The Art of Dying Well

A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life

By: Katy Butler

Narrated by: Katy Butler

This “comforting…thoughtful” (The Washington Post) guide to maintaining a high quality of life—from resilient old age to the first inklings of a serious illness to the final breath—by the New York Times bestselling author of Knocking on Heaven’s Door is a “roadmap to the end that combines medical, practical, and spiritual guidance” (The Boston Globe).

“A common sense path to define what a ‘good’ death looks like” (USA TODAY), The Art of Dying Well is about living as well as possible for as long as possible and adapting successfully to change. Packed with extraordinarily helpful insights and inspiring true stories, award-winning journalist Katy Butler shows how to thrive in later life (even when coping with a chronic medical condition), how to get the best from our health system, and how to make your own “good death” more likely. Butler explains how to successfully age in place, why to pick a younger doctor and how to have an honest conversation with them, when not to call 911, and how to make your death a sacred rite of passage rather than a medical event. This handbook of preparations—practical, communal, physical, and spiritual—will help you make the most of your remaining time, be it decades, years, or months.

Based on Butler’s experience caring for aging parents, and hundreds of interviews with people who have successfully navigated our fragmented health system and helped their loved ones have good deaths, The Art of Dying Well also draws on the expertise of national leaders in family medicine, palliative care, geriatrics, oncology, and hospice. This “empowering guide clearly outlines the steps necessary to prepare for a beautiful death without fear” (Shelf Awareness).

Read this now before it's too late

Sounds like wise advice to me. From someone who lives and works at the margins of human health care, the advice to learn your (and got loved ones') options at the end are well-stated. "Don't be bullied or shamed by physicians" . This multi-cultural approach leaves room for all religious traditions to be honored at the approach and time of passing. The story is liberally interspersed with anecdotal recounts of good and less than good examples of how to prepare and encounter end of life issues ( both yours and that of loved ones). Read this book now. . . .

Real & Practical Look At End Of Life Decisions

Honest look at what dying looks like and all the decisions that must be made during this difficult period. Liked the books but didn't care for all the suggested prayers being read word for word. Otherwise good. Medical Aid in dying should be a legal option.

Good Read For Everyone

I am not dying (at least, not imminently!), nor do I have a loved-one at death's door, but this book was amazing and kept my interest the whole way through. Katy Butler has done very thorough research and shares some very helpful information and case studies in order to have the best death possible.

An extremely practical resource for end-planning

An organized presentation of how to think about and plan for the inevitable end. Very practical advice interspersed with anecdotal examples.
Highly recommended for anyone at any point of life’s journey but especially for those facing serious declining health and cognitive challenges (and for the caregivers who will )

great book

wish I read/listened to this sooner for my dad before he passed. all people deserve the information and compassion in this book for themselves or the ones they care about.