Farah Parvez
13.9K posts
@fmparvez1
Physician | Public Health | Policy. All opinions, assertions, and errors are solely my own.
Years ago, Atul Gawande wrote a book called "Being Mortal" that grappled with death as beautifully as anything I've ever read. A few weeks ago, I finally got the chance to interview him. When I think about doctors who write well, he's the first person who comes to mind. His work's been shaped by the thousands of hours he's spent in operating rooms and the conversations he's had with people who are breathing their last breaths. He's written four books and countless articles for The New Yorker, and this conversation is all about how he's managed to write so well and contemplate life's deepest questions. Timestamps: 01:49 Say “yes” before you’re 40 06:11 Why should a surgeon write? 10:10 How to write with a full-time job 13:18 The New Yorker 17:07 How to write a great opening 25:54 What makes writing timeless? 28:08 Writing to improve your thinking 44:45 Writing a book is just like math 53:28 Atul’s secret to great writing 59:15 AI in medicine + writing I've shared the full conversation with @Atul_Gawande below. If you'd rather watch on YouTube, or listen on Apple / Spotify, check out the reply tweets.
