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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
Nuland writes a book on how to age gracefully. Because he's a surgeon, I was looking forward to a detailed description of changes to the body that happen to the aging process. That's not what he did. Yes, he did explain the value to healthy lifestyle choices; however, Nuland writes primarily about healthy choices of attitude. He probably has some sound things to say, but I had trouble paying attention, especially to the sections that were more abstract. When I was in my 20s, I enjoyed books about philosophical principles. Now that I'm almost 50, I want books that are more concrete. Don't tell me; show me. For this reason, I enjoyed the sections that depicted specific people. But when he had passages about worldly wisdom--his or well-known philosophers, poets and literary figures--I was less engaged. If you want to spend an evening conversing with a well-rounded man, pick up this book. He's a good person, but I wouldn't say that he has the last word on the process of aging.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I bought it after thorougly enjoying [b:How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter|49286|How We Die Reflections on Life's Final Chapter|Sherwin B. Nuland|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320545680s/49286.jpg|1299474], and I don't think this "sequel" is as good, but it is still very enjoyable. You are served a lighthanded overview in anatomy and physiology which is informative while being entartaining - you have less of the drama of [b:How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter|49286|How We Die Reflections on Life's Final Chapter|Sherwin B. Nuland|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320545680s/49286.jpg|1299474], though, so, gross at the next statement may seem, it is less of a page turner.
Tras petarlo fuerte con Cómo morimos. el doctor Nuland escribió este, "Cómo vivimos", que se centraba no en los mecanismos que hacen que acabemos picando el billete sino en algunos de los que nos permiten seguir disfrutando de esta pelota de barro que llamamos hogar.
El problema es que mientras que el primero era todo business, al grano y cabeza baja y paso rápido, aquí al autor entre anécdota y anécdota se le escapan largos párrafos sobre lo mucho que mola ser cirujano, así en abstracto, y lo importante que es tener una actitud positiva en la vida y unas cuantas cosas prescindibles más. Claramente relleno, o peor aún, ganas de escucharse a sí mismo. Las historias médicas que cuenta siguen siendo fascinantes pero su densidad es tristemente menor que en el primer libro.
El problema es que mientras que el primero era todo business, al grano y cabeza baja y paso rápido, aquí al autor entre anécdota y anécdota se le escapan largos párrafos sobre lo mucho que mola ser cirujano, así en abstracto, y lo importante que es tener una actitud positiva en la vida y unas cuantas cosas prescindibles más. Claramente relleno, o peor aún, ganas de escucharse a sí mismo. Las historias médicas que cuenta siguen siendo fascinantes pero su densidad es tristemente menor que en el primer libro.
There really was a lot of good information in this book, but my personal tastes do not accommodate the far-too-many
sentences such as this one, found on p. 123 in my edition:
"The unheard din of living is the symphony before which the chorale of the spirit soars in song."
I bought this book because I wanted to learn more about the body's biology and how things function. Yes, it does indeed seem miraculous, if you really stop to consider how much has to happen in order to have a body conceived, formed, developed and sustained, but...sheesh. How about presenting the facts and leaving the wonderment to the reader? The book seemed to grow more turgid the further I progressed, so I finally gave up after 160 pages.
sentences such as this one, found on p. 123 in my edition:
"The unheard din of living is the symphony before which the chorale of the spirit soars in song."
I bought this book because I wanted to learn more about the body's biology and how things function. Yes, it does indeed seem miraculous, if you really stop to consider how much has to happen in order to have a body conceived, formed, developed and sustained, but...sheesh. How about presenting the facts and leaving the wonderment to the reader? The book seemed to grow more turgid the further I progressed, so I finally gave up after 160 pages.