Speaker: Katy Butler -
Katy Butler's memoir, "Knocking on Heaven's Door", was named "One of the Ten Best Memoirs of 2013" by Publishers Weekly as well as one of the “100 Notable Books of 2013” by the New York Times. It most recently won the “Books for A Better Life Award”
Her memoir chronicles the last 8 years of her parents' lives, as Katy was her parents' part-time caregiver and full-time medical advocate. Her ground breaking book explores her struggle to allow her parents the "Good Deaths" they wanted, and the forces within medicine that stood in the way. Its provocative thesis is that modern medicine, in its quest for maximum longevity, often creates more suffering than it prevents.
Her many essays and articles, often blending memoir and investigative reporting, have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Best American Essays, Best American Science Writing, and Best Buddhist Writing.
Accompanying presentation slides (10 MB PDF)
