BOOK REVIEW: WITH THE END IN MIND BY KATHRYN MANNIX

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S

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Title: With the End in Mind: Dying, Death and Wisdom in the Age of Denial
Author: Kathryn Mannix
Published: 2017
Language: English
Pages: 352
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
In this book, Doctor Kathryn Mannix takes a look at how we die and relate to death in the modern world and calls on her thirty years of experience in palliative care to discuss different sides of the subject.

Review:
It's odd to say you've enjoyed a book about death, but I honestly did.

I think this topic is extremely interesting, as I think us modern humans are very removed from death and dying and it's something we ignore until one day we're forced to face it. It's become a scary and horrible thing no one wants to talk about, but what this book does is basically show us how people die - and it's not scary. On the contrary, this is a surprisingly peaceful book.

I really like the way these personal stories, where we get to know different people, show us different aspects and situations that can arise in the process of dying. It shows us that although people react differently and they should be allowed to, most of us feel the same things and there's always great comfort in that.

There are things in here that are difficult to read about and heartbreakingly sad, but it would be foolish to think that wouldn't be a part of it. It still has a calming effect though. Now, because the author's work has been mainly focused on palliative care, a lot of the stories in here are similar and gives voice mostly to those who know death is coming and it's possible to plan and talk and just sort of slip off. There are a few instances where death is sudden and not peaceful at all, but it's not widely discussed, which I kind of missed a little bit. I thought maybe there was a little lack in variety in the stories.

Overall though, a book well worth reading. I thought it was going to frighten me, but it really just made me feel a little calmer about the whole thing. It's an oddly comforting book.

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