Callahan (director, the Hastings Center) asks the right questions (e.g. how much and what kind of health is necessary for a decent life?) and offers thoughtful answers: America's obsession with open- ended medical progress distorts the meaning of good health; prolonging life beyond reasonable expectations causes the neglect of general healthcare, and shortchanges other crucial needs such as education and housing. Persuasive. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.