___ Gawande, Surgeon With The #1 New York Times Best Seller "Being Mortal" Crossword Clue
By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: May 04, 2025
Curious about the "___ Gawande, surgeon with the #1 New York Times best seller 'Being Mortal'" clue from the May 04, 2025 New York Times Mini crossword puzzle? We've researched this literary reference and identified the precise 4-letter answer you need. For those who enjoy a more dynamic solving experience, we offer interactive features to enhance your puzzle journey—try our letter-by-letter reveal tool to uncover the solution gradually, or explore our carefully curated hints including anagrams, alternative clues with the same answer, and comprehensive explanations to guide your thinking. We've also made navigating between related clues in the same puzzle straightforward, allowing you to solve multiple entries efficiently. Ready to discover the first name of this renowned surgeon-author whose insights on medicine and mortality sparked important conversations? Let's explore this literary-medical crossword clue!
Crossword Answer:
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About This Clue
The May 04, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "___ Gawande, surgeon with the #1 New York Times best seller 'Being Mortal'" with the answer ATUL. This clue references Dr. Atul Gawande, a prominent figure in medicine and literature whose book "Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End" became a #1 New York Times bestseller upon its release in 2014. The book examines end-of-life care, aging, and the limits of medicine from both a personal and professional perspective. Gawande's work has been influential in sparking important conversations about how society and the medical profession approach mortality and end-of-life care.
Linguistic and Cultural Context
The name "Atul" has Indian origins, deriving from Sanskrit where it means "incomparable" or "matchless." Atul Gawande was born to Indian immigrant parents in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Ohio. His unique background as both a practicing surgeon and a writer has positioned him at the intersection of medicine and humanities, allowing him to bridge technical medical knowledge with accessible, thoughtful prose. "Being Mortal," the book referenced in the crossword clue, addresses profound questions about aging, dying, and the goals of medicine. Published in 2014, it quickly rose to become a #1 New York Times bestseller and was named a notable book of the year by several publications. The book examines how modern medicine has changed the experience of aging, terminal illness, and death—often not for the better—and argues for approaches that prioritize well-being over mere survival. In addition to "Being Mortal," Gawande has written other acclaimed books including "Complications," "Better," and "The Checklist Manifesto," all of which explore different aspects of medicine, healthcare systems, and medical ethics. He has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1998, where his articles on medicine and public health have won national awards. Beyond his writing, Gawande has served as a practicing surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, a professor at Harvard Medical School, and has held various public health leadership roles. In 2018, he was appointed CEO of Haven, a healthcare venture formed by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan Chase (though the venture was later disbanded). Gawande's work represents a significant cultural contribution to how we think about medicine, mortality, and quality of life, making him a fitting subject for a crossword clue that connects literature, medicine, and contemporary thought leaders.
NYT Mini Crossword Tips
When encountering clues about authors or notable figures in the NYT Mini Crossword, look for distinctive parts of names that fit the required letter count. In this case, "ATUL" fits the four-letter answer space and is the first name of the surgeon-author mentioned. Clues that reference specific works, particularly bestsellers or award-winners, often point to their creators. The mention of "Being Mortal" as a #1 New York Times bestseller narrows the possibilities considerably, leading to Gawande as the answer. Pay attention to the blank at the beginning of the clue ("___ Gawande"), which indicates that the answer should be the missing part of the name—in this case, the first name "ATUL." For clues about contemporary authors or public figures, the NYT Mini Crossword typically uses individuals who have achieved significant recognition or cultural impact. Atul Gawande's prominence as both a surgeon and bestselling author makes him a suitable crossword reference. Remember that the Mini Crossword often includes people from various fields—literature, science, politics, entertainment, etc. Expanding your knowledge of notable figures across disciplines can help with solving these types of clues. In this case, familiarity with major medical writers or bestselling non-fiction authors would be beneficial.
Related Crossword Answers
SANJAY
Clue: "___ Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent"
OLIVER
Clue: "___ Sacks, author of 'The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat'"
MORTAL
Clue: "Subject of Atul Gawande's bestseller 'Being ___'"
SCALPEL
Clue: "Surgeon's tool"
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