Reviews with content warning for Death - When Breath Becomes Air

Reviews tagging 'Death'

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

221 reviews

dazzling_cabbage's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

There was so much to absorb and take away from this book. I read it at a break neck speed as it was absolutely unputdownable, compared to other memoirs I’ve read.
The questions of life, death and meaning of life are at first cognitively explored and then emotionally experienced. A truly human delivery of human circumstances. A story of suffering, loss and enduring love and care.

Content Warnings

jchudson's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

Content Warnings

myknos's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

2.5

Content Warnings

fionaparch's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

Content Warnings

cynzar's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

5.0

5 STARS🎧💕

PART 1:
Gave me literal goosebumps. Love that it humanized the experience of death from a doctor's POV for me. I always thought it was just one of those things for them (as time went on) and although that was proven to be somewhat true, I got to really understand it better when hearing it from an actual medical professional.

PART 2:
Broke my fragile little heart. This book feeling and being soo incomplete (because even though Paul had done so much for a man his age, it didn't feel like there was enough because he didn't have time to expand further on his past experiences and had he not been ill, would've experienced and done much more so he could eventually share it), and knowing that it was because of the reality of him facing his mortality and how it so clearly shone light on the reality and predictable (we're all going to die) unpredictability (we don't really know when, even in the face of a terminal diagnosis) of death just broke me.
We always think we have time and what a gut-wrenching reminder that we just really don't.

I want to, but conversely never want to read anything like this again (and will swiftly be getting a physical copy of this book for when I'm ready to face it again).

This was utterly, heartbreakingly beautiful (when I tell you that I cried like the author was my loved one?!)😭🤞🏽.

Content Warnings

tvishashah's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Can't say enough great things about this book. Well written. The ending was unexpected - and I applaud the editor/publisher that decided to roll with the idea.

Content Warnings