Alexis's Reviews > How We Die: Reflections of Life's Final Chapter

a well-written book. Dr. Nuland writes from years of experience on the topic of death, and how really there is no dignity to it. he explores this myth of 'ars moriendi' (the art of dying) and both the pathophysiology and mental/emotional states that accompany it. he argues against the modern 'hospital' death devoid of feeling, he reproaches biomedicine for it's mistakes in prolonging the lives of their patients for their benefit in solving the Riddle, and not for the patient's best interest... "I have no real quarrell with those who insist upon invoking the laboratory-bred specificity of microscopic pathology in order to satisfy the compulsive demands of the biomedical worldview - I simply think they miss the point." he explores both his mental processes and emotional ones with personal vignettes. he writes with knowledge of pathophysiology, etymology, history, literature and most importantly, humanity.

"it is inherent in the art of medicine to appreciate that the testing and medications are of limited usefulness without the talking."

"The diginity that we seek in dying must be found in the dignity with which we have lived our lives. Ars moriendi is ars vivendi: the art of dying is the art of living."