When Breath Becomes Air in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Sep 04, 2018 Beth Given rated it it was amazing

Beautifully, beautifully written. Insightful thoughts. Really great book.

It feels like the buzz about this book has quieted, but I'm glad I waited to read this book now -- it's a cancer memoir, and since my dad was diagnosed with stage IV cancer in 2014 and passed away after a courageous two-year battle in 2016, cancer's a rather weighty topic for me. I'm glad I waited to read this book when my feelings weren't so raw and fresh. I have had to tread lightly around cancer books, because they open ...more

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Feb 01, 2020 Amy rated it really liked it

When Breath Becomes Air chronicles the heartbreaking autobiography of a neurosurgeon turned metastatic lung cancer patient. Paul Kalanithi spent his years pursing the answers to life's big questions turning to literature, science and medicine to understand our role in society and the world around us. After a decade of chasing his medical dreams, a devastating diagnosis turned his world upside down. As he transitions from doctor to patient, his patience is tested. His final request was having Whe ...more

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Mar 12, 2016 Amy Ellis rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is a beautifully written book. The author, Paul, tells of his search for the meaning of life, in his study of literature, then the meaning of death, in his medical studies. His ultimate goal in neuroscience is to learn how the brain makes meaning of things. He finds the answer in his battle with terminal lung cancer, when he, the doctor, becomes the patient. He is funny and contemplative as his illness worsens, not pitiful, and he faces his trials with courage and eloquence. This wasn't a h ...more

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Mar 29, 2016 Larissa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: top-favorites-of-all-time

I would say closer to 4.5 stars for sure.

This memoir of a doctor who switches to role of patient when he finds out he has pancreatic cancer was a beautifully written book. The author shares his beginnings and his passion for learning and how he ends up becoming a doctor. I loved how although he lived in this small town in Arizona his mom made reading literature a priority and took him and his brothers to the book store to read classics - from this he says in the book - "Books became my closest ...more

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Jun 20, 2019 Kristin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Despite knowing this book would have a tragic ending, I still wanted to read it and learn how Kalanithi remained strong when faced with his own mortality, going from the high of realizing his dream to be a neurosurgeon to the low of accepting that he would likely not live long enough to save all the lives his potential and talent would enable him to over the course of a decades long career. Kalanithi also dreamt of a career in writing, which shows, although I'm pretty sure this wasn't the book h ...more

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Feb 26, 2017 Ash rated it really liked it

This book was beautiful and rough.
The prologue wasn't very gripping but the main pages were gripping and the epilogue was heart wrenching.
I saw a lot of people saying the writing wasn't fantastic but I must say it reads like a friend going through a difficult experience. Which is exactly what it is.
This is an interesting mesh of life, science, faith, and tragedy. ...more

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