‘When Breath Becomes Air’ by Paul Kalanithi. Another Pulitzer Prize finalist. How original. The cover is so minimalist, it’s like the designer forgot to add actual design elements. We have a single feather – a feather!  Nothing says “gripping read” like a tiny piece of bird fluff.

And the title. “When Breath Becomes Air.” Really? What does that even mean? Is it supposed to be poetic or profound? Sounds more like a failed attempt at writing haiku.

This book better be filled with groundbreaking insights because the cover certainly isn’t doing it any favors. It’s like the visual equivalent of an empty room with beige walls.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Summary: “When Breath Becomes Air” presents itself with a painfully understated cover that tries to be profound but ends up looking like it was designed by a first-year art student. Here’s hoping the content inside lives up to its lofty ambitions.