Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman
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Book Reviews of Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives
Book Review: A magnificent conceit
Summary: 4 Stars
Every writer manqué is probably thinking "Doh! Why didn't I think of this!" because in retrospect, like all the best ideas, it seems like a wonderful construct for writing a series of short stories.
But we didn't think of it, David Eagleman did, and more power to his elbow for doing so.
As other reviewers have written, this is a very thought provoking set of alternate afterlives that have been imagined here. So much so, that while I suspect that the healthiest way to approach this book would be like a box of chocolates, showing restraint and only consuming one every now and again by way of a treat, in reality I devoured the whole lot in just a couple of sittings. That's a tribute to both the style and the content.
Finally, I defy anyone reading the story "Encore" not to shiver just a little, not least because statistically speaking the universe depicted there is actually quite plausible, indeed quite likely (cf. Nick Bostrom's meaningful musings).
Book Review: An Interesting Series of Thought Experiments
Summary: 4 Stars
Interested in the nature of existence and the meaning of life? Well, this book won't give you any answers, but it will likely provoke some thought on the issue. "Sum" contains 40 very short passages (1-3 pages) that each posit different afterlife scenarios. These scenarios are designed to make you think about how we're currently living our lives (as individuals and as a society), the basic assumptions we make about everyday situations, the nature of God, and what lies await for us after death. It compiles a series of inventive and unusual "what-ifs" that, with some contemplation, may get you thinking more philosophically about your world. Recommended for armchair philosophers, theologians, and people who are interested in questioning their own belief systems.Book Review: Entertaining stories, perfect length for before bed!
Summary: 4 Stars
These light, philosophical vignettes made for entertaining bedtime reading, when I wanted to unwind and forget the banality of the day. It didn't strain my brain like a doctoral thesis, but it did make me think about things in a new way. If you have older children, reading these to them might also be a good idea, because most have a moral lesson. A few of the stories were less inspiring, but most were quite good. I particularly liked Reversal, which makes the point that what we remember about our lives is not necessarily the truth, but a version of it that we made.Book Review: Give Sum points for originality
Summary: 4 Stars
Sum is a simple, highly original book. It's composed of 40 short passages each describing a possible afterlife. They are quite varied and sometimes thought-provoking. There is a bit of humor, but the best thing about Sum is its brevity. The novella makes perfect bed-time reading so long as the reader doesn't think too hard about what happens after death. Author David Eagleman may have a real future in writing.Book Review: A new look at afterlife
Summary: 4 Stars
I thought this would read differently than it did - thinking in terms of people who died and came back to life. I enjoyed the different vignettes of the various possibilities of afterlife. It is a quick read and a good book for any book club. I thought it was real thought provoking and provides a glimpse into how your current morals and perceptions make some of the vignettes more plausible than others.