This book is about systemic problems in end-of-life care, particularly in the United States. The personal anecdotes in the book, combined with a fairly comprehensive outline of the history of these systems, can be reassuring for family members or patients who find themselves wondering, "Why does this seem so hard? Am I doing this wrong?" The author outlines sociological changes over time towards dying and death, shifting medical approaches to end-of-life care, the development of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and the harsh realities of gaps in the system. He proposes that medical providers and others take a more holistic approach to end-of-life care, one that is not solely focused on treatment and outcomes. This book is full of lots of good facts and also relatable stories that help illustrate the personal consequences of these approaches. I love this book because it reminds me as a doula that my job is to center the humanity of the person I'm working with, not the medical questions. My favorite story from the book is when one nursing home decides to take a risk and add one-hundred parakeets to the facility -- and they arrive the day before the cages do!