Description

Book Synopsis

Death is a subject modern society shies away from. Even doctors avoid the word. But if we regard death as a failure in our desire to prolong life, can we ever arrive at a humane approach to those whose lives have lost meaning? Are we keeping people alive simply because we can?
Here, John Humphrys and his co-author Dr Sarah Jarvis take a wider look at how our attitudes to death have changed as doctors have learned how to prolong life beyond anything that could have been imagined only a few generations ago, and confront one of the great challenges facing the western world today.
There are no easy answers but the first step must surely be to accept that death can be as welcome as it is inevitable.



Trade Review
This is an important book. It needs to be. Slowly, we are coming to realise that a life well lived might decently conclude with a death well and timely died. * Terry Pratchett *
Compelling * Daily Mail *
Impassioned and impressive * Sunday Times *
Comforting... Honest... It is a relief to have some of the private struggles of dealing with death brought out into the open. He is determined to tell it like it is. * Daily Telegraph *
a powerful, compassionate book, movingly illustrated * FT on Sunday *
Tremendously uplifting ...deserves the widest readership * News Talk *
illuminating and helpful * The Times *

The Welcome Visitor

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    £9.99

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    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Thu 18 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by John Humphrys

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      Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
      Publication Date: 21/01/2010
      ISBN13: 9780340923788, 978-0340923788
      ISBN10: 0340923784

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      Death is a subject modern society shies away from. Even doctors avoid the word. But if we regard death as a failure in our desire to prolong life, can we ever arrive at a humane approach to those whose lives have lost meaning? Are we keeping people alive simply because we can?
      Here, John Humphrys and his co-author Dr Sarah Jarvis take a wider look at how our attitudes to death have changed as doctors have learned how to prolong life beyond anything that could have been imagined only a few generations ago, and confront one of the great challenges facing the western world today.
      There are no easy answers but the first step must surely be to accept that death can be as welcome as it is inevitable.



      Trade Review
      This is an important book. It needs to be. Slowly, we are coming to realise that a life well lived might decently conclude with a death well and timely died. * Terry Pratchett *
      Compelling * Daily Mail *
      Impassioned and impressive * Sunday Times *
      Comforting... Honest... It is a relief to have some of the private struggles of dealing with death brought out into the open. He is determined to tell it like it is. * Daily Telegraph *
      a powerful, compassionate book, movingly illustrated * FT on Sunday *
      Tremendously uplifting ...deserves the widest readership * News Talk *
      illuminating and helpful * The Times *

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