When Breath Becomes Air
“‘Don’t you think saying goodbye to your child will make your death more painful?’
‘Wouldn’t it be great if it did?’ I said.”
When Breath Becomes Air is by far the best non-fiction book I have ever read.
It is a memoir of life in the light of death. Or more accurately, it is Paul Kalanithi’s thoughts on death in the light of life.
Paul Kalanithi was so eloquent and so erudite. He was a brilliant neurosurgeon just as he was a brilliant writer. He was a neuroscientist just as he was a believer of God. He was both a father and a son. He was dying but yet he was so alive. His was a life so brilliant, but yet so brief.
His memoir left me in tears.
The book ends with an epilogue written by Paul’s widow, Lucy Kalanithi. I don’t think it is possible for anyone to read that epilogue without without having their hearts broken. “The family gathered together. During the precious minutes after Paul’s decision, we all expressed our love and respect. Tears glistened in Paul’s eyes. He expressed gratitude to his parents. He asked us to ensure that his manuscript be published in some form. He told me a last time that he loved me,” she writes. “…With my heart breaking, I climbed into the last bed we would share.” This is a short book with so many layers of meaning. I will be reading it a second time for deeper insights.
I am grateful to have picked up this book, and I will highly recommend it to everyone.
