When Breath Becomes Air
By Paul Kalanithi
When Breath Becomes Air. Random House, 2016.
Summary of When Breath Becomes Air book by Paul Kalanithi
The touching memoir of a neurosurgeon’s quest to find the meaning of life as he comes to meet his mortality in the face of a stage IV lung cancer diagnosis. Paul Kalanithi left behind a message of hope, love, and motivation to inspire us all to live and die with dignity.
Chapters in When Breath Becomes Air book summary
What do you get from this book? An exceptional doctor’s experience finding beauty in life in the face of death
Kalanithi’s life was regularly marked by a sense of duality, including two paths of study
The connected concepts of life and death became a common theme as Kalanithi entered the medical field
Kalanithi’s residency was challenging and stressful, but he felt neurosurgery was the right route for him
Being compassionate and understanding with patients allowed Kalanithi to forge connections for a more fulfilling life
Recognizing the individual first, Kalanithi resolved to practice patient and thorough communication as a doctor
Neuroscience research provided Kalanithi with more knowledge about the brain, but some tragic events are still difficult to understand
Kalanithi’s world was turned upside-down when he received shocking news about his health
Faced with several tough decisions about his family and work, Kalanithi took up writing to help him endure treatments
The messages Kalanithi left the world after his passing offer us all a great gift
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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When Breath Becomes Air — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read When Breath Becomes Air book
- medical students
- the terminally ill
- anyone facing the death of a loved one
- anyone wanting to be inspired to live a full life
About the author of When Breath Becomes Air
Paul Kalanithi
Paul Kalanithi was a brilliant scientist and neurosurgeon, as well as writer. He earned degrees from Stanford and Cambridge before graduating with honors from Yale School of Medicine and presented with the highest award for research by the American Academy of Neurological Surgery. His memoir was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
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