Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives

Funny, poignant, mind-expanding journey through possibility space

I heard the author on NPR and loved the fact that he said his mission was to "celebrate the vastness of our ignorance" and "shine the flashlight around the possibility space". So I picked up the book and was not disappointed. The 40 stories in this book are extremely mind-stretching, but never in a heavy-handed way -- they are always spun out with humor and unexpected turns and twists.
In this book, the author makes the clever move of using the afterlife as a playing field in which to highlight the character of our current lives. Each story takes an imaginative, unexpected starting point (like, God is a married couple, or God is the size of a bacterium) and extrapolates that out in a tightly-written narrative where you are the main character. And then, just when you think you understand the trajectory of the story, there is a poignant twist in the final lines that makes you re-think the whole thing. I found the structure of this book brilliant and enviable. Through telling 40 contradictory stories of what an afterlife could be, the author sends a message that it's appropriate to be expansive in our thinking rather than boxed in. Two thumbs up from me for this lovely book.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Wow

This book is a compilation of "theories" about what happens after we die. It's amazing, unique, funny, and kept my interest thoroughly. It's chapters are short, (2-3 pages) and light-hearted. I strongly recommend this book to anyone with a sense of humor, a love for irony, and something a little off kilter. It doesn't bash the believing world, but it gives one something to think about.
Whether your looking for something different for the reader that has it all, or just looking for a change of pace, this book is it.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Amazing Book-exercise your imagination and openness

"Sum" is imaginative and thought provoking. I absolutely love it; Definately a new favorite. Eagleman questions, or theorizes, different possible outcomes of after life. Each and every story really makes you wonder what life is really about, while simultaneously pushing any preemptive or preconceived understandings about life after death so far in the back of your brain that you actually have the necessary space, time and comfort to actually consider possibilites that weren't force fed to you in church. I love this book; "Mirrors" is my favorite story. I couldn't (still can't) put this book down!

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Imaginative

'SUM' was a wonderful pleasure! Each and every story is uniquely crafted and handled. Every story is different, each only a page to 3 pages long. Short and sweet. This is definitely on my list of favourites. I recommend this book to anyone with an open mind!

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

What drivel

Bought this book expecting intelligent and/or entertaining ideas. It is neither.
Absolute crap!
The only poisitive is that the cnapters as well as the book are mercifully short.
If it were a paper book, it wouldn't even be worthy of use for papering a bird cage.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

buy this book- buy ten and give them to everyone you like

I love this book! Little bites of bliss. Each story is more thought provoking than the last.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Loved this book!

David eagleman is a genius. This book and every story contained within it is remarkably insightful and should definitely be on your must read list.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Incredible

Deep, funny, beautiful, surprising, life-changing.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Incredible!

I loved almost every story and have gifted this book to many friends. Perfect for a quick and though-provoking read.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Read this book!

"Sum" is astonishing, brilliant, creative and fun to read! I recommend it absolutely!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very thought-provoking...

Whether you believe in an afterlife or not, this account of 40 possible scenarios will definitely make you think... and bring a smile to your face at times.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Thought Inducing

I really enjoyed this collection. Even though the only reason I picked it up was because I met the author's mother. That aside, I'm glad I found it. The book was interesting and made me think a little differently about things.

Forty-first tale

In the forty-first tale from the afterlife, Fredric Brown is reincarnated as David Eagleman.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not Clever Enough

Though some of the stories are clever enough too many of them feel forced - as if the author struggled to find enough variants on the afterlife theme to compose a book. I bought the book on the strength of a review in the Wall Street Journal but I was generally disappointed. A few gems but a lot of slag.

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