When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi

This is a beautifully written, fascinating, tragic, and simply human look at the end of life. Tragically unfair is the diagnosis of lung cancer handed out to neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi at the age of 36. His exploration of what death and the end of life mean in this short but moving book is so succinctly and honestly written it's breathtaking. 

The audio version is narrated by Sunil Malhotra, who has become one of my favorite audiobook narrators (he also narrated the audio version of Cutting for Stone - you can read my review of that book here). Malhotra's voice clearly distills the melody of Kalanithi's words. 

I can't imagine getting the same news Kalanithi received at the age of 36 - my current age. On the cusp of finishing his neurosurgery residency and beginning his life's passion as a surgeon/scientist, Kalanithi's promise is cut short and the world is the lesser for his absence. His reflections of being a doctor, and then a patient are so straightforward and true, but in his description it gains an added element of empathy and understanding. 

While I mourn that the world lost such a giving soul and brilliant mind, it's consolation (though small) that he left behind this beautiful piece of work that somehow avoids being overly sad and saccharine, and goes right to the heart of matters, without getting needlessly weepy.

Paul Kalanithi, M.D.

5/5 Stars.