My Reflections on Paul Kalanithi’s Autobiographical Book When Breath Becomes Air

When my exams got over, my cousins came to our house to spend the holidays with us. All of us sat together and started talking about how we wrote our semester exams. Since we belong to different departments, the conversation became even more interesting. I am from English Literature, one of my cousins is from Physics, and another one is from Botany. So naturally we began discussing our subjects, the chapters we prepared, and the question papers we faced.

While talking, my cousins asked me about the subjects I had this semester. I told them about Women’s Narratives, Indian Writing in English, and Life Writing. When I mentioned Life Writing, they immediately wanted to know what exactly we read under that subject. I explained that it included many autobiographies, biographies, memoirs, testimonial writings, personal narratives, and real-life stories written by inspiring people.

Then they asked me which book touched me the most. Without thinking twice, I said When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. I told them how this book stayed with me long after I finished it, and how deeply it moved me emotionally. The moment I mentioned it, all of them wanted to know what the book was about and why it felt so special to me.

I began telling them the story. Paul Kalanithi was a brilliant neurosurgeon and also a writer. His life completely changed when he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer at a very young age. The book captures his journey from being a doctor who treats patients to becoming a patient himself fighting for life. It beautifully shows his thoughts, fears, hopes, and the way he looked at life with maturity and clarity even when he knew his days were limited.

I explained how the book teaches us the meaning of strength, passion, and purpose. Paul writes about how he loved medicine, how he wanted to understand the connection between life and death, and how he continued working even when his body was becoming weak. More than anything, it shows how life can change unexpectedly and how important it is to live meaningfully.

I told my cousins that the book was not just sad but also full of love, especially when Paul writes about his wife, his family, and the arrival of his baby daughter. Even though he knew he might not live long, he still chose hope, kindness, and courage. That part touched me the most and made me realise how precious every moment of life truly is.

While finishing my explanation, I told them that When Breath Becomes Air is not just a book, but an experience. It teaches us to cherish the time we have, value our relationships, and be brave even when life feels uncertain. My cousins listened quietly, and for a moment, all of us felt the depth of the story. It was a simple conversation, yet it left a gentle warmth in our hearts.

Before ending the discussion, I also shared something personal with them. During my higher secondary, I studied Bio-Maths, and at that time I loved both Biology and English. For a moment in life, even I thought of becoming a doctor, just like many students who take that stream. But later, I chose English Literature because I discovered how deeply I loved reading and writing. Still, my interest in biology never disappeared.

What made Paul Kalanithi’s memoir even more meaningful to me is that he also had a deep interest in both English literature and medicine, just like I did. Knowing this made me feel a special connection with his journey. His search for purpose, his questions about life and death, and his experiences in the medical field touched a part of me that once dreamed of walking a similar path. That connection made the book even closer to my heart