When Breath Becomes Air Summary

Summary of When Breath Becomes Air Book by Paul Kalanithi, M.D.

Name: When Breath Becomes Air
Rating: 4.7 (45508 reviews)
Author: Paul Kalanithi, M.D.

4.7 . 45508 reviews

Short summary

When Breath Becomes Air is a strong book, but even the word “strong” cannot fully convey the feelings generated by its author, Paul Kalanithi. A talented neurosurgeon with so much to achieve in the future found out that he had lung cancer, and while treating, he transformed from a doctor into a patient. He tells his readers about his first experiences with death and how he searched for the meaning of life and its origin. The book makes you reconsider a lot, from what you truly love to what you fear. Someone may be left with a question, someone will gain answers, and someone will find something they searched for for so long. What is the meaning of our lives? Does death give it to us, or does it take it away? Kalanithi considered these questions in the book, and as a literature lover, he pondered over them so profoundly that you cannot remain indifferent to his work. “If the unexamined life was not worth living, was the unlived life worth examining?” ~ Paul Kalanithi, M.D.

15 min

7 key points

6 insights

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Table of content

Summary of When Breath Becomes Air
About the author
What is When Breath Becomes Air about?
Who should read When Breath Becomes Air
Topics in When Breath Becomes Air

first key point

The hope that it is not cancer

Listen the first key point

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When Paul Kalanithi noticed that he started losing weight too quickly and felt severe pain in his back, he realized that most likely it was cancer. He arranged an appointment with a doctor and expressed his concerns. The doctor considered that there might be something different, a less severe disease than cancer. So, they agreed on getting X-rays first instead of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). But as X-ray is not as effective in showing cancer, the scans didn't display anything.

Kalanithi was at the peak of his career. He was a respectable doctor with an excellent reputation. He pictured his future with Lucy, his wife. Finally, his life reached the point when he could provide his family with everything they deserved. Unfortunately, a month after the appointment, Kalanithi's symptoms worsened; he started to feel extreme chest pain and lost another 30 pounds. There were almost no doubts about his condition. His wife accidentally saw that he researched the question. Since her husband didn't tell her about his worries and didn't actually think it could be that serious, they had a fight, and Lucy decided to live apart for a week.

It is important to make regular checkups every year to make sure that you are healthy.

Kalanithi was upset and assumed that their relationship was over at this point. He decided not to tell her that he had cancer if diagnosed with it. It is hard to imagine how much pain he had to endure, both moral and physical. In the airport, after a long flight, he felt such severe pain that he couldn't help but lie down. When he came home, his doctor called and told him that a chest X-ray looked blurry. He told his wife about it, and they both knew what it meant.

And with that, the future I had imagined, the one just about to be realized, the culmination of decades of striving, evaporated. ~ Paul Kalanithi, M.D.

Reading this summary will show how people can truly follow their calling. You will understand what people feel when they realize they have to pursue a certain goal no matter what. Everybody searches for meaning in life, but rarely someone interacts with death to find this meaning. This story will break your heart and give you hope at the same time. You will be able to connect with a beautiful soul and maybe find new values in life.

second key point

A childhood full of spiders and literature

Paul Kalanithi remembered his childhood when he dealt with a wild and dangerous nature and built relationships with his family members. The men in his family were doctors, so he was supposed to become a doctor too. Kalanithi leaned toward becoming a writer, but such a career didn't seem successful at that time. He didn't know much about being a physician, and literature seemed to be a good choice. Besides, he didn’t like how his father, a doctor, behaved.

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third key point

In search of meaning and running from reality

fourth key point

Experiencing the first death and birth

fifth key point

From the doctor to the patient

sixth key point

The last chapter of life

seventh key point

Conclusion

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What is When Breath Becomes Air about?

"When Breath Becomes Air" is a poignant memoir that delves into the life of a brilliant neurosurgeon facing his own mortality. Written by a talented doctor, the book explores the profound questions of life, death, and the meaning of existence. With raw honesty and introspection, the author shares his journey from doctor to patient, offering a profound reflection on the fragility of life and the pursuit of purpose in the face of inevitable death.

Who should read When Breath Becomes Air

Medical professionals seeking insights into life and death.
Individuals facing their own mortality and seeking perspective.
Readers interested in poignant memoirs about the human experience.

Topics in When Breath Becomes Air

Medicine Death Cancer Memoir Self-Discovery Resilience Health Life Lessons Inspirational Personal Development Grief Existentialism Neuroscience Mental Health

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