This week, I’m going to be discussing Audible’s production of David Eagleman’s Sum: Tales from the Afterlives – 40 fictional possibilities of what might await us beyond the grave.
Sum – Tales from the Afterlives
I was first drawn to this small book in its solid incarnation by a quotation from Stephen Fry on the cover – ‘You will not read a more dazzling book this year.’ The cover promised much – within this book are 40 possibilities that await us beyond death. How could I resist?
The Author
David Eagleman is an American neuroscientist who refers to himself as a ‘possiblian’, a philosophical middle ground between traditional theism and atheism, which seems to embrace all possibilities. A Guggenheim fellow, he is an expert in brain plasticity, time perception and synaesthesia. If you fear this might make Sum a complex tome, I can assure you that it is entertaining and extremely readable/listenable.
In short chapters of a just a few pages (which translates to 2 or 3 minutes on Audible), Eagleman explores aspects of existence, hope technology and love, in a way that will really get you thinking. Their brevity means that if you particularly dislike one version of what awaits you in the afterlife, then – no worries! – you are soon on to the next.
Descent of Species
By way of illustration, one of my personal favourite tales in Sum is called ‘Descent of Species’. In this version of the afterlife, you may choose whatever you would like to be incarnated into and our hero/heroine describes choosing what they believe will be a pleasant life, as a horse.
As they begin to change, however, they realise, with mounting horror, that a consequence of their transformation is that they will lose the vital understanding of what it was like to be a human, wondering what it was like to be a horse – since, when the transformation is complete, they will only think like a horse. They will never seek to be human again because they will not be able to contemplate what it is to be human with their horse brain.
The final revelation is the consideration of what magnificent extraterrestrial creature, enthralled with the idea of embarking on a simpler life, chose in the last round to be human. Deep, huh?
If this does not appeal, there are 39 other possibilities, from the heavenly to the hellish, which test your notions of what it means to live and to die.
Narration
Audible’s production of Sum is blessed by an extraordinary cast of narrators – Gillian Anderson, Emily Blunt, Nick Cave, Jarvis Cocker, Jack Davenport, Lisa Dwan, David Eagleman, Noel Fielding, Kerry Fox, Stephen Fry, Clarke Peters, Lemn Sissay and Harriet Walter. I suspect that they all represent fans of the work, who were only too happy to lend their distinctive voices. The ‘sum’ of such talent brings the scenarios to vivid life and their obvious passion for the project is apparent.
Conclusion
‘SUM has the unaccountable, jaw-dropping quality of genius.’ ( Observer)
‘This delightful, thought-provoking little collection…will haunt the reader long after the last page has been turned.’ (Alexander McCall Smith)
This is a little gem of a book – if you’ve not experienced Sum: Tales From The Afterlives before, give this Audible version a whirl.
[& Just as a little preview, next week I’m going to be covering death in an upcoming 2-part shamanic blog, so take a look at that too, as I’ll be revisiting this book in Part 1! (Once it’s posted, you’ll find the link here).]