These are some of the books I've read during my illness. I'm interested in first-person experiences about how to face the final stage, when there's nothing more to be done, and how to deal with thoughts about the loved ones one leaves behind.
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch: I recommend this book to anyone. I read it in 2009. If you're more into videos, it's on YouTube
The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy: A classic, it seems. Short.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi: An emotional bomb. So far, it's the closest to what I'm looking for.
Before I Go by Paul Kalanithi: A summary essay of the previous book.
The Art of Dying Well: Written in 1619, it leans towards the religious side of Christianity. Not recommended unless you're a believer, and even then, it doesn't offer muchā¦ At least it's short.
No cure for being human: Reflections on living with incurable cancer, challenging the cultural obsession with control and certainty.
24 Minutes on the Other Side by Tessa Romero: The author, being clinically dead for 24 minutes, somehow remains conscious on another plane of reality. She miraculously comes back to life and remembers what she experienced during that time.
Those who know me are aware that, with those premises, I had low expectations before reading the book. And indeed, the parts where she talks about her experience during those 24 minutesā¦ well, they didnāt quite convince me. However, I was drawn to other parts of her story. Diagnosed with a serious and unknown illness, she was given only a few months to live.
I strongly related to her feelings and thoughts during that period. I also found the stories she shares about other peopleās near-death experiences to be very interesting. And thereās a chapter thatās quite compelling and useful for those left behind and how they can cope with grief.
Nevertheless, much of the bookās message is based on the belief that there is something after death, and that is something I donāt believe in.
A pity to be so skeptical. Still, Iām glad I read the book. Of those Iāve read so farāaside from The Last Lectureāthis might be the one I liked the most, even if that sounds contradictory.