Random House Books for Young Readers When Breath Becomes Air

Highly recommended for medical students and for doctors.The author is very eloquent and wise that will catch your breath till the end.

Must read for high school students taking decision about future career

One of the best books I’ve read in a while I 100% recommend it

fast delivery and very excellent condition.I like the book cover!!!

Read it

5\5 Not a fraction less. As I finished this book tears rolled down both my cheeks. Breathing was hard for the last 40 pages, as I struggle to choke back the conflicting emotions I felt in reading Paul's last words and those his wife Lucy would conclude with. On the one hand I felt heartbroken with sorrow for the fate of this man who would strive so hard to help others live or to ease the agony of those who would die. Yet this book was as heart wrenching as it was beautiful. It was as uplifting as it was sad.This book deeply touched me on an emotional and what some would call a spiritual level. While I am not spiritual, I cannot deny the spirit of this man, who lived, loved, triumphed and accepted his fate with courage and strength, even as cancer weakened him physiologically.Paul died very near my own age. I struggle to find meaning in life, especially as I see others die around me every year. I also grapple with my own impending end which could come any moment, future or present. I began to question everything as I've aged. I fear perhaps I have made the wrong choices in life. I question what it is all for. Being an atheist is a blessing and a curse, for it gives life at times a hollow definition. We live to die. Most of us spend the majority of our lives dying, or declining until our last day. This does not have to be a sad thing though. This book has revealed to me that there is another way in which to die. That is, to live... until death.From the bottom of my heart I am thankful to Paul, for this book, and to Lucy for her epilogue, for her kind words which will touch my own spirit, my core being, until the end. It will forever remind me that our fate may not always be what we want it to be but our lives are what we will make of them. We will all die, some sooner, some later. This is a fact. While we live to die this does not mean we cannot also live to live, to live life appreciatively.While I do not share the expansive and loving family Paul did and while I feel at times vastly alone in this world, I have learned the deep lessons of this book. I have no one to truly comfort me in my sorrows as I grind through life. This book, these words, are my comfort. Alone we embrace, this philosophy and I. I am not dying such as Paul was. I am merely dying as life would naturally have it, as we all are, until something decides to speed this natural process up, like a cancer or some other malignance. I merely suffer the physiological strife that comes with working on a farm in rural Nova Scotia. I toil so others may not. Someone must till the soil, grow the food, harvest from life to give life. Though I often feel I should be doing more.My English degree hangs on a wall, a banner of achievement, yet a reminder of failure. I relate to Paul in that, like him, I want to help others. After all, there is no better feeling than having consoled or counselled another. I have often had the dream of using words to ease the pain of suffering. Paul has awakened me to the fallacy of how I see that piece of paper in the negative. Perhaps I will do no more than I have. Some do nothing. Some live and die, forgotten to the winds of time. The important thing is to understand that life is a treasure. It is a thing to be cherished, this consciousness, this awareness, our ability to think and see and question and comprehend. To compel or be compelled is to live. Whether alone or in the company of loved ones, we should hold dear this thing we call life. Find your happiness where you can. Be it within the pages of a book such as this or in the company of others, seek it and embrace it, for a life lived happily is to truly live. Whether short or long, alone or otherwise, we need not despair the eventuality of our end. Smile, my fellows, for were we not alive, we would not know what it is to live.Thank you Paul. Thank you Lucy. You have both, in death, and life, warmed my heart beyond what other words have elsewhere been able.

Felt super emotional and sad after reading this one. I must say I have a new outlook towards life after reading this one. Must read at least once

"When Breath Becomes Air" is a profoundly moving exploration of life, death, and the human spirit that left an indelible impact on me. Written by the late Dr. Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon diagnosed with terminal cancer, the book offers a poignant reflection on mortality and the pursuit of meaning.Kalanithi's eloquent prose beautifully captures the essence of his journey, navigating the realms of medicine, philosophy, and literature. The narrative weaves between his experiences as a doctor and a patient, creating a powerful narrative that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.As he grapples with his own mortality, Kalanithi invites readers to contemplate the universal questions of existence. The book delves into the fragility of life, the significance of our choices, and the search for purpose in the face of inevitable death.The raw honesty and vulnerability displayed by the author make "When Breath Becomes Air" a profoundly human story. It transcends the confines of a traditional memoir, touching on themes that resonate universally. Kalanithi's introspective exploration of love, identity, and the meaning of a life well-lived leaves an enduring impact, prompting readers to reflect on their own lives and values.In essence, "When Breath Becomes Air" is not just a book; it's a testament to the beauty and fragility of the human experience. It is a poignant reminder that in confronting mortality, we find the essence of what it truly means to live

As expected.

Not the easiest read but very well worth it. Makes you think about the meaning of life