The Lost Art of Dying: Reviving Forgotten Wisdom

A Columbia University physician and medical ethics specialist discovers a medieval text on dying well, written after the Black Plague, and uses it to rethink how we approach death today. Dr. L.S. Dugdale argues that modern culture has overly medicalized death, often making it institutional, sterile, and prolonged by unnecessary medical interventions that can increase suffering and diminish dignity. In the late Middle Ages, a text called ars moriendi—The Art of Dying—offered guidance for preparing for a good death, emphasizing that living well was essential to dying well. Inspired by this forgotten work, Dugdale combines medieval wisdom with insights from her medical career to create a modern ars moriendi for the twenty-first century. She explores how recovering our sense of finitude, confronting fears about death, accepting bodily aging, developing meaningful rituals, and involving communities in end-of-life care can help us live and die well. The book includes nine black-and-white drawings by artist Michael W. Dugger and offers perspective on transforming how we understand death and live each day.