Reviews with content warning for Cancer - When Breath Becomes Air

Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

212 reviews

radh's review

emotional inspiring medium-paced

5.0

This one had been on my TBR for ages and has been recommended to me by so many people and it does live up to the hype. I loved reading about Paul finding his passions in life as it truly is so rare to find someone who cares so deeply about anything they do. His writing holds a beautiful balance of matter-of-fact directness and emotion that I greatly appreciated as well. The book also reminds me of my favorite book, The Bright Hour, which is a memoir of similar topics. A beautiful read and insights even if sad

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indiarose8's review

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fast-paced

4.0

Very beautifully written and heartfelt. A little too wordy at times.

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kira20's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

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just2sadie's review

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

This book was truly heartwarming and very relatable as a medical professional dealing with a similar health crisis. I could see my thoughts in some of Paul’s, which made me feel less alone in my situation. His tenacity for life was evident and it is amazing that he shared his truth and story with us. Highly recommend for anyone!

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saoirsewolfe's review

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It had a really strong start but then became more about his experience with med-school and not about his experience with cancer. Wasn't what I thought it was going to be and I lost interest.

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nneka23's review against another edition

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informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

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leahgustafson's review

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emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

I put off reading this one longer than I should have because I wasn’t sure I was in the right emotional headspace. However, this book is about so much more than cancer and a life cut short. It’s actually really about life!
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I love how, from early on, Paul Kalanithi is interested in the human experience. I think it’s interesting how he explores this from so many different perspectives—literature, medicine, neurosurgery, etc. I also enjoyed hearing about his experiences in medical school and his discoveries (through his roles as BOTH a doctor and a patient) about the importance of building relationships.
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Kalanithi’s vulnerable account of his diagnosis and journey with cancer is extremely reflective and really explores what it means to live a full and meaningful life. While it’s too bad that he was unable to finish this book, I really think the ending, written by his wife, is the perfect touch to end this book. It instills a message of hope and allows everything he embodied to live on.
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This book reminds me a lot of The Last Lecture. I read that one many, many years ago, and it may be time to revisit it because these two would make great companion texts!
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