Wednesday, October 9, 2019

When Breath becomes Air

Author: Paul kalanidhi

Oh, what a mind bloooowwwing book!!

The book accounts the details of a Neuroscientist from his childhood in a countryside suburb (Oh, what fun it is to grow up in the countryside, with lush greenery, hills and valleys, amidst strange creatures and water and snakes - the episode where Paul and his brother catch a snake in their pillow case is a shrill thrill!), to his graceful acceptance of the inevitable. And what a ride it is, man! The confusions, the perils, the decisions - the toughest decisions are the decisions we take for the others. 

The afterword from his wife, Lucy Kalanithi is a fitting end to the book - an account of Paul's last moments that I read and re-read several times. Although unfortunate, it is so warming to see a family stand by a man - a very successful man- in the face of adversity.

I am sure I will go back reading the book several times. This will be in my list of go to book of wisdom. 

I am still digesting the book, may write in detail at a later point in time.


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