When Breath Becomes Air in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Feb 21, 2016 Steve Sarner rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I knew Dr. Paul Kalanithi.

In fact nearly all of us knew Paul or rather “a Paul”.

What I mean, of course, is nearly all of us have likely lost someone important to us to some form of cancer. To read Paul’s intimate story of his life and death is a treasured gift. It’s a beautiful story and also provides a great depth of information, both scientific and emotional, which I found extremely beneficial and helped me reconcile, to a degree, the loss of friends in the past.

Interestingly (and tragically) I knew Dr. Paul Kalanithi.

In fact nearly all of us knew Paul or rather “a Paul”.

What I mean, of course, is nearly all of us have likely lost someone important to us to some form of cancer. To read Paul’s intimate story of his life and death is a treasured gift. It’s a beautiful story and also provides a great depth of information, both scientific and emotional, which I found extremely beneficial and helped me reconcile, to a degree, the loss of friends in the past.

Interestingly (and tragically) a highly respected professional colleague of mine, Curt Hecht, died of lung cancer (the same affliction as Dr. Kalanithi suffered) a little over 6 months ago (August 2015), coincidently just six months after Kalanithi’s death. Curt was a pillar of the digital advertising industry. And like Kalanithi, he was at the peak of his life and career when he succumbed to lung cancer.

I recall my first meeting with Curt over a decade ago when he was responsible for General Motors digital media – a really big budget and really, really big job. I was representing a firm that was not an obvious fit for GM, however, Curt recognized our uniqueness and took the time to really understand our value proposition. I was struck not just by his intelligence and command of the quickly evolving digital landscape but how approachable and inquisitive he was with me. This was especially noteworthy, as I knew the demands for his time and the fact that my firm really was not a fit for GM’s needs. I was very impressed. While I did not see Curt very often over the following years, except when he was a featured speaker at a conference, I read everything he published. Not just because he knew more about the digital marketing space than anyone in the business but because he cared and always acted with highest integrity. I trusted Curt’s perspectives and I miss them today.

Again, like Kalanithi, Curt was the last person that you’d expect would contract lung cancer. A non-smoker and elite athlete it was a shock that simply made no sense when the sudden news of his unexpected of his death was reported in the industry – such as this article:

http://digiday.com/agencies/rememberi...

Thanks to Dr. Kalanithi, I have a better understanding of what Curt faced. As well as what my friend Brenda once faced. And, of what a few other friends are, unfortunately, facing today. Having read this book, I am in a better position of supporting them and for that I am very grateful. And I am also appreciative to Kristin, a Goodreads and IRL friend, who recommended When Breath Becomes Air to me.

If you’ve read this far I highly recommend it to you.

ps: I read the book on a JFK-SFO flight when I was hoping to get some work done - but simply could not put it down. It's so well written that 225 pages literally "flew by". ...more

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Jan 12, 2017 Rae rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: bio-memoir, 2017

Kalanithi, a neurosurgery resident, is given a terminal diagnosis of lung cancer.

A beautiful memoir about living while you are dying. Worth all the hype. I loved it.

See also The Last Lecture and The End of Your Life Book Club.

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Jan 07, 2016 Melissa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016

This book is beautifully written, and so, so sad. Dr. Kalanithi's decision to not only face his own death with acceptance, but to share it with us, is one of the bravest things I've ever seen. How unfair for a promising neurosurgeon, for young husband and father, for ANYONE to have to lose their life so tragically young. I know it happens, but it is still unbelievable to me that someone so young could die this way. Especially heart wrenching is the epilogue, written by Paul's wife, Lucy, who des ...more

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