Atul Gawande: 3 highly rated books, where to start?
March 9, 2015 8:36 AM Subscribe
I came across Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande, which Amazon states is one of the best books from last year. But then I found two more by Gawande, The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right and Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance.
Of the three, Being Moral: Medicine and What Matters in the End looks to be the most interesting to me.
If you've read all three, is it a good plan for me to read / listen to Being Moral first?
Of the three, Being Moral: Medicine and What Matters in the End looks to be the most interesting to me.
If you've read all three, is it a good plan for me to read / listen to Being Moral first?
They're all good, but what xingcat said is really key: they're all really different. Don't worry, though, they're not a series! Reading them in order definitely isn't necessary.
I think you'll get a lot from Being Mortal. He's a great writer and very compassionate, and it's interesting to see someone from a profession that most people think of as very arrogant admitting that he made mistakes and wasn't very good at something. And then exploring how to be better. There was a Frontline episode recently that was based on that book that was really good and pretty sad. (disclaimer: he's my surgeon so I am biased)
posted by clone boulevard at 8:49 AM on March 9, 2015 [6 favorites]
I think you'll get a lot from Being Mortal. He's a great writer and very compassionate, and it's interesting to see someone from a profession that most people think of as very arrogant admitting that he made mistakes and wasn't very good at something. And then exploring how to be better. There was a Frontline episode recently that was based on that book that was really good and pretty sad. (disclaimer: he's my surgeon so I am biased)
posted by clone boulevard at 8:49 AM on March 9, 2015 [6 favorites]
I haven't read Being Mortal, but agreed that Checklist Manifesto isn't as medicine specific as his other stuff. Better is also good, and I know it's not part of your question but I thought Complications was better than Better.
posted by zutalors! at 8:56 AM on March 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 8:56 AM on March 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm a HUGE fan of Gawande, and here's how I rank his books:
Complications
Being Mortal
Better
The Checklist Manifesto
On the other hand, knowing about the checklist provided me with practical assistance when I was having surgeries.
posted by janey47 at 9:54 AM on March 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Complications
Being Mortal
Better
The Checklist Manifesto
On the other hand, knowing about the checklist provided me with practical assistance when I was having surgeries.
posted by janey47 at 9:54 AM on March 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I find him always interesting, so anything you pick up will be good, but definitely read Complications.
posted by swheatie at 11:02 AM on March 9, 2015
posted by swheatie at 11:02 AM on March 9, 2015
Response by poster: Thx everyone for the answers, I'm going to start where I figured -- Being Mortal -- then go from there.
posted by dancestoblue at 3:15 PM on March 9, 2015
posted by dancestoblue at 3:15 PM on March 9, 2015
I really enjoyed Complications. Definitely read that one. I want to read Being Mortal, it is on my list.
posted by Jewel98 at 8:53 AM on March 10, 2015
posted by Jewel98 at 8:53 AM on March 10, 2015
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posted by xingcat at 8:41 AM on March 9, 2015 [5 favorites]