BBC Ideas asked me to talk about what we misunderstand about the dying process, for their In My Humble Opinion video series.

It’s a very short video, so lots more to be discussed – which is what ‘With the End in Mind’ is for.

Here’s the video.

And if you’d like to read about how people live while they are dying in more detail, you can purchase of copy of the book here:
With the End in Mind: Dying, Death and Wisdom in an Age of Denial

‘In My Humble Opinion’ is a BBC Ideas site.

I met them at BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking Festival at Sage, Gateshead, earlier this month. They recorded my thoughts about our loss of knowledge about normal dying.

Dying – not as bad as you’re probably expecting.

Here’s their video.

Well, I am just thrilled and astonished.

With the End in Mind is amongst the six books on the Wellcome Book Prize shortlist. What an honour!

I’m going to read these five intriguing books, before we six authors meet up for the Prize Ceremony and announcement of the winner on 30th April.

Take a look at the list, and pick your own favourite. They all look like winners to me!

Great to chat about dying, death and life in general with Arifa.

Our discussion included how it feels to spend a lifetime working with dying people.

Arifa: What are the emotional and psychological effects of working in palliative care for so long? Do you think you value the life you have more as a result, or feel its fragility more keenly?

Kathryn: I get asked this a lot, and I still don’t have a good answer! Palliative care has been the most rewarding combination of clinical detective-work, therapeutic challenge, emotional fulfilment and occasional heartbreak. It has suited me, and hasn’t felt over-demanding – although it has certainly eaten into my family and personal time down the years.

I think having a sense both of our physical fragility and of our astonishing emotional resilience has made me appreciate the daily wonder of being. It makes the special things more resonant, and it (mainly) gets the irritating things in perspective. I laugh a lot. I think palliative care has taught me the value of joy in the tiny things, all around us, every day. What a gift.

Here’s our chat in full.
Photos: Craig Fordham