Justin's Notes
Oct. 11, 2026
This is a autobiography/biography about Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon who was diagnosed with lung cancer. The majority of the book is written by Paul himself, recounting his childhood, his life going into medicine, and his cancer journey. The epilogue is written by Paul's wife, Lucy, after he passed, telling of his final weeks and what this memoir meant to him.
I had never heard of Paul before and ended up reading this because of my book club with my sis-in-law, Gracie. I really enjoyed it. Paul wrote his story in such an engaging way and especially made the more medically technical parts of his life digestible to someone without an ounce of medical capability in their brain (aka me). Ultimately, I loved his openness in his acceptance of his own mortality and how it shaped how he wanted to live and finish his life. Especially when it came to his faith and his family.
Just to warn you, this book is sad. I found myself crying in bed at 11PM reading the epilogue as Lucy details Paul's final hours. Him sitting with his family, holding his 8-month-old daughter as he passed away (I almost went and got Sawyer out of his crib and rocked him because of how sad I was but didn't risk waking him up). This memoir will quickly make you feel connected to Paul and Lucy, which I think proves to show his character and how he lived his final couple of years.
I would recommend this to anyone. It isn't a medical story; it's a human story. And I believe it is a great blessing in hearing people's stories and what was important to them in life.
