Title: When Breath Becomes Air
Author: Paul Kalanithi
Narration: Ist Person
Language: English
Publication: 2016
Genre: Autobiography
Major Character: Paul Kalanithi
Brief Overview:
Utterly gut-wrenching, Incredibly and strangely optimistic, and truthful!!!
While judging books by their covers and titles, I was startled by When Breath Becomes Air by reading its description. So, I took it home and started reading it. From the start till the end, I was choking back tears visiting the life of the author. But, when the book ended, I was not only sad but optimistic and proud of the writer.
“WHAT HAPPENED TO PAUL WAS TRAGIC, BUT HE WAS NOT A TRAGEDY.”
-When Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithi
The Story of When Breath Becomes Air:
When Breath Becomes Air is a memoir of the author and neurosurgeon, Paul Kalinithi. He narrates significant aspects of his life from childhood till his demise in the book.
By delving into his past life, Kalinithi shows the struggle to choose between literature and science. Being a literary person, he always loved literature and wanted to be a writer. However, he ended up becoming a neurosurgeon, and a successful neurosurgeon because he felt “intoxicated” by it.
His academic life is extraordinary, his professional life is up to the bar, and his personal life is steady. On the contrary, his health is not perfectly fine, and he was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 36.
Despite all the successes and triumphs, his thread of life is cut short. But, the question remains, how will he tackle this situation?
Will he accept the defeat in the form of death or will he deny all the odds to make it to ends? Or will he simply accept the will of God and will leave the earth gracefully?
When Breath Becomes Air: A Review
First of all, while writing, I am not sure if should I praise Kalanithi or his writing talent to state what he feels honestly and truthfully. Just like any great writer, Kalanithi pens down raw and true stories enriched with emotions and sentiments.
During one of the ailing chapters of his life, the feeling of helplessness surrounds him. Seeing his baby coming into this very world from where he will be departing soon, and not being able to help him or his wife during childhood is saddening to the core. Similarly, he leaves his job due to cancer and he communicates his feelings regarding it very unfiltered and truthfully.
At the peak of his success and rewarding profession, he comes to know that he is suffering from lung cancer stage 4. This disclosure does change his whole life completely yet does not transform him into a stagnant man. It is during these days that he turns toward writing. Having a love for literature, he lifts up the pen and bewilders the readers with his writing skills.
It is said and believed that oftentimes, Ignorance becomes a blessing and knowledge becomes a malison. After knowing the disease, the author has a knowledge that he has left with less time, therefore, he asks his doctor about life expectancy but she asks him to enjoy it rather than be worried about it.
Dealing with the whole knowledge, it is very difficult to maintain mental stability. Yet Kalanithi does not lose his stability.
Addressing lung cancer, it seems that the book is only for a potential audience, but it is not. I felt connected to multiple scenarios and to him at many points. It connects you, it makes you feel relatable. I think the reason owes to the fact he states reality honestly.
Whether be it the uncertainty in his life from the very start, such as his journey towards his profession or his departure, everyone starts to believe that life is uncertain for everyone and so is death.
One of the best things I admire about him is that he has avoided self-pity throughout the book. There is helplessness, there is difficulty but there is no self-pity.
Undoubtedly, he makes his departure from this world grand through his writing.
“DEATH MAY BE A ONE-TIME EVENT, BUT LIVING WITH TERMINAL ILLNESS IS A PROCESS.”
-When Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithi
Writing style:
The writing style is simple, plain, and based on facts.
Recommendation:
Yes, I would recommend this book to everyone for it teaches you a lot of things ranging from different faces of success to trivial failures.
Yet, if you cannot read much about cancer and illness, or are sensitive to such topics, please avoid this book.
