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thevagabondlawyer's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
It is rare to read a book that sparks so much hard thinking.
What does it mean to you have a good death? I don't think we ponder this much just because we have become profoundly detached from the reality of being mortal. How do we define suffering, whether it be emotional or physical? And in the face of adversity, what does a miracle look like to us? What does it signify to embody the spirit of a fighter? Yet, what if the miraculous seems elusive—what becomes our Plan B? If the pursuit of a miracle entails being tethered to a ventilator, sustained through a feeding tube, and reliant on dialysis, does such existence align with the quality of life one would desire while awaiting the elusive miracle?
In her book "That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour," Dr. Sunita Puri delicately navigates these complex issues with both elegance and a deep sense of humanity. She presents a unique perspective, encouraging a fusion of medical expertise with a compassionate understanding of human needs. Dr. Puri emphasizes the importance of recognizing what truly matters to each patient, empowering them to make choices that prioritize their values over medical interventions. Through open and honest conversations, even in the face of heartbreaking information, she strives to bridge the gap between medical advancements testing the boundaries of nature and the inevitable limits of human mortality.
Dr. Puri aims to shift not only the perspectives of her colleagues but, more significantly, those of patients and their families. She seeks to convey the message of palliative care, emphasizing its role in enhancing a patient's quality of life from the moment of a serious illness diagnosis, rather than just in the final months of life. Palliative care, she asserts, is not about hastening death, but neither is it merely about sustaining life without considering the genuine enjoyment of a valued quality of life.
A fascinating blend of memoir, spirituality, medicine, and personal encounters with patients, That Good Night is an important and beautifully written book - not just about dying and the limits of medicine, not just about fighting for longer life, but about living to the last with autonomy, dignity and joy, about fighting for the things that make life meaningful.
[You may want to check my Substack page, The Vagabond Reader. Thank you so much]
What does it mean to you have a good death? I don't think we ponder this much just because we have become profoundly detached from the reality of being mortal. How do we define suffering, whether it be emotional or physical? And in the face of adversity, what does a miracle look like to us? What does it signify to embody the spirit of a fighter? Yet, what if the miraculous seems elusive—what becomes our Plan B? If the pursuit of a miracle entails being tethered to a ventilator, sustained through a feeding tube, and reliant on dialysis, does such existence align with the quality of life one would desire while awaiting the elusive miracle?
In her book "That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour," Dr. Sunita Puri delicately navigates these complex issues with both elegance and a deep sense of humanity. She presents a unique perspective, encouraging a fusion of medical expertise with a compassionate understanding of human needs. Dr. Puri emphasizes the importance of recognizing what truly matters to each patient, empowering them to make choices that prioritize their values over medical interventions. Through open and honest conversations, even in the face of heartbreaking information, she strives to bridge the gap between medical advancements testing the boundaries of nature and the inevitable limits of human mortality.
Dr. Puri aims to shift not only the perspectives of her colleagues but, more significantly, those of patients and their families. She seeks to convey the message of palliative care, emphasizing its role in enhancing a patient's quality of life from the moment of a serious illness diagnosis, rather than just in the final months of life. Palliative care, she asserts, is not about hastening death, but neither is it merely about sustaining life without considering the genuine enjoyment of a valued quality of life.
A fascinating blend of memoir, spirituality, medicine, and personal encounters with patients, That Good Night is an important and beautifully written book - not just about dying and the limits of medicine, not just about fighting for longer life, but about living to the last with autonomy, dignity and joy, about fighting for the things that make life meaningful.
[You may want to check my Substack page, The Vagabond Reader. Thank you so much]
tac107's review
5.0
This is a really great book for anyone going into a health profession, anyone curious about the process of dying from a medical standpoint, anyone with a sick family member, anyone who is afraid of death. All I can say is that it is a touching read and gave me a lot to think about. Hard to describe without giving too much away.
mjurasko's review
4.0
I had very mixed feelings about this book. It was a well-written account of what it’s like to take care of patients who are close to death and the importance of acknowledging patients’ mortality. I didn’t necessarily enjoy it, though. I think this was because it’s too close to what I do everyday, and the stories did not feel original for that reason. So - I fully believe that every person who doesn’t work with end of life patients should read this book, but I don’t think I would personally read it again.
bookslifeandeverythingnice's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley, Viking and Sunita Puri for an ebook copy to review. As always an honest review from me.
Full disclosure: I ended up DNFing this book about 1/3 of the way through. It wasn’t quite what I expected. Usually I would still read it because I really enjoy health, wellness, and books centered around the medical field. But I currently have a sick and potentially dying pet at home, so it’s too upsetting to read this particular book right now.
Like:
- The author does what she feels is right for her, not what pleases her parents
- The cover’s colors
- Points out that in anyone’s field of study, you may end up in a different area of it that you originally thought in school
Love:
- A book about a strong smart woman in science
- The open honest discussion about death, the dying process and how medicine can help or hurt that
- A somewhat unique perspective in medicine - that life and healthcare isn’t all about keeping someone alive at all costs - We need more books and people in medicine who share this same philosophy.
Dislike:
- The topic is too upsetting for me right now
Wish that:
- The memoir and healthcare aspects were more cohesive
Overall, an extremely relevant and important book that people should read.
Full disclosure: I ended up DNFing this book about 1/3 of the way through. It wasn’t quite what I expected. Usually I would still read it because I really enjoy health, wellness, and books centered around the medical field. But I currently have a sick and potentially dying pet at home, so it’s too upsetting to read this particular book right now.
Like:
- The author does what she feels is right for her, not what pleases her parents
- The cover’s colors
- Points out that in anyone’s field of study, you may end up in a different area of it that you originally thought in school
Love:
- A book about a strong smart woman in science
- The open honest discussion about death, the dying process and how medicine can help or hurt that
- A somewhat unique perspective in medicine - that life and healthcare isn’t all about keeping someone alive at all costs - We need more books and people in medicine who share this same philosophy.
Dislike:
- The topic is too upsetting for me right now
Wish that:
- The memoir and healthcare aspects were more cohesive
Overall, an extremely relevant and important book that people should read.
zhzhang's review
4.0
The author is very honest with all the experiences she has as a hospice doctor. I cannot imagine what she's been through with everything happened to her. Praying has been constantly appeared in the book, and I agree totally that it is a thought provoking area that we need to learn how to more than comfort ourselves spiritually.
dcmr's review
5.0
The best book I've read this year!
Compassionate, profound, loving — and beautifully written. I raced through this memoir and underlined passages on nearly every page. Dr. Puri gives me hope for thoughtful, honest, meaningful end-of-life care.
Compassionate, profound, loving — and beautifully written. I raced through this memoir and underlined passages on nearly every page. Dr. Puri gives me hope for thoughtful, honest, meaningful end-of-life care.
brighteyed's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
to be honest, i didn’t love the actual writing in the book. but what the author writes about is beautiful, and i am so glad that she shared her thoughts. especially a future doctor interested in palliative care, this was a beautiful introduction :)