Sum

What an unexpected delight! Much like [b:Gathering Moss 87040 Gathering Moss A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses Robin Wall Kimmerer https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1387714999s/87040.jpg 84013] this is a book I'd never heard of and, had I heard of it, would've quickly dismissed as not worth bothering with. Like Gathering Moss, I read it based on the urging of a close friend; and in both cases, wow, am I ever grateful.To begin with: [b:Sum 4948826 Sum Forty Tales from the Afterlives David Eagleman https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320528453s/4948826.jpg 5014561] is not woo. If I had to pigeonhole it I'd call it SF but it's really so much more: forty fantasies, different what-ifs on what it's all about: are we subjects in a research experiment on love? Were we created by a god who then took off and abandoned us? By a bumbling god who is now learning from us? What if Heaven is perfectly egalitarian and just—could we stand it? Whimsical and quirky. Richly fantastic, thought-provoking. Multi-toned: at times funny, other times gloomy or bitterly cynical. Not all the stories work for me... but maybe they will on rereading in a few years? Because this is the sort of book one needs to keep nearby, to pick up and read a story or two from time to time, put it back down, and ponder. Not in any realistic sense, but in a spirit of reflection on who we are.

[a:David Eagleman 2883386 David Eagleman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1238026723p2/2883386.jpg] presents a number of possibilities for what life might be like after we die. No single scenario is more likely or more believable than any other. Instead, you choose to ponder what afterlife you might hope for, or dread. One's initial impressions might consider this a “spiritual” book because of its overwhelming mentions of God, gods, Heaven, and Hell, but overall I think the novel fits more in the science fiction or fiction category. Someone who is looking for the book to either affirm or disaffirm their own beliefs about what happens when we die would be sorely disappointed– the stories are just overall contemplative, some fun and some major bummers. My only criticism is in the format of the book. It is short in length and contains 40 “micro chapters” that are never longer than a few pages. Some of the stories feel repetitive or a rehashing of a previous theme, and others are so engaging that you wish the author would continue on, but is then stopped by his own limitation of keeping its chapter so brief. I would love to read a follow-up that expands on 5-10 of the original 40 stories. Overall, worth reading and definitely worth keeping a copy for the shelf. I look forward to coming back to a few stories over time and seeing how my feelings about them change.

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.

Enlighting book which takes an entertaining look at what the afterlife looks like, beside the black and white view of heaven and hell.
The first few stories are really fun and entertaining and make you eager to read all the different views the author has on the afterlife.
However, this certainly is a book you should read at a leisurely pace, with a story every now and then, as otherwise it becomes quite repetitive.