A review by hafable
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

This is a reflection of a neurosurgeon becoming a cancer patient. It's also a story of how this man came to his profession; his relationship with life/death, literature, and the philosophy of life which to him could only be understood through the direct experience of holding the lives of others in his hands. There is something about listening to his journey through the medical field to then listening how his cancer forced him to alter his and his loved ones lives too soon. There's something about listening to how he and his wife faced the immense uncertainly with all the strength they could muster. There's something about the way Paul spoke to his daughter using this book in his final moments. There's something about his wife coming to finish this book after he passed to give her part of the story that just breaks you a little bit. This did make me cry because it was just so real, honest, and full of love.
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