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solveetcoagula's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
pamiverson's review against another edition
5.0
Thought-provoking look at aging as a distinct and vital phase of life. How our culture, including the medical profession, tends to only use a medical/illness model and overlook the whole person. I like the idea of "young old" and "old old." Also an indictment of our health care system, including her own experience with burn-out. Would probably be good to read as I transition out of "young old" someday...
dylangbar's review against another edition
4.0
Such a good book. Should also be essential reading for medical providers considering how large a proportion of our care will be elderly patients. And just that our society makes aging shit when it doesn’t need to be.
marisbest2's review against another edition
4.0
This book is an amalgam of ideas and styles. Stories and science and social critiques. Some discussion of aging but way more of Dr training. Some discussion of the young old but much more discussion of the oldest old and the active dying. All the points are well made, especially about geriatrics and the health profession. There’s an awareness that things are getting better which is actually refreshing because you can also sense the authors bitterness at the system.
Ultimately the biggest failure of the book to me was the lack of analysis about the younger old. Lots of discussion about home bound people or people who want to die or people experiencing dementia or other cognitive and physical decline. Lots of assertions about 65 year olds. But a real lack of investigation into the 65+ cohort of active young possibly retired people.
A good book. Likely great for medical students
Ultimately the biggest failure of the book to me was the lack of analysis about the younger old. Lots of discussion about home bound people or people who want to die or people experiencing dementia or other cognitive and physical decline. Lots of assertions about 65 year olds. But a real lack of investigation into the 65+ cohort of active young possibly retired people.
A good book. Likely great for medical students
roma9062's review against another edition
3.0
This book has such a strong message and so many experiences/stories to support it. In the first half of the book, I could feel my beliefs and attitudes reform with this new worldview. Being old doesn’t mean you have to be “old” and we shouldn’t assume the elderly are there yet.
However, towards the middle and backend, the book started to lose focus on a running narrative and was a hodgepodge of clinical cases, reflection, and recommendations for changing medical culture. Within each major heading, the author would take us through many seemingly unrelated stories whose one common thread was that she was at the center of it as a geriatrician. Though I appreciate all the stories and personal insights, I felt that they distracted from creating the mental paradigm shift that excited me early on in the book.
I would not recommend the book in full, but in sections.
However, towards the middle and backend, the book started to lose focus on a running narrative and was a hodgepodge of clinical cases, reflection, and recommendations for changing medical culture. Within each major heading, the author would take us through many seemingly unrelated stories whose one common thread was that she was at the center of it as a geriatrician. Though I appreciate all the stories and personal insights, I felt that they distracted from creating the mental paradigm shift that excited me early on in the book.
I would not recommend the book in full, but in sections.
meghanabhange's review against another edition
5.0
I was completely engrossed reading this book. Being someone who had been scared, and sometimes unwilling to be an old person, this has been a book that gave me a new perspective on old age. The medical procedures and scary inability that comes with old age is also something that book talks about, and how we look at the frail and old.
We’re all old people in training.
I feel like like the author, even I need to come in terms with the fact that one day I will be old, and that’s not something to fear.
We’re all old people in training.
I feel like like the author, even I need to come in terms with the fact that one day I will be old, and that’s not something to fear.
reenie's review against another edition
3.0
I muddled through much of the book and felt much of it was repetitive, although I truly enjoyed the stories of her real-life patients. I do think I will be thinking about what I learned from this book for some time and may go back and re-read sections later. I enjoyed Being Mortal so much better, but feel this book also has a lot to offer.
jaclyn_youngblood's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
I learned a ton, and am generally inspired by Aronson's work. However. This was about 100 pages too long for what had already been said earlier in the book, and the transitions and page breaks sometimes added more confusion than guidance on the page. I think this is an issue if editing, though. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about aging in the US.