• 20 Apr, 2025
• Suman Dhar

“Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande

Book of the Month: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Subheadline: “Aging with Dignity: Can Medicine Redefine End-of-Life Care?”

Gawande isn’t just asking how to add years to life—he’s asking how to add life to those years. Through stories that’ll hit you right in the feels, he shows how our obsession with keeping people alive often turns aging into a joyless march. Imagine if Schitt’s Creek did an episode on retirement homes—less Rosebud Motel, more real talk about why Grandma’s bingo nights matter more than her blood pressure.

The “Oh, Wow!” Moments That’ll Make You Rethink Everything

1. Nursing Homes Are Depressing (And It’s Not the Food)
Here’s the kicker: Nursing homes aren’t failing because they’re unsafe. They’re failing because they’re boring. Picture a place where the biggest thrill is Jell-O Tuesdays. But when seniors get real choices—like tending a garden or climbing stairs solo—they thrive. Take Ontario’s Sherbourne Health Centre, where rooftop gardening turned residents into kale-growing, cribbage-playing legends. Who knew dirt under the nails could beat another round of daytime TV?

2. Hospice Care: Where Poutine and Peace Matter More
Here’s a shocker: Folks in hospice often live longer and happier than those hooked up to machines. Over at B.C.’s Victoria Hospice Society, patients swap hospital gowns for ocean views, therapy dogs, and poutine Fridays. One Alberta grandpa ditched chemo for ice fishing and outlived his prognosis — proof that – 30°C (minus thirty degrees Celsius) and a fishing rod beat fluorescent lights any day.

3. Your Grandma Might Need a Snowmobile
Meet Lou, 94, who refused to surrender his driver’s license. His doc’s genius fix? Let him keep driving—but only a vintage snowmobile. Lou slowed down, savoring the ride without the speed. Moral of the story? Autonomy isn’t a luxury; it’s a lifeline. (Swap the snowmobile for a toboggan in Thunder Bay, and you’ve got the same thrill without the OPP tailing you.)

Everyday Analogies That Actually Make Sense

Questions to Stir the Pot at Family Dinner

Gawande’s stories—like Alice, who rebelled against her “safe” senior home—will have you texting your siblings mid-chapter. (Pro tip: Bring this book to Thanksgiving. It pairs perfectly with turkey and awkward chats about Grandpa’s Molson muscle.)

Why This Book Feels Like Coffee with a Wise Friend

Gawande doesn’t just rant—he offers solutions. You’ll meet hospice nurses who prioritize movie nights over MRIs, and families learning to ask, “What’s worth fighting for?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?”

But the real gut-punch? Gawande’s own dad, a surgeon facing cancer, who taught him: “I’m ready to stop fighting, but not to stop living.” (Swap “fighting” for “shoveling the driveway in February,” and you’ve got classic Canadian grit.)

The Takeaway: Read This Before Your Next Family Visit

Being Mortal isn’t just a book—it’s a wake-up call. You’ll rage at the system, laugh at dark humor, and ugly-cry at lines like, “We want autonomy for ourselves and safety for those we love. It’s a conflict never resolved.”

Read it before your next family dinner. It’s the only book that’ll make you rethink Grandma’s meds and your retirement plan. (Bonus: Perfect for book clubs that argue over universal healthcare while devouring butter tarts.)

Departing Thought

Hot Take for the Group Chat: “Would you rather die at 75 with epic stories or at 95 ‘safely’ bored? No cop-out answers, eh?”

P.S. Canadian Bonus: “Aging here is like a hockey game: It’s all about the third-period hustle—and knowing when to pass the puck.”

Concluding Note about this book? It’s the Tim Hortons of healthcare reads—humble, heartfelt, and way better than you’d expect.