Sum: Forty Tales From The Afterlives Philosophical Short Stories Collection Book

Sum: Forty Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives Tales from the Afterlives is a thought-provoking paperback edition for curious readers who love imaginative fiction, philosophy, and short-form storytelling. Perfect for parents, teachers, book club members, or anyone searching for a memorable gift set addition to their bookshelf, this brand-new paperback offers forty inventive scenarios of life after death that spark conversation and reflection. It’s ideal for bedtime reading, classroom discussion, or quiet moments of contemplation.

This paperback edition presents forty compact, surprising tales that explore what might happen when life doesn’t end the way we expect. Each short vignette reframes ideas about identity, memory, time, and morality — sometimes funny, sometimes unsettling, always inventive. Whether you’re a fan of literary short stories or a reader intrigued by speculative concepts, these afterlives will stay with you long after the last page.

About the stories

In these forty imagined afterlives you may discover a range of possibilities: God as the size of a microbe and oblivious to your presence; an afterlife composed solely of the people you remember; a world where you are split into every age you’ve ever been; one where you are reconstructed from credit-card records; and even afterlives where you must live with irritating versions of yourself representing what you might have become. Each tale functions as a miniature parable, designed to be read independently yet resonant as a whole collection.

About the author

David Eagleman is a neuroscientist at Stanford University, an internationally bestselling author, and a Guggenheim Fellow. He wrote and presented The Brain, an Emmy-nominated PBS/BBC series that explores what it means to be human from a neuroscientific perspective. Eagleman’s research includes time perception, vision, synesthesia, and the intersection of neuroscience with the legal system. He is the author of Livewired, Sum, Incognito, The Brain, and The Runaway Species, and his podcast Inner Cosmos recently reached #1 on the U.S. science podcast charts. Readers trust Eagleman’s work for its blend of scientific insight and imaginative reach.

Product details

• Title in this Set: Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives
• Condition: BRAND NEW
• Format: Paperback
• ISBN: 9781847674272

Why readers love this paperback edition

• Forty bite-sized tales—perfect for short reading sessions or group discussion.
• Combines neuroscience-informed ideas with imaginative storytelling from a bestselling author.
• Great for sparking conversation in classrooms, book clubs, or family gatherings.
• An accessible paperback edition that makes a thoughtful gift for curious minds.

Whether you’re buying for a philosophy-loving friend, a teenager exploring big questions, or building a home library of unforgettable short fiction, this paperback edition of Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives offers a compact, stimulating reading experience. It’s a timeless keepsake that invites repeated reading and lively discussion—an ideal present for readers who enjoy stories that linger in the imagination.