When Breath Becomes Air

"When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi is a profoundly moving and contemplative memoir that delves into the essence of life, mortality, and the pursuit of meaning. This #1 New York Times bestseller, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and a recipient of numerous accolades, grapples with the poignant question: What makes a life worth living?

At the age of thirty-six, on the cusp of completing an arduous decade of neurosurgical training, Kalanithi is confronted with a devastating diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer. The narrative transitions seamlessly between his roles as a compassionate doctor, tirelessly treating the terminally ill, and a vulnerable patient fighting for his own survival. The future he envisioned with his wife is abruptly shattered, leading him to reflect on the profound and virtuous aspects of life.

Kalanithi's journey unfolds as he evolves from an idealistic medical student pondering the meaning of a meaningful life to a skilled neurosurgeon navigating the complexities of the human brain. The memoir captures his transformation into a patient and a new father, grappling with the existential questions that arise in the face of mortality.

As Kalanithi navigates the challenging terrain of life and death, the book becomes a meditation on the intrinsic worth of life and the indefatigable human spirit. Even as he confronts his own mortality, he leaves readers with a legacy of wisdom and introspection. Despite his untimely death in 2015, Kalanithi's words endure as a guiding light, offering profound insights into the human experience. "When Breath Becomes Air" is an unforgettable exploration of the complexities of existence, a celebration of life, and an enduring testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of inevitable mortality.

From the Back Cover:

'Rattling. Heartbreaking. Beautiful,' Atul Gawande, bestselling author of Being Mortal

What makes life worth living in the face of death?

At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade's training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, the next he was a patient struggling to live.

When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi's transformation from a medical student asking what makes a virtuous and meaningful life into a neurosurgeon working in the core of human identity - the brain - and finally into a patient and a new father.

Paul Kalanithi died while working on this profoundly moving book, yet his words live on as a guide to us all. When Breath Becomes Air is a life-affirming reflection on facing our mortality and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both.

'A vital book about dying. Awe-inspiring and exquisite. Obligatory reading for the living' Nigella Lawson

About the Author:

Paul Kalanithi:

Paul Kalanithi was a neurosurgeon and writer. He grew up in Kingman, Arizona, and graduated from Stanford University with a BA and MA in English literature and a BA in human biology. He earned an MPhil in history and philosophy of science and medicine from the University of Cambridge and graduated cum laude from the Yale School of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honor society. He returned to Stanford to complete his residency training in neurological surgery and a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience, during which he received the American Academy of Neurological Surgery’s highest award for research. He died in March 2015. He is survived by his large, loving family, including his wife, Lucy, and their daughter, Elizabeth Acadia.