When Breath Becomes Air

In this profoundly moving memoir, Paul Kalanithi chronicles his transformation from a medical student to a neurosurgeon at Stanford, and finally to a patient confronting his own mortality.

Diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at 36, Kalanithi grapples with fundamental philosophical questions about what makes a life worth living in the face of death.

The book is a reflection on the challenge of facing death and the relationship between doctor and patient, written with eloquence and intelligence.

Kalanithi's writing delves into his lifelong love of literature and his attempt to connect the sciences and humanities to gain a greater understanding of humanity.