I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though it can be a little heavy on the medicalese at times. Despite not having a medical background I was still able to follow along. 

This story is full of great quotables and the final portion of the second half of the book is enough to make a grown man cry.

Devastating

I picked this up because Dr. Kalanithi's wife was interviewed for another book I recently finished, Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn. I've also seen it recommended several times. My God! I was crying while driving and listening to the audiobook. For such a young life full of potential to be taken so soon... as Lucy, Paul's wife said in the epilogue: "Paul's death was tragic, but he is not a tragedy." Even before his diagnosis, he thoughtfully pondered what it would feel like to be on the receiving end of either great, collaborative care, or the care that unfortunately seems to be the standard in the US (far too short, not collaborative and open between doctor and patient, etc). Because of his deep love of literature, Paul's writing was deep and reflective, approaching his terminal diagnosis and death with nuance rarely seen. 

I mourn for the contributions Dr. Kalanithi could have made to neurosurgery, science and literature. He deserved more years! 

This was a good but sad read. In the last chapters, Kalanithi's hope for his future and the longevity of his survival gave me hope that he had survived long enough to see his daughter grow, at least a little bit. Finishing the book and learning it was published posthumously was heartbreaking. Kalanithi is eloquent and transparent about his struggles with grappling with the loss of a life he treasured right at the cusp of what should have been him thriving.