When Breath Becomes Air Free Audiobook Download by Paul Kalanithi

When Breath Becomes Air explores Paul Kalanithi's experience in medicine and how it inspired him to pursue a writing career. This is a must read for anyone interested in or considering the medical profession.

This audiobook tells the story of Paul Kalanithi, a young neurosurgeon and son of Indian immigrants, who is diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 36. He becomes obsessed with sticking to his schedule because he sees this as his chance to achieve real success. His struggles through treatment were relatable for anyone whose struggling with a terminal illness that does not have an easy solution.

"The book chronicles the arc of Paul's life from his medical school graduation in the first chapter to his death in the last. His fortitude and ability to see the world with a philosophical eye is one of many qualities that makes this such an exceptional story."

In When Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithi begins by describing his life and what it was like to be a doctor. He starts off his story with an account of his time at Stanford University, where he met his wife when she came in for her first day of medical school. They both were introduced to the world of medicine, and eventually met each other. As he goes on the describe the various paths that lead up to him becoming a doctor, he describes how life had given him so many opportunities but also taken them away from him as well. This book is about being confronted with death and suicide in such a way that most people will never experience it.

Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon and professor at Stanford, begins his memoir with the death of his mother and the diagnosis of a stage IV lung cancer. He paints his childhood memories as blissful and idyllic, until he realizes that he has no idea what happiness means. As Kalanithi's health deteriorates dramatically in front of him, he takes a step back to assess the meaning of life for himself--a task that not even death can prepare him for.

The main character, Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon by profession, is on the verge of death. The last entry in his journal is about becoming a parent and also about him losing his ability to contribute intellectually to society. It was this last entry that convinced him that he needed to take drastic measures in order to live. He decided to stop working and went through with his plan of "leaving medicine" before dying.