Reviews - Sum: Forty Tales From The Afterlives

815 reviews for:

Sum: Forty Tales From The Afterlives

Sum, a collection of stories about "surprising" afterlives by neuroscientist David Eagleman, celebrates science, ideas, and the imagination, aiming to stretch the reader's. Eagleman presents various afterlife scenarios, nudging readers to think beyond the ordinary. He suggests imagining God in unconventional ways, like as a married couple. At one extreme, God exists as a microbe, unaware of our existence, while at the other, a towering Giantess, beyond our reach and comprehension. The afterlife accommodates a diverse array of beings and objects, from humble toasters to majestic grand pianos. Gods from human stories find a place in this book too. There's room for perplexity, such as when a committee, guided by angels, questions God's capacity to determine the fate of souls. Embracing a middle ground between belief and disbelief, Eagleman promotes exploring multiple ideas simultaneously, which if nothing else is an interesting position. Sum brings a light-hearted touch to discussions about the afterlife, emphasizing the importance of how we live our lives here and now, much like indirect call-to-actions in other favorites, such as [b:The Remains of the Day|28921|The Remains of the Day|Kazuo Ishiguro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327128714l/28921._SY75_.jpg|3333111]. It encourages curiosity and reminds us to make the most of life on Earth, no matter what comes next.

carissapffffft's review against another edition

4.0

reflective fast-paced

zellreads's review against another edition

3.0

Interesting thought experiments but not well fleshed out. This book goes in 40 different directions that could all be interesting but it feels like you're being given sketches rather than a fleshed out idea.

leovonahn's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

moscat's review against another edition

5.0

An incredible achievement. Each story is a mere handful of pages but creates a fascinating vision of the afterlife. Some are comic, some nihilistic, some horror, all thought-provoking.

In some the afterlife is a hell for the dead, in others a hell for God. One would not be out of place in a Yellow King collection. Love, technology, the nature of creation, the unanswerable.

Everyone should read this. It packs so many ideas into 100 pages, a genuine joy for your brain.