When Breath Becomes Air

I loved this book because it builds from the sadness of a life taken far too young to the beauty of deep reflections on the meaning of life, love, and loss. Paul Kalanithi was a brilliant neurosurgeon just completing his years of training when he was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer.

Kalanithi, a new father, wrote much of this book while he was dying. As a writer myself, this book caused me to wonder if I could be so open about my reality, in a book or any other form, while dying. I do not know the answer, but… show more.

This book profoundly influenced me by illustrating how to share a deeply personal story through the lenses of both humanity and science. His journey as a neurosurgeon facing terminal cancer and his reflections on the meaning of life and death resonated deeply with me.

Kalanithi’s eloquent integration of his medical expertise with his personal narrative mirrored my approach in Keep Breathing, where I intertwine my scientific expertise with my lived experiences of trauma, loss, and, ultimately, healing. This book is personally significant because it showcases the resilience of the human spirit and the quest for purpose amidst life’s challenges.… show more.

Dr. Kalanithi’s memoir is surprisingly uplifting. A non-smoker, he was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic lung cancer in 2013. He was an American neurosurgeon, and his wife Lucy, an internal medicine doctor, is now a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Stanford.

I find it brave that they decided to have a child in the midst of Paul’s treatment. Cady was eight months old when her father died in 2015 at the age of 37. His jargon-free writings from a doctor-patient point of view show they lived intentionally, finding joy and meaning, regardless of a terminal diagnosis. Medical training is based… show more.

I was absolutely blown away by the late Paul Kalanithi’s memoir about his life and cancer struggle because of his beautiful writing and the philosophical thinking behind that writing. The author reviews and comes to terms with his life’s meaning and value for himself and, ultimately, for the reader.

So many parts of this book made me ponder my life’s meaning and worth and how I would have dealt with what Kalanithi was going through. As a physician, he relates his situation to the inherent vulnerability of the human form and the shortcomings of modern medicine. This makes his story… show more.

It is unfortunately routine for a thirty-five-year-old neurosurgeon to encounter the death of a patient from an aggressive brain tumor, but it is utterly unexpected for him to have to confront it in the mirror after being diagnosed with disseminated lung cancer himself at an impossibly young age.

Written on borrowed time and in the shadow of his impending demise, this memoir is a profound reflection on life, loss, the meaning of things, and what really matters in the end.

First, I was moved to tears as I finished the book. This intense emotion was initiated by the death of the author with an abrupt end of the book. What I learned from the author is what it truly means to dig deep within oneself to find the strength and courage to move forward.

In the author, I saw honesty, fortitude, empathy, etc. I admire these attributes and desperately try to manifest them myself, all while attempting to help others do the same. Dig deep enough, and we all can find the courage.

This is an absolutely devastating book. I read it in a single sitting some years ago, and I don’t think I’ve ever stopped thinking about it. And if “devastating” doesn’t sound like a recommendation, I understand, and yet—it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.

Although Kalanithi was a neurosurgeon, not a professional philosopher, he was a humanist in the best sense of the word, constantly struggling to make meaning in his life through philosophy, literature, and the arts. When he receives what will be his terminal cancer diagnosis, his big question is: do I do surgery with the… show more.

Oh, this book! It’s so moving. It’s so sad. It’s so beautiful. And it lingers in my mind years after I first read it.

Paul Kalanithi wrestles with a question you’d never wish upon a 36-year-old neurosurgeon with stage IV lung cancer, married with a child. What makes life worth living in the face of death? He writes, “I began to realize that coming face to face with my own mortality, in a sense, had changed nothing and everything… I can’t go on. I’ll go on.” While he stared bravely ahead as he faced death, he penned a beautiful book… show more.

This is a poignant memoir by Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon confronted with terminal lung cancer.

The book offers a profound, intimate look at how Kalanithi grapples with his own mortality and the fragility of life, something I needed at a particular low point in my life.

His eloquent prose reveals his personal journey to understand what truly matters, ultimately finding purpose in his work, relationships, and the pursuit of knowledge. By sharing his unique perspective on life, love, and death, When Breath Becomes Air served as a powerful reminder to me to cherish every moment and prioritize what truly gives… show more.

This is a book about mortality that was famously written by a dying author.

It’s also a book about the life of a surgeon, who has special insight into the stuff of life, i.e. the organs he severs in an unforgettable dissection scene. What I admire most is the quiet, lyrical voice of the book.

It’s sad, but it’s lovely, and it has a kind of stillness I often aspire to match in my own writing. Passages float in the air.