body is always dying even as it is healing itself and thriving.

I loved the historical view of death and the exploration of interventions like mechanical ventilation and CPR. I loved Warraich’s ability to make complicated medical or biological concepts understandable…

From Elizabeth's list on The most powerful books for coping with the fact that we’re all going to die.