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bluejayreads's review against another edition
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.75
This is not really what I expected. I expected something more about getting your affairs in order and Medical Power of Attorneys and deciding what kinds of medical interventions you do and don't want - something similar to Being Mortal. There is some of that in this book, but it's also much, much more.
The Art of Dying Well is basically a step-by-step (or more accurately, stage-of-aging-by-stage-of-aging) guide to both the years leading up to your death and the dying process itself. The focus is on what you can do to maintain your functionality and independence as long as possible and limit your suffering when the inveitable becomes immediate. Whether you're just starting to realize you're no longer a spring chicken (or just received a terminal diagnosis), too far gone to make your own decisions (that chapter is addressed to caretakers), or somewhere in between, Katy talks about what's going to be most important going forward, what you should focus on at this stage, some recommendations for programs, tools, and care, and which medical interventions are worthwhile and which will do more harm than good. Interspersed with all this is invaluable advice about having hard conversations, making sure your doctor and family are clear on what you want, getting paperwork in order, and navigating the American healthcare system.
I don't often like saying "everyone should read this book." But if you are going to die someday or know someone who will, this book is full of useful information. Not all of it will be entirely relevant if you're not American, but there's still enough that isn't America-specific to make this an invaluable resource. Death is scary and nobody knows for sure what happens after, if anything, but The Art of Dying Well is as close to a how-to manual for dying as you're going to find.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Cancer, Terminal illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Grief
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