68 pages • 2 hours read
Paul KalanithiWhen Breath Becomes Air
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2016A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi is a memoir chronicling his journey from childhood to becoming a neurosurgeon, and his profound struggle with terminal cancer. The book reflects on his experiences from medical school to residency, his diagnosis, and how he grapples with questions of life, death, and purpose. His meditations blend professional expertise with personal vulnerability, culminating in the birth of his daughter and his eventual passing. The narrative deeply explores themes of illness, mortality, and finding meaning in life's final chapter.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi is lauded for its poignant and introspective narrative, capturing the author's transition from doctor to patient. Readers appreciate its eloquent prose and philosophical depth. However, some critiques mention a rushed ending and an incomplete sense of closure. Overall, it is a profoundly moving memoir that sparkles with emotional and intellectual insight.
Who Should Read When Breath Becomes Air?
Readers who will appreciate When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi are often drawn to deeply personal memoirs and the intersection of medicine, mortality, and meaning. They may also enjoy Atul Gawande's Being Mortal or Abraham Verghese's Cutting for Stone for their insightful and poignant exploration of life and death.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Health / Medicine
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Life/Time: Mortality & Death