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When Breath Becomes Air: by Paul Kalanithi | The Brief
About the Brief
This is the condensed version of Paul Kalanithi’s best-selling book When Breath Becomes Air. Here you will find the key concepts and important details from each chapter boiled down into a clear, concise, enjoyable read. Whether you are a book club newbie or a ravenous bibliophile you will be delighted by this new reading experience. And, of course, we encourage you to buy and read Kalanithi’s full version when you can. After all, his book is a best-seller for a good reason!
About the Book
When Breath Becomes Air is a memoir encompassing both the life and death of an eminent neurosurgeon. Named as Amazon's Best Book of January 2016, the book starts with a look at how one doctor came of age as a medical professional and writer. The second half of the book is a chronicle of the author's battle with stage IV lung cancer. The book offers incredible insight on both the meaning of life and the ultimate significance of death.
About the Author
Paul Kalanithi was an outstanding neurosurgeon and, with this book, proved himself as a phenomenal writer as well. Kalanithi studied English literature and human biology, earning two B.A. degrees and an M.A. at Stanford. He traveled to Cambridge to study medicine, where he earned an M.Phil. in the philosophy and history of medicine. He also graduated cum laude from Yale School of Medicine. After a residency and postdoctoral study back at Stanford, Kalanithi received highest honors for his research as a resident. Kalanithi died in 2015 while working on When Breath Becomes Air.
This is the condensed version of Paul Kalanithi’s best-selling book When Breath Becomes Air. Here you will find the key concepts and important details from each chapter boiled down into a clear, concise, enjoyable read. Whether you are a book club newbie or a ravenous bibliophile you will be delighted by this new reading experience. And, of course, we encourage you to buy and read Kalanithi’s full version when you can. After all, his book is a best-seller for a good reason!
About the Book
When Breath Becomes Air is a memoir encompassing both the life and death of an eminent neurosurgeon. Named as Amazon's Best Book of January 2016, the book starts with a look at how one doctor came of age as a medical professional and writer. The second half of the book is a chronicle of the author's battle with stage IV lung cancer. The book offers incredible insight on both the meaning of life and the ultimate significance of death.
About the Author
Paul Kalanithi was an outstanding neurosurgeon and, with this book, proved himself as a phenomenal writer as well. Kalanithi studied English literature and human biology, earning two B.A. degrees and an M.A. at Stanford. He traveled to Cambridge to study medicine, where he earned an M.Phil. in the philosophy and history of medicine. He also graduated cum laude from Yale School of Medicine. After a residency and postdoctoral study back at Stanford, Kalanithi received highest honors for his research as a resident. Kalanithi died in 2015 while working on When Breath Becomes Air.
- GenresBook ClubNonfiction
22 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2016
44 people are currently reading
705 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
September 3, 2020
I read this book when I was down. I was remembering my past failures and mistakes on the same day I lost a lot of money on the stock market. Then I grabbed this book and read it. Even though it was very sad to read it, it actually helps me to realize that I have to grateful for what I have now. I lost many things, but I didn't lose the most important things like my health, mind, and purpose. If you have time, you can read this book, it is very short - will take just a few hours to finish.
October 4, 2016
This was a great book to get you thinking about what you are doing now to achieve your goals instead of waiting for some future time that might not ever happen. One needs to prioritize the things in your life and then "Do it" while you can.
June 4, 2016
A memoir by Paul Kalanithi whose dream about becoming a neurosurgeon cuts shorts by his lung cancer. Such promising talent, full of hope and life, a dedicated doctor in making finds himself at the tip of the cliff of his life in such young age.
I love, love his writing. His story over all was very inspiring. The love of literature made him such great writer and a deep thinker. He sharing the pivotal moment in doctor's life at the surgery table, when he has to take an incredible choice of the outcome of patients is very well expressed. The doctors are definitely not a god but the responsibility of someone's life and how they have to raise beyond a mere human being and have the authority to change the person's life is a gift of power. I love how he shares his experience of the doctors handling, not only the patients but the family and love ones effects the psychology of that moment. Alas, when the tables it turn around, he find him as a vulnerable patient. His struggle to accept his destiny and to be at the mercy of doctors is very heartbreaking. He did an amazing job of putting life and prospective of a doctor and a patient. His philosophy of life in general and curiosity of human mind and its vast capacity of performance are intriguing. His writing has so much zest for life.
I was deeply saddened of his short life but his book will keep his legacy alive. I love when science and literature meet. The philosophy of life is what made this book dear to my heart as a big fan of metaphysics.
I love, love his writing. His story over all was very inspiring. The love of literature made him such great writer and a deep thinker. He sharing the pivotal moment in doctor's life at the surgery table, when he has to take an incredible choice of the outcome of patients is very well expressed. The doctors are definitely not a god but the responsibility of someone's life and how they have to raise beyond a mere human being and have the authority to change the person's life is a gift of power. I love how he shares his experience of the doctors handling, not only the patients but the family and love ones effects the psychology of that moment. Alas, when the tables it turn around, he find him as a vulnerable patient. His struggle to accept his destiny and to be at the mercy of doctors is very heartbreaking. He did an amazing job of putting life and prospective of a doctor and a patient. His philosophy of life in general and curiosity of human mind and its vast capacity of performance are intriguing. His writing has so much zest for life.
I was deeply saddened of his short life but his book will keep his legacy alive. I love when science and literature meet. The philosophy of life is what made this book dear to my heart as a big fan of metaphysics.
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April 4, 2016great testimony to this mans life
April 7, 2016
A very powerful book.
February 8, 2021
Là một người cũng học về ngành y, nên khi tác giả nói về cảm xúc của những đêm trực khi mới non nớt bước chân vào nghề, hay như cải cảm giác của bệnh nhân, cái cảm xúc của một người bị bệnh, và ng kia chứng kiến họ bệnh ra làm sao,đó là cái cảm xúc muốn được giúp đỡ thật nhiều, là mong muốn được đưa những người bệnh về với cuộc sống như trước kia, nhưng cái gì cũng có khả năng,và giới hạn nhất định. Cũng bởi lẽ đó mà thật cuộc đời thật bất công với chính những con ng có lòng tốt, lòng nhân văn
Anh là một bác sĩ tài giỏi trong lình vực phẫu thuật thần kinh ( k hiểu sao thời gian đầu đọc cuốn sách này mình lại hay bị đau nừa đầu bên trái rồi cũng hãi hùng khi đọc, là với những ng bị bệnh thần kinh sau khi phẫu thuật phải chấp nhận sự đánh đổi, k thể nào mà bình thường như trc được ),
Đó là cái cảm xúc anh miêu tả về anh đã đồng hành từ lúc biết bệnh cho đến lúc chấp nhân chọn chăm sóc nhẹ nhàng trc lúc mất,
Nó có thể dễ hiểu vì ranh giới giữa cái chết và sự sống, với những cảm xúc ,chân lý đôi lúc làm cho ng đọc cảm thấy bị rối, vì thật sự anh đã có rất nhiều cảm xúc. Là anh cũng mơ ước để trở thành nhà văn, nên anh có những cái giác quan cảm nhận, rồi chú ý nó rất nhạy bén
Cũng nước mắt rơi khi mà anh đang đến với cái chết rất gần được vợ a viết tiếp câu chuyện, lúc này mới thấy, khi hơi thở hóa thính không là thế nào, rồi cũng khiến ng ta lại thêm một lần nữa cố nhớ lại về nhưng j anh viết về cuộc đời, roi ngẫm nghĩ ,, sống một cuộc đời trọn vẹn " và 2 từ trọn vẹn cũng làm tôi suy nghĩ là trọn vẹn như thế nào.
Có một điều đời đã trả lại anh đúng những thứ a đã cống hiến cho đới, gia đình ,bạn bè a luôn bên cạnh, a có 1 cô con gái khàu khinh đáng yêu, cuốn sách của a được yệu thích,
Và 2 chữ ,, trọn vẹn " theo tôi thấy ờ anh là dù trong hoàn cảnh nào cũng luôn cố gắng, không bỏ cuộc, Tác phẩm của a được viết khi a đang phải chiến đấu với những cơn đau vô cực của căn bệnh ung thư phổi
RIP Paul
Huong Nguyen
Anh là một bác sĩ tài giỏi trong lình vực phẫu thuật thần kinh ( k hiểu sao thời gian đầu đọc cuốn sách này mình lại hay bị đau nừa đầu bên trái rồi cũng hãi hùng khi đọc, là với những ng bị bệnh thần kinh sau khi phẫu thuật phải chấp nhận sự đánh đổi, k thể nào mà bình thường như trc được ),
Đó là cái cảm xúc anh miêu tả về anh đã đồng hành từ lúc biết bệnh cho đến lúc chấp nhân chọn chăm sóc nhẹ nhàng trc lúc mất,
Nó có thể dễ hiểu vì ranh giới giữa cái chết và sự sống, với những cảm xúc ,chân lý đôi lúc làm cho ng đọc cảm thấy bị rối, vì thật sự anh đã có rất nhiều cảm xúc. Là anh cũng mơ ước để trở thành nhà văn, nên anh có những cái giác quan cảm nhận, rồi chú ý nó rất nhạy bén
Cũng nước mắt rơi khi mà anh đang đến với cái chết rất gần được vợ a viết tiếp câu chuyện, lúc này mới thấy, khi hơi thở hóa thính không là thế nào, rồi cũng khiến ng ta lại thêm một lần nữa cố nhớ lại về nhưng j anh viết về cuộc đời, roi ngẫm nghĩ ,, sống một cuộc đời trọn vẹn " và 2 từ trọn vẹn cũng làm tôi suy nghĩ là trọn vẹn như thế nào.
Có một điều đời đã trả lại anh đúng những thứ a đã cống hiến cho đới, gia đình ,bạn bè a luôn bên cạnh, a có 1 cô con gái khàu khinh đáng yêu, cuốn sách của a được yệu thích,
Và 2 chữ ,, trọn vẹn " theo tôi thấy ờ anh là dù trong hoàn cảnh nào cũng luôn cố gắng, không bỏ cuộc, Tác phẩm của a được viết khi a đang phải chiến đấu với những cơn đau vô cực của căn bệnh ung thư phổi
RIP Paul
Huong Nguyen
November 10, 2024
It's never too early to think about death. We all face it eventually. I could die in a car crash tomorrow or be diagnosed with cancer. We often assume we'll live until we're 80, that we have plenty of time to achieve success, and that bad things happen to others, not to us. Sometimes, we’re careless, taking risks or saying hurtful things, thinking we'll have time to make things right later. But there might not be a "later".
Many of us (myself included) are so focused on future accomplishments that we forget to enjoy the journey. Human life is delicate and precious, we have to cherish it. Even if I die today, I want to feel that I’ve lived a good life and left something meaningful behind.
A dying man with cancer wrote this book to teach us to face death with integrity. I’m amazed and humbled by his courage to face his fate, accept it, and share his wisdom with the world.
I don’t usually get attached to a book this deeply. I’ve been feeling something indescribable since I finished it. What is death, really? Could I embrace it as Paul did if it came too soon?
We care so much about unnecessary things in life. In the end, all we want is to have our loved ones by our side as we lie on our deathbed. Nothing else truly matters.
Paul's message for his little girl:
"When you come to one of the many moments in life where you must give an account of yourself, provide a ledger of what you have been, and done, and meant to the world."
Thank you, Paul, and rest in peace.
Many of us (myself included) are so focused on future accomplishments that we forget to enjoy the journey. Human life is delicate and precious, we have to cherish it. Even if I die today, I want to feel that I’ve lived a good life and left something meaningful behind.
A dying man with cancer wrote this book to teach us to face death with integrity. I’m amazed and humbled by his courage to face his fate, accept it, and share his wisdom with the world.
I don’t usually get attached to a book this deeply. I’ve been feeling something indescribable since I finished it. What is death, really? Could I embrace it as Paul did if it came too soon?
We care so much about unnecessary things in life. In the end, all we want is to have our loved ones by our side as we lie on our deathbed. Nothing else truly matters.
Paul's message for his little girl:
"When you come to one of the many moments in life where you must give an account of yourself, provide a ledger of what you have been, and done, and meant to the world."
Thank you, Paul, and rest in peace.
July 26, 2025
I honestly don’t know how to even begin reviewing this book — I’m completely speechless.
Beyond the heartbreaking cycle of life and death, Paul’s writing is deeply moving and beautifully crafted. In my perspective, he didn’t just want us to understand how he died, but more importantly, how he lived — with passion, purpose, and love. As a person, a husband, a neurosurgeon, and a father, he left behind more than just words; he left meaning.
Some of the medical terms went over my head, but it didn’t matter — I still couldn’t put the book down. It’s truly a page-turner you can finish in one sitting.
What struck me most was how deeply this book reminded me of the kind of commitment we make in love — to stand by our partner, through sickness and health. Just like the words written in it:
“I will share your joy and sorrow / Till we’ve seen this journey through.”
Beyond the heartbreaking cycle of life and death, Paul’s writing is deeply moving and beautifully crafted. In my perspective, he didn’t just want us to understand how he died, but more importantly, how he lived — with passion, purpose, and love. As a person, a husband, a neurosurgeon, and a father, he left behind more than just words; he left meaning.
Some of the medical terms went over my head, but it didn’t matter — I still couldn’t put the book down. It’s truly a page-turner you can finish in one sitting.
What struck me most was how deeply this book reminded me of the kind of commitment we make in love — to stand by our partner, through sickness and health. Just like the words written in it:
“I will share your joy and sorrow / Till we’ve seen this journey through.”
May 23, 2022
I would recommend this book. It was a very sad but very honest portrayal of a man grappling with the unfair and terrible truth of an early and inescapable death - bearing down on him right as he was supposed to be reaching the zenith of all that he strived to accomplish.
While I do not necessarily agree with - or that's not fair. While I do not think I would have spent the last months of my life the way Paul chose to. I think that the book does a good job of exploring why he did.
It was thought provoking, moving and very sad.
5 stars
While I do not necessarily agree with - or that's not fair. While I do not think I would have spent the last months of my life the way Paul chose to. I think that the book does a good job of exploring why he did.
It was thought provoking, moving and very sad.
5 stars
August 2, 2023
Kisah autobiografi, seorang dokter bedah, yang juga terkena penyakit kanker, kita bisa belajar dan melihat, perjalanan seorang dokter bedah, yang memiliki tanggung jawab besar akan pasiennya dan juga dirinya sendiri, bagaimana masa-masa ketika kematian semakin dekat.
Kita bis melihat betapa berartinya hidup kita, jika kita sudah menuju akhir, saat kita menghadapi ketidakpastian dan kematian.
Di dalam buku ini juga kita bisa menambah ilmu kita tentang sains dan kedokteran.
Bagus untuk dibaca 4,5
Kita bis melihat betapa berartinya hidup kita, jika kita sudah menuju akhir, saat kita menghadapi ketidakpastian dan kematian.
Di dalam buku ini juga kita bisa menambah ilmu kita tentang sains dan kedokteran.
Bagus untuk dibaca 4,5
January 2, 2023
I was recommended this book a whole bunch and decided to make a push to be my last book of 2022. I listened to this as an audiobook, and was surprised, that despite the extremely sad subject matter it was easy to read. Kalanithi's writing is beautiful and melodic. His perspectives on both life and medicine were extremely interesting. Of course due to the nature of the plot of "When Breath Becomes Air" I felt sad and restless as the reader. How could you not root for Paul and his life, his family, etc. Ultimately this was the perfect book to end 2022 as it encourages everyone to live, because you never know what will happen in life.
December 2, 2019
Just finished this for the second time, and am as blown away as I was the first time. Paul Kalanithi, rising neurosurgeon and neuroscientist, documents his journey through his education and training, his passion for literature, medicine and family, and his journey through a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Inspiring and heart wrenching story.
November 11, 2025
Wow! A beautiful read. As someone who lost someone very close to me to cancer and as someone who knows many close friends fighting this disease, this book, its lyrical prose and beautifully expressed emotions is a powerful tool to process all the grief and all the joy.
I am so glad I experienced this book.
I am so glad I experienced this book.
November 24, 2019
much of the book was just ok A little too philosophical. But when he started talking about his chemotherapy and then the epilogue, it felt like he was writing about my dear sister who died from cancer in 2017. It explained so much of what she was going thru but we didn't always understand.
November 15, 2018
Quite good, reflections on death, but boring at times.
April 19, 2019
A beautiful, honest, and breathtaking book.
November 17, 2019
Heartfelt and meaningful. Very well written and I definitely shed some tears.
December 17, 2019
Very interesting book about a resident doctor that develops cancer. And writes about his situation. His wife finishes the book after he dies!
December 28, 2019
good book on how life is imp
January 12, 2020
I really liked it, admired his courage
May 12, 2021
Good to read
October 22, 2022
Lovely memoir.
June 12, 2023
Beautifully told story of a physician's life and journey through mortality.
November 23, 2023
Good story about doctor fighting cancer.
December 14, 2024
A deeply personal memoir. "this is the life he was given and this is what he made of it"
February 13, 2025
A memoir about Paul Kalanithii life and illness with stage IV metastatic lung cancer. Book was good but sad. Grab your kleenex.
February 14, 2025
Sensational, useful and motivating!
April 28, 2025
An exceptionally moving and inspirational read on the life of a courageous exceptional man...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews