Sublime

forensic investigator of small data, or emotional DNA—a hunter, almost, of desire—a

chiaroscuro).

each of us a potential suspect or witness, absorbing the aftershock of murder: the awful truth of how swiftly a living, laughing, loving, breathing human being can become a corpse.

Medical authors Atul Gawande and David Kuhl have both written beautiful books about death and the experience of dying patients. B. J. Miller, of the Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco, gives a truly magnificent TED talk on the subject. These and many others wish to bring a more humanistic perspective to the treatment of the dying. They warn of th

WE COME UNBIDDEN into this life, and if we are lucky we find a purpose beyond starvation, misery, and early death which, lest we forget, is the common lot. I grew up and I found my purpose and it was to become a physician. My intent wasn’t to save the world as much as to heal myself. Few doctors will admit this, certainly not young ones, but subcon