Summary
As what Dr.Kalanithi questioned in When Breath Becomes Air, the true meaning of life is what everyone will discover and pursue for their whole life. When Breath Becomes Air is the memoir of Paul Kalanithi, a brilliant neurosurgeon and a thoughtful soul, who was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at his age of 36. This book is written at the period Paul Kalanithi fought against with his cancer bravely and positively. The first part of the book mainly narrates why he chose to become a neurosurgeon and how he grew up on his career path. Influenced by his family and his exploration of life and death, he went to the medical school after achieving the degree of literature. …show more content…
As an intelligent and thoughtful neurosurgeon, Dr.Kalanithi embraced the most important value of life and death. Even though Paul Kalanithi died, his wisdom and spirit will inspire more and more people for a long time. Dr.Kalanithi employs his own experience to teach people a lesson that as long as one keeps realizing his life value, his life will never stop. …show more content…
After he was diagnosed, he realized that he has outlived a few famous writers, but he has not written anything yet. He desired to leave the world something meaningful by words. He then decided to use his memoir to narrate what is happening to him and to examine his whole life. Paul Kalanithi asked, “If the unexamined life was not worth living, was the unlived life worth examining”(Kalanithi 207)? Writing a book about his own life was not an easy work, but it was worthwhile when the book adds values to the world. Paul Kalanithi tried to use his words to guide and inspire people when they miss their way of life. When Breath Becomes Air is a gift not only for the family of Dr.Kalanithi, but also for everyone who read it. Paul Kalanithi’s story and his philosophy encourage numerous people to insist doing everything which can realize their value of