When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanathi is a work of non-fiction. Therefore most things that are referenced within it are drawn from real world experience. However, names have been changed from their real life counterparts.
At the beginning of the book though, the text "Caelica 83" is quoted before the first chapter. This is a poem written by Baron Brooke Fulke Greville, and its longer title is "Caelica 83: You that seek what life is in death."
There are also references in early chapters to TS Eliot's fictional writings, including "The Wasteland."
Most of the anecdotes and stories told throughout the book though are based on Dr Kalanathi's memories. But, for privacy reasons, details about the patients' lives, medical histories, and so on have been changed for the book.
No. The book ‘When Breath Becomes Air’ is an autobiographical book that narrates the life of the author, Paul Kalanthi. In the book, the author gives a narration about his life. He talks about being diagnosed with lung cancer, a terminal illness at the age of thirty six. Paul was a talented scientist; he was awarded for his postdoctoral research. Also, the author doubled up as a writer; prior to joining his medical training, he had already earned two degree in English literature hence his consideration to pursue writing as a career. Kalanth’s story is non-fictional because he touches the hearts of the readers with his memoir. The readers get to know him well when he talks not only about his journey as a doctor and later as a patient but also his role as the head of a family, a husband.
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