When Breathe Becomes Air

It was towards the end of the book that I realized that this is almost an unfinished manuscript. But still it feels complete in itself. I was constantly wondering throughout why this book is so short. He is an amazing writer and you know that when you hear his thoughts while reading the book - his narrative - his writing style just reveal his love for poetry, literature, philosophy and spirituality. It was striking that he had persistently wondered about death- the meaning of life- its purpose throughout his growing up years, even while choosing a career. And even after he was first diagnosed with lung cancer, he did the same. 

 "Literature not only illuminated another's experience, it provided, I believed, the richest material for moral reflection." - on the love for literature.

 

Paul draws the difference between a job and a calling, something you are meant to do for the world in the limited span of your mortal life, in the first few chapters as a Doctor, before his diagnosis. And his words are all so quote-worthy. Brilliant writer, has a way with words. Makes the message reach the reader in full force or subtly when needed. He shares several anecdotes from medical school, his years as a resident, the intriguing neurosurgeries he had performed. His initial tryst with neuroscience-writing signals into the brain. The journey from doctor to patient so suddenly was tough. But being a doctor helped him accept the situation quite early. 

Truly speaking, I kind of felt connected. He had completed his Bachelor's in English Literature and Human Biology. Kind of a choice I could dream during my high school days. He took up medicine and specialized in neurosurgery, going all the way up to opting neuroscience research as well, understanding that this was indeed his calling. 

"I couldn't quite let go of the question: where did biology, morality, literature and philosophy intersect?" - on meaning of life and death.

 

The love for literature and the written word had taken a back seat for those grueling residency years, which he took up vehemently in the final year of his life. He was one of the brightest minds in neuroscience and neurosurgery, and had a rather short life. He passed away at the age of 37. 

 "If the unexamined life was not worth living, was the unlived life worth examining?" - on the mortality of existence.

 

The most touching and tear jerker chapter was the epilogue by his wife Lucy, as she describes his passing and bravery he showed in the face of death, by just accepting it and continuing to live wholeheartedly. The written word is powerful. It can live beyond us. It can be our legacy. The foreword is amazing too- its so inspirational. This book is an experience. 

A similar book reading, filled with individual personal experiences is Queeristan by Parmesh Sahani.

I'm taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter's My Friend Alexa.

View this post on Instagram

"Literature not only illuminated another's experience, it provided, I believed, the richest material for moral reflection." - Paul on his love for literature. The book up for discussion this month at the book club @nikitasbookshelf is this hopeful, inspiring, realistic memoir by a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist who finds his days are numbered after being diagnosed with lung cancer. This is an amazing narrative that blends his love for literature, neuroscience, his profession as a doctor, his moral philosophy, and spiritual pursuits together. It is a short but intense read. It charts his journey through his own words from being a doctor to being a patient. And how he finds meaning and purpose after being a patient, when he lets go of his life long dream of research in neuroscience. He returns to do his job, as a neurosurgeon, fighting the physical pains, since he believes that is his calling. How many of us do something because it's what we are meant to do in the short span of our mortal existence? All we do is perhaps, a job. He returns to literature and writes this memoir in the last few months of his life, as a reminder of him for his newborn daughter, and fulfilling his own dream of being an author. This book is also a look at marriage and relationship when things fall apart. The epilogue by his wife Lucy is a tear jerker one, which she completes writing after his passing. She is one brave woman and a doctor herself. I have watched her TED talks and she is so accepting of the present and fulfills her role to promote the book, and her late husband's life's messages. Again, it's not a sob story. At the end of it, you'll be in awe of this person, who had he been alive, could have changed the landscape of neuroscience research for the world. #whenbreathebecomesair #paulkalinithi

A post shared by Magic Moments (@magicmoments_pratikshya) on Oct 13, 2020 at 8:15pm PDT

Tweet