The Book in 3 Sentences:

1. If you’ve never considered your own mortality, this book will change that.

2. The tragedy of this story compels the reader to think deeply about their life.

3. The book is written in an end-of-life context, when the author knows his death is soon.

Top 3 Quotes:

1. “Human knowledge is never contained in one person. It grows from the relationships we create between each other and the world, and still it is never complete.”

2. “I began to realize that coming in such close contact with my own mortality had changed both nothing and everything. Before my cancer was diagnosed, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. After the diagnosis, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. But now I knew it acutely. The problem wasn’t really a scientific one. The fact of death is unsettling. Yet there is no other way to live.”

3. “…even if I’m dying, until I actually die, I am still living.”

Who Should Read It?

This book is ideally suited for anyone genuinely interested in a fantastic non-fiction book. The story is deeply captivating, as it only took me three days to finish the book, cover to cover. I’ve heard great things about Paul Kalanithi, but I most certainly underestimated the quality of his work. Even though the book is unfinished, the ending given by his wife ties it all together. Her perspective of her spouse deepens the reader’s connection to the author.

How the Book Changed Me:

Never have I ever considered my life as deeply as I have now. The plot of the book is tragic, but that is what makes it encouraging in the greatest sense. Paul Kalanithi, an accomplished neurosurgeon, knew the gravity of his illness the day he was diagnosed. As a professional, he knew his days were numbered. Despite this, he chose to live life vividly, working in the OR consistently, fighting the pain, and doing it all again the next day. Even as death drew near, he understood the importance of family. In the midst of his disease, he still chose to have a child, knowing she would never remember him.

I’m certainly not an emotional reader, but this book could absolutely bring someone to tears. It’s not difficult to understand why this book is as immensely popular as it is.

This book changed my perception of my own life, and I’m sure it’ll do the same for you.