Content

The concept of life and death cannot exist without one another. This topic is widely discussed throughout the book When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. This memoir explores Paul’s indeterminate definition of death as he passes through distinct stages of his life. As Paul progresses through each stage, he views death differently as he transforms from a student to a neurosurgeon, neurosurgeon to a patient, and eventually becoming a father, where he needed to take full responsibilities. The most important thing in life to him is illustrated the clearest as the book comes to an end, where Kalanithi explains how human knowledge is dependent on our roles and status in our society. To him, what was important to him when he was a neurosurgeon no longer held any value when he became a patient. Kalanithi spends an uncountable amount of time studying for what he thought would be his future; however, the “future” baited him and turned him into the patient.
Before Kalanithi started his career as a neurosurgeon, he was extremely passionate about literature and was determined to become a writer. At a young age, his parents inspired him to develop his interest in literature. After graduating from high school, he earned his degree in English literature at Stanford University, where he planned to commit his life as a full-time writer. Surprisingly, after reading a book that connects the operation between the mind and the body, an idea instantly struck him and gave him a new