SYRACUSE —  The Chautauqua-Wawasee Organization will hold the first meeting of its Reading Circle, Nov. 15.

The book discussion group was formed in partnership with the Syracuse Public Library.

The first book discussion over “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande will occur at 2 p.m. in conference room 1 at the Oakwood Resort. The event is free and open to the public. Dr. Jeffery Brown, medical director of Parkview’s Home Health and Hospice organization, will participate in the discussion.

In “Being Mortal,” medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming the dangers of childbirth, injury and disease from harrowing to manageable. Regarding the inescapable realities of aging and death, what medicine can do runs counter to what it should. “Being Mortal” reveals the suffering caused by this dynamic. In nursing homes, residents battle with staff over what food they are allowed to eat and the choices they are allowed to make. Often doctors fall back on false hopes and treatments that actually shorten the lives of patients instead of improving them. Riveting, honest and humane, “Being Mortal” shows the ultimate goal is not a good death but a good life.

“Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande has been named Best Book of the Year by Oprah magazine, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and New York Times.

Books are available through the Evergreen system. Extra copies are available for checkout at the Syracuse Public Library.

The Oakwood Resort is located at 702 E. Lake View Road, Syracuse.

For more details see the Chautauqua-Wawasee website: www.chautauquawawasee.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChautaquaWawasee or story by the Syracuse Public Library.