Author: Paul Kalanithi

This is an autobiographical non fiction book, a memoir written by Paul Kalanithi. In his final year of neurosurgical residency in Stanford University, he was plagued with rapid weightloss, severe back and chest pains. the initial X ray revealed nothing and his health concerns were laid to rest. However toward the last few months of his residency, the symptoms return with a vengeance and eventually he is confirmed with the diagnosis of a complex form of lung cancer…. terminal stage. What follows is his struggle to find the answers…. He is caught between the doctor patient debate where he is now on the other side of the arguments as a patient in the same hospital where he had performed countless surgeries and life changing moments.

To call the write up as an emotional roller coaster is an understatement. Paul Kalanithi, often gets philosophical and his writing is influenced by the fact that he was a literature student before getting into medical studies. The Epilogue was written after his demise, by his wife Lucy Kalanithi… Its an in-depth first hand experience of dealing with terminal illness of your loved one and eventual bereavement. I couldn’t hold my tears…

A beautiful portrayal of the challenges faced overall… a must read.

Available on Amazon