---
product_id: 22402672
title: "When Breath Becomes Air: Pulitzer Prize Finalist"
price: "S$31"
currency: SGD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 9
url: https://www.desertcart.sg/products/22402672-when-breath-becomes-air-pulitzer-prize-finalist
store_origin: SG
region: Singapore
---

# When Breath Becomes Air: Pulitzer Prize Finalist

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## Description

When Breath Becomes Air: Pulitzer Prize Finalist [Kalanithi, Paul, Kalanithi, Lucy, Verghese, Abraham] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. When Breath Becomes Air: Pulitzer Prize Finalist

Review: Brilliant memoir of a young physician facing a terminal diagnosis - This brief memoir is interposed between a foreword by Abraham Verghese, the brilliant author of “Cutting for Stone” and an epilogue by author’s wife, Lucy Kalanithi. It is a beautifully, heartrending, deeply philosophical piece by an accomplished young man who dedicated heart and mind to his work and study in neurosurgery. He discovers that he has terminal lung cancer at the age of 36, just before completing his grueling neurosurgical residency and embarking on the career he has worked so hard to attain. The book is very thoughtful and reflective in nature, especially upon the meaning of life. It made me wonder if the author was truly always so interested in finding the meaning of life, or if only when told of this terminal diagnosis, that reflection back on his life made this search so apparent. As one nears death, what is most important, becomes glaringly more obvious, and Paul Kalanithi describes this so well. Abraham Verghese speaks in the foreword of how he had met Paul in person several times before his death, but it was not until he read his book that he felt he really knew him. I too, felt like I got to know Paul through this book. He is very open and honest about himself, his sickness, his relationships, and struggles and triumphs throughout the process of dealing with cancer. I find it interesting that Paul did not always think he wanted to be a physician, but rather thought he might be a writer. He may not have realized his full potential as neurosurgeon and professor, but he surely achieved his goal to be a writer. He has left behind a beautiful book that will be read for many years to come. It will be of great interest to those with life-threatening disease, their family members, and really everyone, because we will all be in those shoes at some point. He has also left behind a wonderful gift of himself to his daughter. She will not remember her time with him, but she will be able to know him through this book and well as through the memories that I’m sure his close relations will share with her. Aside from writing and even delving back into neurosurgery residency at one point, he spent the last years of his life following his diagnosis, building closer bonds with his family, and the love there was overflowing. Aside from being an important read for anyone facing a life-threatening illness themselves or loving someone who is, I think it is a very important read for all medical professionals. It puts a face behind a patient, who is clearly able to articulate the thoughts and feelings of being a patient in our medical system. It emphasizes and highlights the importance of the physician-patient relationship. I gave this book 5 stars for it’s thought provoking, beautiful prose, as well as for writing it’s way through a death with utmost dignity. He strengthens his belief systems, forges stronger relationships with family and loved ones, and finds greater meaning in life once he is given this terminal diagnosis. For discussion questions, please visit book-chatter.com
Review: Remarkable - This book is a must-read. Wonderfully written, the story unfolds when a renowned surgeon receives a diagnosis of cancer. It is a book so honest, the grief will take your breath away. It is also so honest that your heart will soar at the beauty of life. Paul Kalanithi had much he wanted to accomplish in his work life, but even more with his wife and new baby. Dr. Kalanithi's wife, Lucy, who completed Paul's work, is my hero. She wears her grief well and has survived. A blessing. Read this book. It teaches us how to live.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #753 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1 in Medical Professional Biographies #3 in Death #31 in Memoirs (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (114,831) |
| Dimensions  | 5.17 x 0.9 x 7.79 inches |
| Edition  | 1st |
| ISBN-10  | 081298840X |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0812988406 |
| Item Weight  | 11.2 ounces |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 228 pages |
| Publication date  | January 12, 2016 |
| Publisher  | Random House |

## Images

![When Breath Becomes Air: Pulitzer Prize Finalist - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61gwba1pQnL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Brilliant memoir of a young physician facing a terminal diagnosis
*by M***E on February 5, 2016*

This brief memoir is interposed between a foreword by Abraham Verghese, the brilliant author of “Cutting for Stone” and an epilogue by author’s wife, Lucy Kalanithi. It is a beautifully, heartrending, deeply philosophical piece by an accomplished young man who dedicated heart and mind to his work and study in neurosurgery. He discovers that he has terminal lung cancer at the age of 36, just before completing his grueling neurosurgical residency and embarking on the career he has worked so hard to attain. The book is very thoughtful and reflective in nature, especially upon the meaning of life. It made me wonder if the author was truly always so interested in finding the meaning of life, or if only when told of this terminal diagnosis, that reflection back on his life made this search so apparent. As one nears death, what is most important, becomes glaringly more obvious, and Paul Kalanithi describes this so well. Abraham Verghese speaks in the foreword of how he had met Paul in person several times before his death, but it was not until he read his book that he felt he really knew him. I too, felt like I got to know Paul through this book. He is very open and honest about himself, his sickness, his relationships, and struggles and triumphs throughout the process of dealing with cancer. I find it interesting that Paul did not always think he wanted to be a physician, but rather thought he might be a writer. He may not have realized his full potential as neurosurgeon and professor, but he surely achieved his goal to be a writer. He has left behind a beautiful book that will be read for many years to come. It will be of great interest to those with life-threatening disease, their family members, and really everyone, because we will all be in those shoes at some point. He has also left behind a wonderful gift of himself to his daughter. She will not remember her time with him, but she will be able to know him through this book and well as through the memories that I’m sure his close relations will share with her. Aside from writing and even delving back into neurosurgery residency at one point, he spent the last years of his life following his diagnosis, building closer bonds with his family, and the love there was overflowing. Aside from being an important read for anyone facing a life-threatening illness themselves or loving someone who is, I think it is a very important read for all medical professionals. It puts a face behind a patient, who is clearly able to articulate the thoughts and feelings of being a patient in our medical system. It emphasizes and highlights the importance of the physician-patient relationship. I gave this book 5 stars for it’s thought provoking, beautiful prose, as well as for writing it’s way through a death with utmost dignity. He strengthens his belief systems, forges stronger relationships with family and loved ones, and finds greater meaning in life once he is given this terminal diagnosis. For discussion questions, please visit book-chatter.com

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Remarkable
*by P***Y on November 12, 2025*

This book is a must-read. Wonderfully written, the story unfolds when a renowned surgeon receives a diagnosis of cancer. It is a book so honest, the grief will take your breath away. It is also so honest that your heart will soar at the beauty of life. Paul Kalanithi had much he wanted to accomplish in his work life, but even more with his wife and new baby. Dr. Kalanithi's wife, Lucy, who completed Paul's work, is my hero. She wears her grief well and has survived. A blessing. Read this book. It teaches us how to live.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beautiful and informative
*by S***E on December 25, 2025*

I re-read this book after having read it some years ago. It was a good book then, but it meant so much more this time. A little over two years ago I was diagnosed with cancer. Although I have no evidence of disease now, Paul’s story takes on a deeper meaning than it did the first time I read it. I recognize the feelings and thoughts from being diagnosed to going through treatments. It was also helpful to read what his wife experienced, because although my husband spoke to me of his feelings, there are some thoughts he never voiced.

## Frequently Bought Together

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*Store origin: SG*
*Last updated: 2026-02-17*