Jamieson Webster’s On Breathing transforms a simple biological function into a profound meditation on existence, connection, and crisis. Blending memoir, psychoanalysis, and environmental reflection, Webster explores breath as both necessity and metaphor—linking personal vulnerability with global urgency. Her experiences as an asthmatic, deep-sea diver, and palliative psychologist shape a narrative that is both intimate and expansive. In an age of anxiety and ecological peril, she reminds us that breathing is not just individual but deeply communal. Lyrical and thought-provoking, On Breathing is a vital exploration of dependence, resilience, and the unseen forces that sustain us. A really good read.

Well-written and engaging contribution to the growing genre of science writing that draws on other disciplines. More emphasis on psychoanalytic theory than I anticipated, so not a good fit for teaching in my health humanities course that doesn't introduce students to that framework.

An interesting mashup of meditation, research, memoir, and psychology. Lyrically written. An unusual and interesting nonfiction pick.

Interesting book with a fascinating mix of memoir and reporting and the writer's psychoanalytic background informed the text in interesting ways.