Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

269 reviews

naviinthebooks's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad

4.75

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electrifyingpenguin's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

A beautifully written memoir exploring the meaning of life. As a neurosurgeon, Paul had great respect for the integrity and autonomy of his patients, and as a patient himself, he reflects on what makes life meaningful enough to go on living, which dreams to continue striving for and which to let go of in the face of his diagnosis. Although this book is an unfinished project, Paul imparted the integrity he had as a physician through his words. When the odds are stacked against you and you know you'll lose, "you can believe in an asymptote toward which you are ceaselessly striving." 
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nshumake23's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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emzand's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

A very difficult read both due to the subject matter and the authors writing style which is quite philosophical, technical and high brow.  not something i usually read and i struggled in the first half. The second half is a devastating look at mortality and death, with the ending being some of the most amazing prose ive read.

I wish Paul'd had time to say everything he wanted, but what he did, was beautiful. 
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stacylaughs's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

This book has some really sad moments and a lot of reflective, thoughtful moments. Glad to have read it.
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apberniard's review against another edition

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4.0

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hollydyer328's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

I cried at the end of this, and I NEVER cry from books! This was so beautiful! Paul Kalanithi used his experience as a neurosurgeon and his battle with terminal cancer to explore what gives life meaning in the face of death. A lot of his thinking about how the brain goes from anatomical to spiritual in giving humans identity and meaning was very profound (if graphic at times). It all blended beautifully with what gave his own life meaning as he faced death. I can’t believe he was able to write such thought-provoking and emotionally-resonant material in the last moments of his life. He truly left a lasting legacy and a gift to humanity. 
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eeeeeli_is_probably_lonely's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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puifaii's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

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peri_winkle's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

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