When Breath Becomes Air: The Essential Message

Ljuba_andelic

In When Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithi reflects on his experience as a doctor treating patients with terminal illnesses. He writes about the importance of living a meaningful life, even in the face of death. Kalanithi also discusses the role of hope and faith in coping with death.

Falk188

When Breath Becomes Air is a powerful memoir written by late Dr. Paul Kalanithi. We follow Kalanithi's journey as a gifted neurosurgeon-in-training who received a devastating diagnosis of Stage IV lung cancer. While this memoir is Dr. Kalanithi’s personal story, the essential message of his book is one of resilience and perseverance in the face of overwhelming uncertainty and pain.

Throughout his journey, Dr. Kalanithi uses his writings to explore difficult questions about human will and the personal responsibility of facing mortality. He also speaks about the importance of living fully in each moment and finding purpose in life, even as its end approaches. Kalanithi asks readers to consider how we – as individuals and as a society – deal with our mortality through the lens of his powerful story.

The essential message of this book can be found in its moving epilogue, written by the author's wife: “The real courage is in living and facing up to things, ‘If not now, when?'” These powerful words summarize Kalanithi’s view of life as a journey, one that we should make the most of in every moment, despite the inevitable end.

Though When Breath Becomes Air is an unforgettable account of Dr. Kalanithi's life, the universal message of his story is an inspiring reminder of the importance of living life well

Andrea835

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi is a deeply personal and gripping story of a neurosurgeon's struggle with cancer. The book chronicles Kalanithi's experiences as he becomes terminally ill with Stage IV lung cancer and faces his mortality.

At its heart, Kalanithi's memoir is about finding meaning and purpose in life, even in the face of death. Through his own story as a physician and patient, Kalanithi encourages readers to think hard about how to live their lives, savoring and cherishing each moment. He deals with big questions such as “What makes life worth living?” and “How do we find meaning when life is finite?”, emphasizing that life is too short not to appreciate what matters and make the most of it.

In When Breath Becomes Air, Kalanithi challenges readers to confront their mortality and make the most of life. By questioning and accepting his own death, Kalanithi expresses the importance of living a meaningful and fulfilled life and pursuing our passions, even in the face of mortality. He emphasizes that life is too precious and too short, and encourages us to think critically about how we spend our time, who we spend it with, and how we define “success”:

“What is your life? Health, truth, love… these are the things that make life meaningful. Live by these principles, and you will live a meaningful life, with or without a cure.”

Ultimately, When Breath Becomes Air encourages readers to contemplate life, death and the pursuit of a meaningful life.