Day 4 of the Countdown – 4 Days Left until launch
I like the Silo series.
I’ve read the books. I’ve watched the show.
And I get the appeal — the suspense, the mystery, the tension… it’s gripping.
But I have to ask:
Do we really want to live in a bunker?
Cut off from the sky. From the Earth. From each other. (spoiler alert:) Do we really want to obliterate the whole of humanity with nanotechnology and move underground for hundreds of years…? Maybe we instead can use nanotechnology to help save humanity and the planet…?
Maybe I like dystopias like Silo because they make the contrast so clear.
They remind me of what I don’t want.
And that helps me clarify what I do want.
And when we step out of fiction and look at what people actually say brings meaning to their lives, the answers are remarkably consistent:
📊 Here’s what global and U.S. research shows people truly value:
1. Family and Relationships
In most countries, family is the number one source of meaning. In the U.S., it’s consistently first.
2. Health and Well-being
A global Ipsos survey showed health and wellness as the top contributor to happiness worldwide.
3. Purposeful Work
71% of Americans say work they enjoy is key to a fulfilling life.
4. Friendship and Community
61% of U.S. adults name close friendships as essential.
5. Financial Stability
Important, but never the whole story. It’s what supports the deeper things.
———
Waking Up is about building a world that reflects these values.
Not a bunker. Not a silo.
A world rooted in joy, community, meaning, and care.
Today marks 4 days left until the book is released.
And since we are HALFWAY ON DAY 4 WITH 4 DAYS LEFT, I would like to share the whole of chapter 4 with you. Ben has collapsed tucking his 4 year old daughter in and has been rushed to the hospital to commence his plan… Please enjoy:
4 .Transition
Hectic activity filled the hospital environment. Ben had just been declared dead, and his body was rushed to the preparation room. He was rolled down a hallway surrounded by doctors and nurses in hurried conversation. Bags of ice surrounded his pale face, his eyes closed, lifeless.
“Quick, quick, we have to get him to the preparation room,” the doctor urged, running alongside the gurney.
They arrived at the room where the cryonic staff waited, their movements precise and practiced. The attending doctor addressed the cryonic specialist.
“He’s declared dead now. He’s all yours. What are his chances?”
As the team began to drain Ben’s body fluids, the cryonic doctor spoke, his tone calm but optimistic. “Well, with the techniques we have available today, it’s not impossible he can be revived sometime in the future. We replace his fluids with cryoprotectants and vitrify his body to minimize cell damage.”
The attending doctor watched, intrigued but skeptical. “Well, I wish him the best of luck.”
The sound of hissing tubes and the faint hum of machinery filled the air as liquid nitrogen vapors curled around the cryonic tank.
A worker carefully rolled the tank into storage, its surface gleaming under the dim lights. It joined a long row of identical tanks, standing like silent sentinels in the dark space. A small panel on its side blinked steadily, indicating that the freezing process was commencing.
The cryonic tank settled into place, surrounded by a faint mist of liquid nitrogen. As the storage room fell silent, the world outside carried on, transforming in ways Ben could never have imagined.
While he remained in stasis, the Earth continued to spin, and humanity faced both its darkest challenges and brightest transformations. In the wake of war, famine, and pollution, a profound shift began. Conflict gave way to cooperation, as people around the globe worked together to rebuild a world worth living in.
Deserts started to green, reclaimed by flourishing ecosystems. Forests grew dense and vibrant, while clean rivers wound their way through the land due to pollution being completely halted. Cities rose anew, powered by sustainable technologies, their designs harmonizing with nature rather than conquering it. Across the skies, the sun rose and sat over landscapes that teemed with life, a testament to human collaboration and ingenuity.
A century passed in an instant for Ben, his frozen form unaware of the new world taking shape outside his tank. Yet, the Earth itself bore witness to the transformation, evolving into something far greater than what he had ever imagined…
If this resonates with you, you can preorder Waking Up for just $0.99 until May 2. And read the whole story.
We’re at 19 preorders. The goal is 200. Please don’t hesitate.
What do we actually want?
Maybe it starts with asking the right questions…
📘 Waking Up launches May 2.
Stay tuned for a new excerpt tomorrow…
