[mikeb]

"When Breath Becomes Air" (Dr. Paul Kalanithi)

by mikeb on Sat Feb 20, 2016 5:58 pm

Dr. Kalanithi was a 35-year old MD, just about to complete his neurosurgery residency, when he was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. In the 22 months that followed, before his death, he wrote this incredible book. Half of it deals with his pre-cancer life, including his motivations for becoming a physician and the training he received. The other half explains how he learns to handle his own terminal cancer diagnosis.

It's a profound and sad book, but not a profoundly sad book, if that makes sense. It was enlightening to see how he answered questions that I think we all grapple with (or, at least, that I know I struggle with). What is my purpose here? Am I doing the best things I can with the time that I have left on Earth, whatever that time is?

Here's a New York Times review of the book. There's also a moving NPR interview with his widow, Dr. Lucy Kalanithi, who shepherded the book to publication following her husband's death.

(Shout out to TracyJ, who mentioned this book in forum post a few weeks ago and got me curious about it. Thanks, Tracy!)

Mike

[Tracy J]

Re: "When Breath Becomes Air" (Dr. Paul Kalanithi)

by Tracy J on Sun Feb 21, 2016 4:25 pm

Mike,

I had run across a couple of Paul Kalanithi's essays before he died, and boy did they resonate with me. Clearly he was deeply thoughtful, and he was demonstrably eloquent. So as the months passed, I followed the developments of his illness. Then he died, and shortly afterward his widow published his book posthumously. I was moved to get the book immediately.

But then I found myself reluctant to actually read it. Bluntly put, I was afraid. I was afraid of taking that journey with him because I knew what an effective writer he was. I knew that he could get right down to the very dense little nugget at the center of things in a few short sentences. So I had to work up the courage to read it, and also carve out adequate space to reflect. It's that kind of book. I found myself starting it on a plane home to visit my parents in Ohio, but after a few pages, I realized I would need to put it away until I had more privacy. It would have been embarrassing to blow my nose throughout the trip!

But I did read it, and I'm glad I did. It is quite moving. I sadly realized that he wasn't really able to finish it before he died. The arc of his story telling hadn't yet reached its natural conclusion, and then suddenly, the book was over. It was as if the concluding chapters had been ripped out. Sad.

[PattyB]

Re: "When Breath Becomes Air" (Dr. Paul Kalanithi)

by PattyB on Sat Mar 26, 2016 8:45 pm

Thank you Mike and Tracy

I was just exploring different sites on the Beacon when I came across your recommendations on Dr. Kalanithi's book. I plan to buy the book. Please keep making recommendations. I feel as though I cannot read enough or learn enough since we embarked on our myeloma journey.

[Jfosntampa]

Re: "When Breath Becomes Air" (Dr. Paul Kalanithi)

by Jfosntampa on Mon Apr 04, 2016 10:33 pm

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is on this site. If you are going through myeloma yourself, or are here as a caregiver, this book will touch you in many different ways. It is well written and, although the author did not get to finish it himself, the ending will touch your heart.

Since we find ourselves here as cancer patients or cancer supporters, all the information is helpful in formulation of one's treatment plans.

[NStewart]

Re: "When Breath Becomes Air" (Dr. Paul Kalanithi)

by NStewart on Sun Jan 22, 2017 6:10 pm

This book was chosen as one of the 10 best books of 2016. I highly recom­mend reading it.
Nancy in Phila

[mplsterrapin]

Re: "When Breath Becomes Air" (Dr. Paul Kalanithi)

by mplsterrapin on Sun Jan 22, 2017 8:22 pm

That was a wonderful book, and also his wife (who finished the book) was recently on the podcast "Terrible, Thanks for Asking," hosted by Nora McInerny. McInerny wrote a book about dealing with her husband's brain cancer titled "It's Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too)," which I also enjoyed very much. For those of you interested in processing this journey through writing or reading about cancer, Susan Gubar wrote a book (appropriate for patients and caregivers alike) titled "Reading and Writing Cancer." She also has a New York Times column entitled "Living With Cancer."

I figure we all spend a fair amount of time in waiting rooms or infusion centers and could use some reading material.