UNC has selected Atul Gawande’s “Being Mortal” for its summer reading this year.

The book is about Gawande combining research and personal reflection to examine how the U.S. looks at the process of dying through the lens of medical ethics.

“Dr. Gawande is a practicing surgeon who models the important stakes of life-long multidisciplinary inquiry in writing this empowering book,” said Tim Marr, who chaired the committee that chose the book. “He helps us confront death by encouraging open discussion about important matters faced by every family for which medicine can ultimately provide no answer.

Gawande was Carolina’s spring 2014 commencement speaker.

First-year and transfer students who enroll at UNC-Chapel Hill this fall are encouraged to read the book this summer and participate in small group discussions the Monday before fall 2016 semester classes begin.