Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman. | (Mon 12 Jan 2026 08:00)

---

Honestly, it's one of the most captivating, thought-provoking books I've read in a long time! This isn't your typical heavy philosophical tome - it's a slim, elegant collection of exactly 40 ultra-short stories, each one spanning just 1-2 pages, yet every single tale packs an emotional and intellectual punch that lingers for days.

David Eagleman, a renowned neuroscientist, unleashes his boundless imagination here. Forget the usual clichés of pearly gates, harps, or eternal fire — these afterlives are wildly original, often hilarious, sometimes unsettling, and always deeply clever. One scenario imagines God as a tiny microbe drifting obliviously through the universe, unaware that entire civilizations worship Him. Another portrays our creators as a bumbling, not-so-bright alien species who engineered humans simply to answer questions they couldn't figure out themselves. There's a version where you spend eternity watching the world unfold in real time from the afterlife, powerless to intervene. Yet another shuffles every moment of your life like a randomized playlist, forcing you to experience joy and pain in unpredictable order. And then there's the one where God turns out to be a married couple in the midst of cosmic relationship counseling.

What makes Sum so brilliant is its refusal to preach or settle on any single "truth." Eagleman presents these dazzling possibilities without judgment, inviting you to laugh, squirm, wonder, and ultimately reflect on your own existence. Questions about identity, memory, time, free will, meaning, and the nature of divinity bubble up naturally as you turn the pages. It's playful yet profound, witty yet poignant.

If you're someone who enjoys self-reflection, this book will feel like a delicious feast for the mind. And if introspection isn't usually your thing? Trust me — Sum has a sneaky way of drawing you in anyway, leaving you staring at the ceiling long after you've finished.

I savored it slowly, reading one or two tales per sitting, letting each one sink in. At under 100 pages total, it's the perfect book to carry around or dip into whenever you need a fresh perspective on life itself.

Highly recommend picking up a copy — it's short, brilliant, endlessly re-readable, and guaranteed to change how you see the everyday world around you. 

My display image which shows stunning visuals that capture the book's surreal, cosmic vibe:
And some dreamy, otherworldly illustrations to spark your imagination about those infinite afterlives.

Seriously, do yourself a favor and dive into Sum. It’s a small book that leaves a massive impression.