allowedourfatestobecontrolledbytheimperativesof
medicine, technology, and strangers.
Iwrotethisbookinthehopeofunderstandingwhathas
happened.Mortalitycanbeatreacheroussubject.Some
will be alarmed by theprospect of a doctor’s writing
abouttheinevitabilityof declineanddeath.Formany,
suchtalk,howevercarefullyframed,raisesthespecterof
asocietyreadyingitselftosacrificeitssickandaged.But
what if the sick and aged are already being
sacrificed—victims of our refusal to accept the
inexorability of our life cycle? Andwhat if there are
betterapproaches,rightinfrontofoureyes,waitingtobe
recognized?