When Breath Becomes Air
Ratings456
Average rating4.4
A sobering read. Definitely gives you something to think about and to give thanks for. His words to his daughter really hit home in me being a new father. I recommended 100%.
No one wants to think of our own death or mortality. This book tells the heart wrenching story of a family and physician who had to face death. Told in the words of the physician who is all the patient gives a unique perspective to death and dying. The shortfall of the book is its short length caused by the ultimate death of the author before he was able to complete it. It is worth a read and hopefully it will provoke thought and conversation.
I finished this book and couldn't let go of it for what seemed like ages. A story that I would typically devour in a few hours turned out to be a very overwhelming and difficult book to read. It struck a chord from the very beginning and I often found myself unable to continue reading without a break. Both Paul and Lucy did an amazing job, concerning this book and their life together. As horrible as this experience must have been, mortality and the awareness of its immediate presence turned the last chapter of his life into something many of us can only dream of.
The memoir about neurosurgeon in his mid-twenties who got diagnosed with lung cancer and spend his last year(s) writing this book. He tells the story of his life, his career path, his family .. how he deals with the diagnosis, the treatment and his subsequent decline. Who better to ruminate over life and death and meaning than a surgeon who deals daily with life and death situations. There is lots of talk about living life to the fullest, which is touching especially when his newly born daughter comes into play, but ultimately nothing new.
This extraordinary memoir came out a few years ago and kept coming up on best-of lists. Yet, every time I heard the description, I thought to myself, why do I want to read something so depressing?
Judging a book by its cover, I know. While perusing non-fiction audiobook selections a week ago, I saw this title and thought, just read it already!!
And I was pleasantly surprised. This wasn't a book that got pity acclaim only, but deservedly earned respect for being well-written and truly open.
Knowing the end of the story made it harder to listen to passages describing how long he ignored symptoms or attributed them to a grueling work schedule, especially as someone who has done just that (although my diagnosis is different). The author's writing is lovely and is a clear product not only of his intelligence, but also his love of reading.
Sad, sad, sad. Excellent book, and the emotions really got to me toward the end (thus no star rating). Kalanithi does a fine job of detailing the technical medical procedures during his extensive study and practice as a neurosurgeon - and somehow found the time to develop great prose! A great read and would highly recommend - but make sure you know the ending first.
A beautiful moving reflection on the meaning of life amidst the sadness of a man facing his own death. The author is a truly inspiring man.
When Breath Becomes Air is a phenomenal read because it is a pure exercise in writing. It is not written for money or fame or not with the intention of an entry in best seller list. It is written with the most basic intention why books are written- to communicate an idea, to tell the world what one has in mind. And this book tells something that is very important in a beautiful manner.
http://diaryofaragingbull.blogspot.com/2017/01/when-breath-becomes-air-dealing-with.html
Powerful, Poignant, Poetic... I have trouble categorizing this book. The world lost much when [a:Paul Kalanithi 14031444 Paul Kalanithi https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1456068631p2/14031444.jpg] passed away, but the influence of this book is going to outlive us all
A sad story. I knew that, going in. I knew the author, not even finished completely with his education, had cancer and would die. I knew Paul Kalanithi would never really get to experience being a doctor, never really get to experience being a dad, never really get to experience being an author, never really get to experience the fullness of life. And that's sad.
To add to the sadness, we readers see the promise Kalanithi's life held in the gifts he was given both as a doctor and as a writer, gifts that will never really be shared with the world.
A sad story.
Loved it. Quite Extraordinary. Cried my heart out through the last chapters.
Originally posted on bluchickenninja.com.
This book is essentially a memoir written by someone with cancer. But to say it's just a memoir devalues what this really is. This book is one person's attempt to examine death – maybe even accept it. This book was written by a person who didn't want to die, but like all of us, doesn't get a choice in the matter. This is his attempt to help himself and others come to terms with their own mortality.
Paul Kalanithi was a writer who went on to become a doctor because he was fascinated with the brain. He wanted to discover where biology, philosophy and literature intersect. At the age of 36 just as he was to graduate medical school he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. Suddenly he went from being the doctor to being a patient.
After his diagnosis Paul decided to continue his project, this book being the final result. However that's part of the reason this book is so heartbreaking because Paul never managed to finish his book – his project. His final words are not some insight into death, but advice for his young daughter who he would never see grow up. In a way this book reminds me of that John Green quote. “You die in the middle of your life, in the middle of a sentence”.
You go into this book knowing Paul is going to die and if anything it makes you realise how unfair life truly is. Here is a person, a husband, a father, a scientist. Just about to graduate. At the top of his game. He could quite possibly have become one of the best neurosurgeons in the US. Struck down just as his life begins. There is nothing more unfair than that, and it's what makes this book so beautiful and poignant.
Such a moving memoir. Kept me up all night. All I can say is, what a talented man he was, and how horrible that the world was robbed of him so early before he could reach his potential. If anything, this book will teach you never to take your life for granted. Ever. Live every single day with passion like Paul did.
Well written and moving memoir from the unique perspective of a physician who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Highly recommend & bring tissues.
It's been almost a month since I finished this book and I think about it every day.
The most difficult, wonderful and heartbreaking book I've ever read. It will stay with me for a long, long time.
This book has influenced me to make one of the biggest decisions in my life - to take a risk and live life to the fullest. It is a tear-jerker but has a very positive feel associated with it.