When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
When Breath Becomes Air is a book I feel everyone should read. Paul Kalanithi, who wrote the book, tells you how to live a life that matters. This is the book he wrote when he was about to die, and it’s his life story.
So let me share with you some lessons from his journey that can help you live a life with intention.
Life’s Last Edit by Rahul Makwana
Think of it as a self-help bible—not just a collection of lessons, but a guide to transforming your life.
Book in Five Sentences
This book is about Paul Kalanithi, a doctor who faced terminal cancer and reflected on life, death, and what truly matters. It shows how he balanced his work and personal life while trying to find meaning in his final days.
- Life is short, so spend time with the people you love instead of wasting it on things that don’t matter.
- Hope is powerful. No matter how hard things get, keep pushing forward because tomorrow could be better.
- Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start now, take risks, and do the things that matter to you while you still can.
- Life is not just about achieving success, but about finding meaning in what you do and making a difference in others’ lives.
- We all face tough times, but if you remember that life is precious, it will help you make better choices every day.
When Breath Becomes Air Summary
This is one of my favorite reads that taught me how beautiful life is. You already have everything you need to live fully, so don’t waste your time or energy on things that don’t matter.
As the author says, when you remind yourself that “one day, you’ll die,” you start seeing everything differently.
I highly recommend grabbing a copy of this book. It’s a powerful reminder that time isn’t unlimited, so focus on what truly matters and make the most of NOW.
The book is divided into two parts.
- The first part is like a flashback to Paul’s childhood and how he became a doctor. He talks about growing up in Arizona and how his dad, also a doctor, worked so much he was hardly ever home. This made Paul wonder if being a doctor was worth missing out on life. He also talks about his mom and how she loved books and made him love reading too. This is important because books helped him figure out life’s big questions.
- The second part is about Paul dealing with cancer and knowing he’s going to die. Imagine being a doctor who knows everything about the body and then becoming the patient. It’s scary! Paul talks about going through chemo, feeling super sick, and trying to figure out what “hope” even means when you know you’re dying.
Family and Friends
We all know we don’t have unlimited time, but still, we spend so much of it staring at screens, not spending enough time with the people we care about—whether it’s your mom, dad, brother, or sister. We tend to only realize the value of things when it’s too late.
For example, when you’re sick, you realize how important your health is. When you’re tired, you tell yourself to use your phone less. And when a family member is about to pass away, you wish you’d spent more time with them.
This is what happened to Paul Kalanithi. When he found out he had terminal lung cancer, he understood that nothing is more valuable than family. So, make sure you spend more time with the people you love.
You might not realize it now, but as you get older and see your parents age, you’ll wish you had spent more time with them. You’ll think, “I wish I was closer with them,” and “I wish I spent more time with them instead of watching reels or following other people’s lives on YouTube.”
Living with hope
Even though Paul knew he was dying, he never lost hope. He kept working, writing, and planning for the future. Hope reminds us that there’s always something more to look forward to.
Yes, you’ll have tough times and feel like giving up, but if you focus on what matters most, one day you’ll reach your dreams.
So, keep hope alive, especially when things feel like they’re going in the wrong direction. Just keep doing what you need to do.
Facing Death
Everyone will face problems and feel like quitting and doing what’s easy. Whether it’s choosing social media over reading, watching movies instead of exercising, or eating unhealthy food instead of something better.
Everything changes when you remind yourself that you will die one day. That day might not come today, but it will come. Once this thought hits your mind, you’ll start to see everything differently.
You’ll begin to take your health more seriously and be more conscious of your daily choices.
The reason is simple: you’re now aware. Yes, some might just ignore this fact and live the life they were living, but if you just pause for a moment and zoom out, you will realize that life is short.
So today, take some time to sit alone in your room or anywhere you feel comfortable. Ask yourself how you’ve been living, starting from the moment you wake up until you go to sleep.
If this feels tough, grab a pen and paper and write down everything you want to change.
This will help you become more aware of what you’ve been doing. Once awareness sets in, things will start to improve over time.
When Breath Becomes Air Review
I don’t say this for many books, but if you want to understand life, definitely read this one. It gives you a true idea of what the real meaning of life is. So take the lessons from it and apply them to your own life.
As someone once said, ‘It’s better to learn from someone else’s life than to keep making the same mistakes over and over.’ Learn from Paul Kalanithi’s journey and make your life better.
Go grab a copy NOW
Buy When Breath Becomes Air:
When Breath Becomes Air Quotes
“The most important thing is to be a good human being, and I think that’s the definition of being a good doctor.”
“You can’t ever reach perfection, but you can try, and in that striving, you will find meaning.”
“What makes life meaningful is not some spectacular achievement, but how we engage with the world and the people we love.”
“The boundaries of the body are fragile, and it’s important to recognize that they are not as fixed as we think.”
“I had to decide what I wanted to do with my life, but then I realized that it wasn’t about what I wanted to do, but about how I wanted to be.”
“The process of becoming is more important than the destination itself.”
“You can’t know how long you have, so make sure you use your time wisely.”
“What is it that makes life meaningful to you, and how will you spend the time you have?”
“We don’t get to choose how we die, but we can choose how we live.”
“Life is short, so we must cherish the moments, the people, and the experiences that truly matter.”
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