T.Elise@bookwyrm.social reviewed The Inevitable by Katie Engelhart
None
3 stars
3-3.5
I have mixed feelings about this book.
On the one hand I think engelhart has created a very well researched book. She presents information in a very matter of fact manner allowing the reader to make of the lives, actions and opinions of the key ‘characters’ as they will without any clear moral assertion.
On the other hand, I feel the book gets so close to offering key insights and then just moves onto the next conversation/interview. There is a lack of theory, deeper reflection, or the posing of philosophical questions to guide readers to consider these issues at a deeper level. Repeatedly Englehart touches on something of great significance, such as concern for people being pushed to VAD due to inequitable access to healthcare but never dives deeper into this. Under what conditions would healthcare be deemed sufficient to allow VAD? will it ever? How will we know? …
3-3.5
I have mixed feelings about this book.
On the one hand I think engelhart has created a very well researched book. She presents information in a very matter of fact manner allowing the reader to make of the lives, actions and opinions of the key ‘characters’ as they will without any clear moral assertion.
On the other hand, I feel the book gets so close to offering key insights and then just moves onto the next conversation/interview. There is a lack of theory, deeper reflection, or the posing of philosophical questions to guide readers to consider these issues at a deeper level. Repeatedly Englehart touches on something of great significance, such as concern for people being pushed to VAD due to inequitable access to healthcare but never dives deeper into this. Under what conditions would healthcare be deemed sufficient to allow VAD? will it ever? How will we know? Does it matter? Can we finance this and if not what are the barriers? What do other thinkers on this matter contend? Is there an argument for decriminalisation even if not for doctors assistance? Overall, I just constantly got excited for a deeper more critical level of analysis and then was left wanting. Instead of pages being filled with this deeper analysis born out of the lived experiences of the people she so thoroughly got to know, there is a heavy heavy emphasis on relaying specific discussions and a detailed narrative account of exactly how that interaction occurred (think 1-2 sentences of describing a handshake and the opening of a laptop before meaningful dialogue is relayed). An interesting book, but if you have an interest in this area and are already familiar with and/or work in medicine/psychology or adjacent fields I don’t know that it will offer much if any further understanding than what you’ve already seen and considered in the lives of those you know.