Dying Well: Peace and Possibilities at the End of Life

This author gets it. He knows how to talk about the physical as well as the emotional aspects of the terminal patient.I myself am terminal in Hospice. I have rad many books on dying . This one of the best.

Having lost a few friends recently, i was looking for something that would connect the dots for me, loss, grieving, dying, meaning. Once ordered, i couldnt stop reading, the personal stories of loss, bereavement, grief, and how death can be transformational not just for the dying but for the survivors, are powerful stories. After wards, i think the stories remind me of our humanity, how fragile life can be, only one step away from tragedy, how we must all succumb to nature, the science of keeping dying people alive, managing pain medication. I think at the end of it all, it is about dying well, looking back at my own life, to know or at least have some sense of knowing that i did live well, not to have regrets about not having done this or that, or missed this or that, that given the time that was allotted to one's own life, that i made the best of it, good and bad, challenging or successful, and not having wasted time, or let time fritter away what could have been opportunities. Also, the book reminds me of how important family, and good friends are, that when you are suffering and dying, trying to manage through the pain and suffering, the distance between being sick and death itself, that there is somebody who is willing to help, willing to step and look after you, instead of dying alone, there is someone you can talk to, chat about, share the last moments of beauty with, the simple things of existence, I think dying alone and unloved must be the most terrible death, knowing that everything you have materially dont amount to a hill of beans, when there is nobody who will miss you, miss your prescence, mourn your absence. When you are gone, you no longer exist, except only in the minds of the people, who wanna remember you, who mourn you, who miss you, you can only live on in their memories.

Currently 4.5/5 Stars.Barbara P. (gotchagal) - Las Vegas, NV reviewed Dying Well: Peace and Possibilities at the End of Life on 5/16/2012 + 72 more book reviewsIf you think that there's a possibility you may one day die, or know someone who will, by all means read this book so you can do it well, with warmth, love and dignity. I do not by any means mean to make light of the subject, but it is one we have all given thought to at one time or another.It really is about much more than who gets what and how much we leave. Our friends and family members should "get" who we are, what we're about and we should try to leave them with good feelings.As far as our own feelings are concerned, I know that I want to be as comfortable as possible, aware of what is happening, who is there, and most of all, not be afraid. Having read this book, I know that all that is possible.Dr. Byock has opened the door to a subject that is rarely discussed. Most of us are more than a bit afraid to even think about it, much less talk about it, but it is so important and really necessary.I think we'd like to feel less frightened by the subject and more in control of what happens to us and to the people around us who love us and don't want to see us suffer. Dr. Byock's book is helpful and loving.Since none of us can escape dying, we can at least make it as good an experience as possible. Yes, thanks to Dr. Byock, I do feel it can be a much better experience than I originally thought it could be.

My mother was going through CHF, and being told there wasn't much they could do. I read this book, and it helped get her relief in her final months. One bad thing about this book though, expect some tears when you read it.

Written by an ER doctor turned hospice doctor, Dr. Ira provides a template for families to discuss end of life care decisions that go beyond the scope of medical care alone. He addresses finding meaning in the process, healing relationships, and presents it as a period of time that should not be feared but seen as an opportunity to complete the life cycle in a positive way.A book on dying probably seems macabre to many Americans because it's a topic we're uncomfortable with. But dying is a human experience like any other and this book helps normalize the discussions surrounding it. Dying is somewhat of a taboo topic but avoiding the difficult end of life discussions causes suffering in its own way. Avoidance of the difficult conversations means you are making a decision by default that may not serve the wishes of the dying or their families well.I read this book after enrolling my mother with Alzheimer's in hospice and it helped me understand my own ambiguous feelings through experiencing the plight of families within this story.

A reassuring and hopeful guide for anyone new to the process of death and dying -- and in the age of improved public sanitation and advanced medicine, that means a lot of us. Perhaps our great-grandparents wouldn't have needed a book like this, as they witnessed deaths throughout the lifespan. "Dying Well" reduced my fears and informed me: A. about the process of dying,B. what medicine can do to help, C. that once you get over the fact you're dying and can't stop it, you can have people help you meet other goals -- snuggling with your cat, graduating high school, going sailing for the last time, having your gurney trundled into the woods to say goodbye to the trees. (Those are my examples, most of them are not from this book.) I consider this book a pioneering, foundational and seminal text -- I'm amazed it hasn't been reviewed by more people. Given our desire to avoid the subject out of fear and misplaced "positive thinking," we need more books like this to paint the landmarks and fill in the various colors of the landscape of death and dying, especially very slow deaths by "the dwindles" that many elderly people experience now.

This book helped me understand the role of hospice better and I learned so much about the dying process. It helped me to be there for my niece as she fought cancer, eventually succumbing and allowing herself to pass peacefully...I highly recommend this book.

As a student nurse, I was advised to read this book by one of my mentors. the book is not written as story but as accounts of families who experienced a loved one dying and how their last few times were precious and how they were helped by thing that were done. the book gave me such an insight of how a range of feelings and emotions occur in these situations and allowed me to see this from both a personal and professional view! Personally i think this is a very touching book, but get the tissues ready as on time i found myself crying and laughing at the same time.

This is a great book that I have bought many copies and given to people who are dying or have someone who is dying in their life.A easy read, but also a tough read because of the content.Obviously if you are buying for someone else, please read and decide for yourself if it is suitable.

For families who are caring for a friend or family member who have been diagnosed with a life threatening illness, this book shares other families experiences, how they coped. It is not a casual read, but invaluable insight, and encouragement for those in this situation. I would recommend this book.

Dr Ira Byock is an amazing writer, humans being and advocate. This book will give a new perspective to anyone who reads it.

I was assigned this book for a course I am taking. I found this book very hard to read. I felt the Dr was just not a writer. It was much too wordy, and dragged on. It set me back a month in my self- study course because picking this book up each time I tried felt like a very unpleasant task. It wasn't the sensitive topics covered, just the extra bulk I found to be overkill. For those new to the topics covered they may hang in longer and more easily. I would not recommend this book.