When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

The late Paul Kalanithi was a dedicated and passionate Neurosurgeon and writer who died of lung cancer in 2015.
After completing a Literature degree Kalanithi spent 10 years training to become a neurosurgeon.  His dedication and passion for his choosen career had been having a detrimental affect on his marriage.  Prestigious job offers were coming his way as he was ignoring back pain and continuing incredibly long working hours.  A diagnosis of Stage 4 lung cancer changed everything and When Breath Becomes Air documents Kalanithi's confrontation of his illness and mortality while his life continues and his baby daughter is born.
If you like this kind of medical memoir I recommend Things that Matter by David Geller; Middlemore Hospital's Senior Intensivist.

Reviewed by Katrina



Catalogue link: When Breath Becomes Air