Why people recommend it
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi is a profound memoir by a young neurosurgeon facing a terminal cancer diagnosis that explores mortality, meaning, and the experience of dying. Pamela Paul mentioned the book on The Book Review multiple times, comparing it favorably to other works in terms of emotional resonance, praising its status as a top non-fiction bestseller, and noting in a theme issue on love and death that the memoir would make anyone cry. Anthony Pompliano spoke on the Lex Fridman Podcast, praising it as one of the best books ever written and discussing its handling of mortality and time. On ChooseFI, Devin brought up reading the book during the hot seat segment, describing it as phenomenal. Judith Newman referenced the recent bestselling book about dying as a guest on The Book Review, while Andrew Solomon highlighted it as a profound exploration of dying. Greg Coles also discussed the book on The Book Review, predicting it would hit the bestseller list and noting the tragic circumstances of the author, who was a doctor that died young. Overall, multiple podcast hosts and guests frequently returned to the memoir to reflect on its powerful examination of life's final chapters.
Who recommended it
- Pamela Paul Recommended
- Greg Cowles Discussed
- Judith Newman Discussed
- Andrew Solomon Discussed
- Anthony Pompliano Recommended
Pamela Paul — 3 mentions
“it's a little bit like if when breath becomes air by Paul colony was your thing then then this is for you”
“I want to talk just uh really quickly about the the top books on the non-fiction side because they are I'm showing my card such great books it's really nice to see we've got when breath becomes erab by Paul Colony”
“it had in that issue ù ù paul colony's when breath becomes air ù a memoir that came out earlier this year which is would make anyone cry”
Greg Cowles — 2 mentions
“and I expect death will return to the list again next week when I imagine Paul Ken's book when breath becomes air hits the list yeah that's book that's getting a lot of attention Paul keni of course um the Doctor Who died young”
“at the top of the list Paul Kony uh stays at number one with when breath becomes air his posterous published account of his battle against cancer”
Judith Newman — 1 mention
“more recently Paul colony's book when breath becomes air”
Andrew Solomon — 1 mention
“and when breath becomes air by Paul Colony”
Anthony Pompliano — 1 mention
“and then i think one of the best books probably ever written is uh i think it's called when breath becomes air um or air becomes breath”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 1
“And then I guess a non-like self-help book that I read recently was When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, and it's just phenomenal.”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- Being Mortal
- Dark Money
- Go Set A Watchman
- Infinite jest
- The road to Little Dribbling
- To Kill a Mockingbird
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“a book that you predicted would be on the list this week uh Paul Ken's book when breath becomes air”
“one is there's a lot of really great non-fiction on the list right now when breath becomes there”