When Breath Becomes Air

When I was looking for my next read I came upon It and I was captured from the first paragraph. What a wonderful man, I cried many times during the book. I lost my own father to cancer but was to young and immature to realise the significance of death....forever is a long long time. Thank you Paul

Beautifully written and narrated, its like Paul is there telling you his story himself. Very corageous.

This is a powerful, authentic and heart wrenching memoir from the first to the last page, it is a beautiful reminder of what it is to live and die and all the essential stuff in between.

Cannot recommend it highly enough - essential reading for all...

A fantastic, honest and thoughtful account of someone whose life was turned 180 degrees in one moment.

Kalanithi was a neurosurgeon with an exceptional career and life ahead of him. His personal life was facing some significant challenges, then a diagnosis comes along that changes his perspective on everything he had ever valued or wanted.

I really appreciated how frank Kalanithi was in the book. His wife Lucy comments that she appreciated Paul leaving in the marital struggles they weathered and that it was in character for him to name the beast that he was battling.

Kalanithi says in the book that he was a fan of literature; even if he hand't said so it would be hard to miss the plethora of influences in his writing. The words lift off the page into your heart in a way I've not experienced before. They take root and one feels themself being transformed in the reading and learning as Kalanithi does.

I listened to this read by Sunil Malhotra and it was the most moving performance I've yet to hear. Yes I know the material is already emotional, but Malhotra really elevates it with a reading that is at once pained and distraught while soft and resolved. Often there is a dissonance to me when listening to someone reading a book in the first person who I know hasn't written it, but Malhotra really embodies Kalanithi and becomes him.

This is a deeply moving and honest book, a fantastic reminder of the things that are really important in life. I'm indebted to Kalanithi and his family for sharing his story, warts and all.

An account of facing death told by the person living it. I thought I would enjoy this more than I did. It was quite heavy on literary quotes & examination of religion and used extensive medical terminology that whilst relevant probably made it harder to warm to. The epilogue written by his wife was an excellent summation of Paul. I loved the line " whilst what happened to Paul was tragic, his life was not a tragedy".

A beautifully sad perspective of mortality, captured wonderfully by someone who has faced it in his career and personal life

amazing
-made one reflect on life's journey. Written in a really interesting self reflected way.

Very well written, touching, personal and very raw, i found i had to put it down every so often to 'recover'. Happy i read it.

I thought this book may be depressing, of course it is emotional, but I actually found it to be thoughtful and inspiring - definitely one that will stay with me.

This book is an unforgettable tale of life and death. Completely captivating and wonderfully written.