Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives

Sum presents forty vignettes depicting different possible afterlives. Each scenario is designed to offer a perspective on how we understand ourselves in the present. The afterlives imagined in these tales vary widely. In some, God exists as a microbe with no awareness of human existence. In others, people serve as background characters in other people's dreams, or God appears as a married couple. Some scenarios feature a universe running in reverse, or force individuals to spend eternity with alternate versions of themselves they find irritating. Neuroscientist David Eagleman uses these imaginative stories to examine the human condition and reflect light on contemporary life. The collection combines humor, melancholy, and disquieting elements throughout.