A review by mukunamatata
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

I think this is a must read for anyone. I have never been remotely interested in the medical field, and I feel as if the book educated me in unfathomable ways about what I want to make of my life and death. What beautiful writing, and an ending (and epilogue) that I cried when reading. The line about promising one life and giving another, or about Why me vs Why not me….. there is just so much here that allows a reader to go back and reread key lines and mull over all Kalanithi wants you to understand. And to boot, it cuts off sharply and feels unfinished almost: just like his life. There’s a deep tragedy in this that just wraps around a reader and touches every part of them. I started reading it from around 40% through one night and had to just power to the end because of how enthralled the writing had me.