Modern Death

How Medicine Changed the End of Life

By: Haider Warraich M.D.

Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross

Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

There is no more universal truth in life than death. No matter who you are, it is certain that one day you will die, but the mechanics and understanding of that experience will differ greatly in today's modern age. Dr. Haider Warraich is a young and brilliant new voice in the conversation about death and dying started by Dr. Sherwin Nuland and Atul Gawande. Dr. Warraich takes a broader look at how we die today, from the cellular level up to the very definition of death itself.

The most basic aspects of dying - the whys, wheres, whens, and hows - are almost nothing like what they were mere decades ago. Beyond its ecology, epidemiology, and economics, the very ethos of death has changed. Modern Death, Dr. Warraich's debut book, will explore the rituals and language of dying that have developed in the last century, and how modern technology has not only changed the hows, whens, and wheres of death, but the what of death.

Delving into the vast body of research on the evolving nature of death, Modern Death will provide listeners with an enriched understanding of how death differs from the past, what our ancestors got right, and how trends and events have transformed this most final of human experiences.

Cover design by Jeremy Fink.

©2017 Haider Warraich (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Really enjoyable

This book is written from a Dr.'s point of view. I really enjoyed this book. I could really relate to it as a nurse in the hospital.

Absolutely amazing

Couldn't stop listening to this book and have recommended to various family members as well. I am very grateful the author wrote this book and look forward to listening again. Amazing!

An Overview of A Difficult Subject

This is a well written overview of how death has evolved, but Dr. Warraich misses a great opportunity to advise we laypeople on how we might deal with our own inevitable end. There is no overall thesis nor any model to clarify our thinking on the problem - though he clearly thinks there is a problem.

Wow, great book

Having spent the last 25+ years of my life in emergency medicine outside of the hospital, I strongly support the authors perspective and insights.

Important information

This book is an excellent, comprehensive guide to all issues involved in end of life, and a great foundation for necessary conversations too often avoided until too late.

History if end of life decisions

Where does Modern Death rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I found this very interesting. I am in the health field (over 50 years) and many of these events happened in my lifetime. It is interesting to hear the history and see where they went. An example would be CPR and how that led to more aggressive measures and even organ transplants...

What did you like best about this story?

New perspective about my own death. We all die, so why not make it as peaceful and calm as we can.

What does Jonathan Todd Ross bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His experience

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Some folks might not want to read it...it might be hard to face.
Lots of stories, positive and negative.

Powerful read

This book is a must read for everyone in the health care professions as well as all caretakers. Honestly I wish every human being would read it. As the author pleads at the end we all need to engage with death in a more helpful and peaceful way. This book is part of that discussion.

Information packed, fascinating

This book definitely stands out. He seemed to be a head and shoulders taller ahead of so many other great writers. Very eloquent, Full of topics, and findings that I will probably think back to for the rest of my professional life

Informative but boring

This book attempts to tackle a fascinating and important topic. While it presents a lot of interesting facts and data, it is too haphazard and structureless. It is also too full of inane anecdotes from the author's experiences in residency.