When Breath Becomes Air
by Paul Kalanithi, Abraham Verghese
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, Abraham Verghese holds a highly rated rating of 4.32 out of 5, based on 116.8K reader ratings. First published in 2016. The book spans 208 pages.
About When Breath Becomes Air
For readers of Atul Gawande, Andrew Solomon, and Anne Lamott, a profoundly moving, exquisitely observed memoir by a young neurosurgeon faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis who attempts to answer the question 'What makes a life worth living?'At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade's worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, and the next he was a patient struggling to live. And just like that, the future he and his wife had imagined evaporated. When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi's transformation from a naïve medical student "possessed," as he wrote, "by the question of what, given that all organisms die, makes a virtuous and meaningful life" into a neurosurgeon at Stanford working in the brain, the most critical place for human identity, and finally into a patient and new father confronting his own mortality. What makes life worth living in the face of death? What do you do when the future, no longer a ladder toward your goals in life, flattens out into a perpetual present? What does it mean to have a child, to nurture a new life as another fades away? These are some of the questions Kalanithi wrestles with in this profoundly moving, exquisitely observed memoir. Paul Kalanithi died in March 2015, while working on this book, yet his words live on as a guide and a gift to us all. "I began to realize that coming face to face with my own mortality, in a sense, had changed nothing and everything," he wrote. "Seven words from Samuel Beckett began to repeat in my head: 'I can't go on. I'll go on.'" When Breath Becomes Air is an unforgettable, life-affirming reflection on the challenge of facing death and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a brilliant writer who became both.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Paul Kalanithi, Abraham Verghese |
| Published | 2016 |
| Pages | 208 |
| Kindle Price | $2.99 |
| Genres | Non-Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Biography & Memoir, Philosophy, Science |
| Average Rating | 4.32 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 116,771 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is When Breath Becomes Air?
When Breath Becomes Air is categorized as Non-Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Biography & Memoir, Philosophy. Its primary genre classification is Biography & Memoir.
Is When Breath Becomes Air worth reading?
Based on 116.8K reader ratings, When Breath Becomes Air has an average score of 4.32 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated." Its large number of reviews suggests broad reader appeal.
How many pages is When Breath Becomes Air?
When Breath Becomes Air has 208 pages.
Who wrote When Breath Becomes Air?
When Breath Becomes Air was written by Paul Kalanithi, Abraham Verghese. It was first published in 2016.
How much does When Breath Becomes Air cost on Kindle?
When Breath Becomes Air is available on Kindle for $2.99. Pricing may vary by region and promotional offers.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
