Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

by Atul Gawande

Death, of course, is not a failure. Death is normal. Death may be the enemy, but it is also the natural order of things.

People with serious illness have priorities besides simply prolonging their lives. Surveys find that their top concerns include avoiding suffering, strengthening relationships with family and friends, being mentally aware, not being a burden on others, and achieving a sense that their life is complete.