Sherwin B. Nuland, who teaches at the Yale School of Medicine, seeks in this book to demythologize the process of dying. He presents the biological and clinical reality of death by AIDS, cancer, heart attack, Alzheimer's disease, old age, accidents, suicide, and murder. Dr. Nuland suggests that we give up the notion of a good death and realize that, more often than not, it is messy and horrific. The author calls for the return of family physicians. He also advises doctors that humane patient care is more important than solving "the riddle of the disease."