"When Breath Becomes Air" is a non-fiction autobiographical memoir written by American neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi. The book chronicles his life and his battle with stage IV metastatic lung cancer. Published posthumously in 2016, it captures his journey from being a doctor treating patients to becoming a patient himself facing his own mortality. The book explores profound questions about the meaning of life and facing death, as Kalanithi shifts from his identity as a neurosurgeon to that of a patient and new father confronting terminal illness.
The title "When Breath Becomes Air" metaphorically reflects this transition from life (breath) to death (air), representing the ultimate transformation that awaits all living beings.
This deeply moving memoir is divided into two parts: life before and life after his cancer diagnosis, offering a perspective on living a meaningful life in the face of death and imparting hope despite hardship.
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