Medicine and the body · Essays
Being Mortal
A surgeon examines how modern medicine handles aging and dying, and argues that doctors and families should focus on quality of life, not only on extending it. He draws on patients and on his own father.
Facts last checked 2026-10-17
- First published
- 2014
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 297
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you are thinking about ageing, caring for a parent, or what a good end of life looks like.
Skip this if you are in the middle of a recent loss and want something lighter.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about Being Mortal
- What is Being Mortal about?
- A surgeon examines how modern medicine handles aging and dying, and argues that doctors and families should focus on quality of life, not only on extending it. He draws on patients and on his own father.
- Who should read Being Mortal?
- Read it if you are thinking about ageing, caring for a parent, or what a good end of life looks like. Skip it if you are in the middle of a recent loss and want something lighter.
- How long and how fast is Being Mortal?
- It is a medium-paced, short read of about 297 pages, first published in 2014.
- Does Being Mortal have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Death, Terminal illness, Grief.
- Can I borrow Being Mortal for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Being Mortal; the borrow button above searches it for you.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Bookshop.org | Check price | Buy new from Bookshop.org |
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| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
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| Audiobook | ||
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| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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