My Next Breath: A Memoir

Renner reflects on how major life events affect not just the individual but ripple outward to impact loved ones, and he traces the personal qualities and life experiences that prepared him to survive such a catastrophic incident.

He emphasizes that the accident traumatized his entire circle of family and friends. The accident forced everyone in his life to confront mortality and fragility. Since he caused this collective trauma, albeit unintentionally, Renner believes his primary responsibility became healing not just himself, but helping others recover from what they experienced.

Renner examines the formative experiences and personality traits that equipped him for this challenge. He describes spending time at his father’s bowling alley, McHenry Bowl, in California’s Central Valley. Though he became skilled at bowling by age 12, competing against professionals, his perfectionist tendencies led to explosive frustration when he performed below his standards. Rather than accepting bowling as a recreational activity, he walked away entirely because he refused to do anything at which he could not excel. This pattern reflects Renner’s broader philosophy: He avoids activities in which he cannot achieve mastery, viewing hobbies as worthless pursuits. He argues that discovering what one does not want to do proves as valuable as identifying strengths and passions.