Paul struggles with whether to be a doctor or a writer — how does his terminal diagnosis ultimately resolve or complicate that tension?
Paul writes about the moment he transitions from doctor to patient. How does that shift change his understanding of medicine?
Paul asks: "What makes life meaningful enough to go on living?" How does his answer evolve throughout the book?
How does the study of literature and medicine provide different paths to understanding the meaning and purpose of life?
Why is the obvious not so obvious when it pertains to you?
What were the role of books in Paul’s life? What can books not provide?
How did Paul grapple with the concept of identity? Did his identity change or stay the same?
Paul comes from a Christian background but engages seriously with doubt. How would you describe his spiritual worldview by the end?
How does uncertainty about how long he has to live affect how he tries to live? Could you relate to his difficulty planning without a timeline?
How does the book challenge or reinforce your assumptions about what makes a "good" doctor?
Why do Paul and Lucy decide to have a child after his diagnosis? What does that choice say about how they define hope?
Lucy's epilogue adds another layer to the story. How did her perspective change or deepen your reading of Paul's narrative?
Paul chooses to spend some of his remaining time writing this book. What do you think he most wanted readers to take away?
The title comes from a line of poetry. What does "breath becoming air" mean to you after finishing the book?