When Breath Becomes Air: by Paul Kalanithi | The Brief

About the Brief This is the condensed version of Paul Kalanithi’s best-selling book When Breath Becomes Air. Here you will find the key concepts and important details from each chapter boiled down into a clear, concise, enjoyable read. Whether you are a book club newbie or a ravenous bibliophile you will be delighted by this new reading experience. And, of course, we encourage you to buy and read Kalanithi’s full version when you can. After all, his book is a best-seller for a good reason! About the Book When Breath Becomes Air is a memoir encompassing both the life and death of an eminent neurosurgeon. Named as Amazon's Best Book of January 2016, the book starts with a look at how one doctor came of age as a medical professional and writer. The second half of the book is a chronicle of the author's battle with stage IV lung cancer. The book offers incredible insight on both the meaning of life and the ultimate significance of death. About the Author Paul Kalanithi was an outstanding neurosurgeon and, with this book, proved himself as a phenomenal writer as well. Kalanithi studied English literature and human biology, earning two B.A. degrees and an M.A. at Stanford. He traveled to Cambridge to study medicine, where he earned an M.Phil. in the philosophy and history of medicine. He also graduated cum laude from Yale School of Medicine. After a residency and postdoctoral study back at Stanford, Kalanithi received highest honors for his research as a resident. Kalanithi died in 2015 while working on When Breath Becomes Air. View Less