When Breath Becomes Air
by Paul Kalanithi · first published 2016
93% recommend5% neutral2% critical
Why HN recommends it
Powerful, well-written memoir of a neurosurgeon and former philosopher facing terminal lung cancer, reflecting on mortality and what matters. Suits readers wanting a moving, introspective look at life and medicine.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
When Breath Becomes Air is a non-fiction autobiographical book written by American neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi. It is a memoir about his life and illness, battling stage IV metastatic lung cancer. It was posthumously published by Random House on January 12, 2016.
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For people interested in this area, I highly recommend When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. It is a very powerful and well written memoir of a neurosurgeon who battles with lung cancer.
on “‘I Had Never Faced the Reality of Death’: A Surgeon Becomes a Patient” ↗…World and Me: Ta-Nehisi Coates (three very different takes on race relations in America) - Astrophysics for People in a Hurry: Neil deGrasse Tyson - Seven Brief Lessons on Physics: Carlo Rovelli - When Breath Becomes Air: Paul Kalanithi - On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century: Timothy Snyder - Requiem for the American Dream: The Principles of Concentrated Wealth and Power: Noam Chomsky - Ten Arguments…
on “Ask HN: Good non-fiction books without filler?” ↗If you liked When Breath Becomes Air I'd also recommend Do No Harm by Henry Marsh - it's similar in style (maybe like the book Kalanithi would have written at the end of his career). It still touches a lot on mortality. Here's a great…
on “Famous Last Words: Three Memoirs of Mortality” ↗Listened to "Tuesdays with Morrie" [0] over the break, which is a series of interviews and reflections by the author as he interacts with his professor dying of ALS. That and "When Breath becomes Air" [1] are both pretty astounding long-form explorations on impending death. Hard topic, but I suppose that's the nature of it. [0] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6900.Tuesdays_with_Morri... [1]…
on “A neuroscientist prepares for death” ↗…that I recently completed: 1. "Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire" by Luke Burgis 2. "Four Thousand Weeks: Time and How to Use It" by Oliver Burkeman and one bonus which definitely made me think: "When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi
on “Ask HN: Books that teach you to think” ↗Paul Kalanithi - When Breath becomes Air.
on “Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?” ↗…reads, I enjoyed all of them for different reasons (the song machine book even got me to listen to music I would never have thought I'd enjoy, but can't argue Max Martin knows how to write a catchy song!) When breath becomes air http://smile.amazon.com/When-Breath-Becomes-Paul-Kalanithi/d... Do no harm, Stories of Life, Death, and Brain Surgery http://smile.amazon.com/Do-No-Harm-Stories-Surgery/dp/125006... The Song Machine:…
on “Ask HN: Book Recommendations?” ↗…enjoyed are Smarter Faster Better by Charles Duhigg and Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss. Both are fascinating books that'll leave you thinking about how to improve your own game. --Edit-- Bonus: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi is a tremendous piece. It's a short read but a must read!
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗The book, When Breath Becomes Air, is about the best thing I've ever read relating to terminal illness. It was written by Dr Paul Kalanithi, a brilliant neurosurgery resident at Stanford. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XSSYR50/
on “Fighting Cancer” ↗think this book is a particularly interesting read, especially considering the U.S. election opera of 2016: "Infomocracy" -by Malka Order. +++ some other favorites: When Breath Becomes Air. -by Paul Kalanithi. Arkwright. -by Allen Steele. The God's Eye View. -by Barry Eisler. Chaos Monkeys: Obscene Fortune and Random Failure in Silicon Valley. -by Antonio Garcia Martinez. Ego Is the…
on “YC's Winter Reading List” ↗When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi (highly recommended, but come prepared) Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - J. K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany (recommended for HP nostalgia) Elon Musk - Ashlee Vance (recommended)…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗…period, I still finding joy in reading fictions books than non-fictions. I feel that I should be reading more non-fictions but I can't help. Some of the books I've read this year and recommend are 1. When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi (Found this book through the author's essay (basically, an abstract from the book) in NY Times. I love it. It is the story about the life of the neurosurgeon who was battling with his…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. Difficult topic but great writing so far. Especially if you like books by Atul Gawande
on “Ask HN: What books are you reading?” ↗By far the most memorable book I read this years was "When Breath becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi. It's a quick read an immensely impactful. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25899336-when-breath-bec...
on “Ask HN: What is the best book you read on 2017?” ↗When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, it's a memoir of a neurologist who comes across lung cancer himself and how his life changes from being a doctor to the patient. I recently finished reading it and let me tell you,…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2017?” ↗