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The Art of Dying Well
- A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life
- Narrated by: Katy Butler
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
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Publisher's Summary
An inspiring, informative, and practical guide to navigating end-of-life issues, by a groundbreaking expert in the field and the New York Times best-selling author of Knocking on Heaven’s Door.
In the mid-1400s, an unnamed Catholic monk composed a popular self-help book called Ars Moriendi, or The Art of Dying. Written in Latin, this medieval death manual taught people how to navigate the trials of the deathbed using simple rituals of repentance, reassurance, and letting go.
Best-selling author and award-winning journalist Katy Butler argues that we have lost touch with the “art of dying” as practiced by our ancestors, yet we still hunger for rites of passage and a sense of the sacred, especially in the important life transitions of aging and dying. Butler has lectured at medical schools and spoken with community and caregiving organizations across the country. Here she reveals what she has learned about dying in America today - and how to have a better end of life.
We are coping with a medical system in disarray in its approach to people who are aging, dying, or chronically ill. Butler argues it's not about living as long as possible, it's about living as well as possible. Not only does our current system poorly serve our medical needs, it also crowds out any sense of the sacred. It’s time to restore a sense of honor, and through exploring the stages of later life, sharing “good death” stories, as well as offering practical takeaways, The Art of Dying Well illuminates a path to a better end of life.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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What listeners say about The Art of Dying Well
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Clif Green
- 01-04-20
Me too
As I lay here, I am undergoing “dialysis” for over a year. I am going through a lot of pain and discomfort. I have lost my ability to think of what I enjoyed and have missed. I want to thank you for allowing me to come to grips with the way it was before . I need to re-evaluate the situation I’m in and make a serious decision as to my future. CLG
14 people found this helpful
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- jeryl miller
- 02-25-19
A Must Read Well in Advance of Life’s Inevitable Decline
I just experienced up close one of my best friends decline and passing from multiple myeloma. A seven year process. The last six months my friend suffered immensely. His spouse and adult children were not prepared with a proactive plan. This book contains the wisdom that could have alleviated most of his suffering. I now feel I have the information and approach to build a clear plan for myself and will share this book with my aging parents, and wife and children.
7 people found this helpful
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- Jed Schenck
- 12-31-19
WOW!
As a palliative care team chaplain, I am often in situations that find me supporting patients and families in serious illness crisis and sometimes end-of-life circumstances. Both this book and its predecessor, Knocking On Heaven's Door, are excellent resources and guides for times in life all of us will face in varrying ways. Both are HIGHLY recommended! Thank you, Katy Butler!
6 people found this helpful
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- S. Lawson
- 03-29-19
Read Now Even If You Don't Think It's TIme
An absolutely beautiful well written book on dying and living well until we get to that point. An important read for anyone at any time of life.
4 people found this helpful
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- Prof. Shelby
- 02-14-20
misleading and dangerous
I gave up on listening something over and over. A lot of this is dangerous, and outdated.
2 people found this helpful
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- Terry Lynne Hale
- 12-07-19
Excellently Written and Narrated- Highly Recommend
I'm an advocate for end of life choices and truly enjoyed this book. There were a few laughs, more than a few tears but mostly gratitude for the reminder that so many need to hear: you have a CHOICE! Yes, physicians focus on treating the illness and because they are human like us, aren't eager to be the bearer of bad news. We have to advocate for ourselves and for loved ones unable to do so. We must ask ourselves, first, how do we want to live our last days? Then, document our desires and make them known to family, friends and our doctors. We have to ask the Doctor questions and make sure we get answers. This is a very useful book full of practical advice, suggestions, stories and remedies.
2 people found this helpful
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- John Tangney
- 09-04-19
Sad yet uplifting
This is about dying. Dying is sad. I cried a lot. But there is so much wisdom, especially in the first third of the book, about that whole part that comes before death — LIFE! I am truly inspired to live my life fully, because of this book.
But the main thrust of this book is that the US medical industry is messed up, and if you want to die well, you’ll need to fight for the privilege.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who will die someday, or knows someone close who will die.
2 people found this helpful
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- Todd L. Jones
- 09-04-19
Tough Topic done very well
My son recommended this book to my wife and I. When I started the book I wasn't sure what I thought. However, my mother-in-law became ill and passed away while Iwas reading it. This book was cathartic as well as thought provoking.
I truly recommend this to everyone if you are ready to talk about you mortality and you death.
Great book.
2 people found this helpful
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- Susan Pease Gadoua
- 07-09-19
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.
2 people found this helpful
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- Rebecca Myer
- 07-15-19
Book for everyone over 50 or who has parents!
Katy Butler deals thoughtfully and thoroughly with a subject very few of us are willing or able to address: death. She emphasizes that this process requires planning and conversations and that it is never too early to start talking. The chapters are full of practical advise and resources for all stages from resilience (typically starting in the 50's) to active dying and how to identify which stage you are in.
1 person found this helpful
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- GTB
- 03-22-21
Good, practical advice for end of life
Even though references to health care in the US weren't relevant for me (living in Australia), the remainder of information, suggestions and examples given were.
The author's narration was very easy to listen to and appropriate for the subject matter.