When Breath Becomes Air

by Paul Kalanithi
When Breath Becomes Air cover
Good Books rating 4.58
Biography and Memoir
Technical:
  • ID: 1812
  • Added: 2025-10-10
  • Updated: 2025-10-10
  • ISBN: 9781847923677
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2016-02-01
  • Formats: 3
  • Reviews: 3
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When Breath Becomes Air is a profound memoir by Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon who was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer at the age of thirty-six. The book chronicles his transformation from a medical student to a neurosurgeon and finally to a patient and new father, exploring the questions of what makes life worth living in the face of death. Kalanithi's reflections on mortality, the relationship between doctor and patient, and the meaning of life are both deeply personal and universally resonant. /n/n Written with raw honesty and profound insight, this book is a testament to Kalanithi's courage and wisdom. It serves as a guide for anyone facing their own mortality or seeking to understand the human experience more deeply. Kalanithi's words live on, offering solace and inspiration to readers worldwide.

Reviews
Jo Fisher Writes · Jo Fisher · 2018-01-20
affecting 4.50

The book is full of emotions and thoughts, making the reader think, tear up, cry, laugh, and wish for more. It is a deeply affecting memoir that leaves a lasting impression.

Jo Fisher found the book to be a profound emotional journey, filled with feelings and thoughts that resonate deeply with the reader. She appreciated the raw honesty and the emotional impact of the memoir, which made her think, tear up, cry, laugh, and wish for more. Fisher also noted the lasting impression the book leaves, making it a memorable and affecting read.

Quick quotes

    This is a book full to the brim with feelings and thoughts.

    It made me think, tear up, cry, laugh, and wish for more.

    It is a beautifully written piece about the mortality of humans and the importance of experiences within the healthcare system.

Gates Notes · Bill Gates · 2017-03-07
inspiring 4.75

The book is inspiring and beautifully written, offering hope and beauty in the face of insurmountable odds. It is a deeply personal account that resonates with readers.

Bill Gates found the book to be incredibly inspiring and beautifully written, highlighting the hope and beauty that can be found even in the face of insurmountable odds. He appreciated the deeply personal nature of the memoir, which offers a unique perspective on life, death, and the human experience. Gates also noted the emotional impact of the book, which left him deeply moved and reflective.

Quick quotes

    Thanks to this book, the reader gets to know well and like Kalanithi a lot.

    He brings you not just into his journey as a doctor and then as a patient.

    It reads as both a guide to living well and a love letter to Kalanithi's daughter.

The Guardian · Diana Athill · 2016-02-03
moving 4.50

The memoir gains power and poignancy from its detailed descriptions and reflections on mortality. It is a deeply moving account of a neurosurgeon's journey with cancer.

The Guardian's reviewer found the memoir to be profoundly moving, highlighting the detailed descriptions and reflections that bring both power and poignancy to the narrative. They appreciated the raw honesty and the deep introspection into the author's journey with cancer, making it a poignant exploration of life and mortality. The reviewer also noted the emotional impact of the book, which resonates long after the final page.

Quick quotes

    This fast-selling memoir by an idealist neurosurgeon facing an early death from cancer gains power and poignancy from its detailed descriptions and reflections.

    It is a remarkable book, for many reasons, especially for his description of his transition from all-powerful doctor to anxious patient.

    The book is a meditation on the human aspect of living, not a chronicle of medical treatment.

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