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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
This was a really odd book- at times, it made me laugh, and others, it touched deep nerves! A really interesting concept that made me think. I kind of want to write extra chapters for it now…
Boring. Negative. Hyper-cynical. I didn't find it offensive--I'm not religious--it just wasn't fun to read. Every time I got to the end of a chapter, I'd think, "I would NEVER want to hang out with this guy." Not to say that's a measure of a good book. It just left me with a bad feeling.
The only reason this book gets four instead of five stars is because 40 short tales of various different but similar afterlives gets a little repetitive, especially if you like to read a book quickly. Also, with 40 tales, there will inevitably be a few that aren't quite as good as others, and those will be a disappointment, because the good ones are so delightful, original, intelligent, and well-crafted. Each "tale" is succinct -- about one to two pages, and to the point. They are humorous, witty, and thought-provoking. Read the book, and try and read it slowly, a few at a time. Read it before bed, and have interesting dreams.
Forty fascinating, thought-provoking, short (most are 2-3 pages) takes on what the afterlife might look like. I found it strangely comforting to have so many new options when thinking about death. A few of the stories blended together unmemorably, but the best of them surprised me with completely novel answers for why we exist and what life means. They were witty, profound, and compassionate.
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I enjoyed this much more than I was expecting to. It's 40 (very) short takes on different kinds of afterlives (e.g., God is a microbe in one, events have afterlives in another, you can choose what being to come back to earth as in another, etc.). Eagleman's ability to create worlds within the span of a page or two is impressive. The afterlives are all clever with a bit of a twist, which starts to border on formulaic toward the end, but each one was engaging nonetheless. The stories are also about approaches to life as much as they are about afterlives. I recommend it as a quick read for something that is smart without being pretentious, intriguing, and often amusing in an intellectual kind of way.
Sublime. I'd heard a couple of these afterlife vignettes before, on the CBC's Wiretap podcast I think, and loved them. The book did not disappoint! As with any collection there are a few weaker entries, but overall this is a wonderful anthology. It was tempting to blaze straight through the whole thing, but it's much better to give yourself time to ponder each story for a while. Some of these little stories are going to stay with me for a long time.
I almost took a star off because some parts feel a little derivative of Douglas Adams, but then I decided that more Douglas Adams-influenced stories in the world can only be a good thing.
I almost took a star off because some parts feel a little derivative of Douglas Adams, but then I decided that more Douglas Adams-influenced stories in the world can only be a good thing.
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Interesting thought experiments, but literature it ain't; the prose is kind of dry and a lot of the same images/diction is recycled throughout. But for a brain-bender, it's a nice quick read.