What is death? The commonly shared definition of death is the moment a living object is no longer alive. But the definition of death is complex, and it is debated back and forth what death actually means. Published in 2016, Paul Kalanithi When Breath Becomes Air is the story of Paul himself, who is an upcoming medical student, and who aspires to find the true meaning of death. After earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Stanford, Paul is faced with the decision of whether to earn a Master’s in English or become a medical student. Paul chooses to become a medical student because he knows that he will experience death many times, and he thinks the only way to truly understand death is to be able to control it like a doctor can. But
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He experiences back spasms, and in a period of six months, he loses enough weight to cinch his belt two notches tighter. He suspects that he has cancer even before he sees a doctor. Following his diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer, Paul and Lucy decide to have a child, Cady. Paul’s cancer is stabilized from Tarceva, and he returns to work, hoping to go back to the way things were. Paul’s cancer diagnosis causes his career to run off course, but it gives him time to write and summarize the events of his life in this book. Paul describes what it means to be human when dealing with a life-changing experience that strips and completely changes his identity. Eventually, Paul succumbs to his illness. He died in March of 2015. (My kindle does not show Page …show more content…
In the book, Paul strives to find the meaning of life by understanding death. This book can help people understand what death is because the book is written by someone experiencing it. Readers of this of this book can empathize with people in their own life than experience death. People that read this can be given a new appreciation for the life they are living and treat others as they would wish to be treated. Our culture is generally hostile when meeting new people, but after reading this book perhaps people of our culture will realize that everyone has a story and that it is wrong to be quick to judge
He experiences back spasms, and in a period of six months, he loses enough weight to cinch his belt two notches tighter. He suspects that he has cancer even before he sees a doctor. Following his diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer, Paul and Lucy decide to have a child, Cady. Paul’s cancer is stabilized from Tarceva, and he returns to work, hoping to go back to the way things were. Paul’s cancer diagnosis causes his career to run off course, but it gives him time to write and summarize the events of his life in this book. Paul describes what it means to be human when dealing with a life-changing experience that strips and completely changes his identity. Eventually, Paul succumbs to his illness. He died in March of 2015. (My kindle does not show Page …show more content…
In the book, Paul strives to find the meaning of life by understanding death. This book can help people understand what death is because the book is written by someone experiencing it. Readers of this of this book can empathize with people in their own life than experience death. People that read this can be given a new appreciation for the life they are living and treat others as they would wish to be treated. Our culture is generally hostile when meeting new people, but after reading this book perhaps people of our culture will realize that everyone has a story and that it is wrong to be quick to judge