Tag: better future

  • What Do We Actually Want? (And Do We Really Want to Live in a Bunker?)

    What Do We Actually Want? (And Do We Really Want to Live in a Bunker?)

    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.

    GET YOUR COPY

    Stay tuned for a new excerpt tomorrow…

  • LAUNCH COUNTDOWN DAY 3: 5 DAYS LEFT TO LAUNCH!

    LAUNCH COUNTDOWN DAY 3: 5 DAYS LEFT TO LAUNCH!

    This is not just a book launch. It’s a mission. And I need your help.

    In just 5 days, Waking Up goes live.

    This isn’t a big-budget release backed by a publishing empire.
    It’s me — one person, one vision, and a story I’ve carried for over a decade.
    And now, I’m asking you to help carry it out into the world.

    Amazon’s algorithm is everything.

    It’s the invisible force behind every book that breaks through — or disappears.
    And here’s the truth: the algorithm doesn’t care about hype or hope.
    It cares about numbers. It watches what people do — not what they say.

    That’s why these final days before launch matter so much.

    💡 Here’s how it actually works:

    • Preorders stack — Every preorder made before May 2. counts as a sale on launch day. This is crucial for building momentum.
    • Early momentum = visibility — The more preorders go out on launch day, the more Amazon promotes Waking Up to new readers.
    • Amazon’s algorithm is everything.
    • Just a few sincere reviews during the first 48 hours can make a massive difference.
    • Engagement matters — Clicking the link, sharing it, adding the book to your wishlist — it all adds up and tells the algorithm: this book matters.

    This isn’t about manipulating the system.
    It’s about working with it — to lift up something meaningful.
    Something that, if enough people see it, could genuinely help shift the way we imagine the future.

    So here’s what I’m asking:

    👉 Preorder the book (if you haven’t yet) — it’s just $0.99 until launch.

    PREORDER HERE


    👉 Tell someone — a friend, a family member, anyone who might resonate with the story.
    👉 Mark May 2. to leave a short review. Even one or two lines help enormously.
    👉 Visit and share wakingupstory.com — every click supports the cause.

    Whether you want to support me as a friend, or the cause — a vision for a better future on planet Earth — it only costs one dollar right now .

    📌 A special note to my friends in Norway and Sweden: I know some of you have faced frustrating challenges with ordering the book due to platform restrictions. If you’re unable to order it, I completely understand — but please don’t give up on the mission. You can still play a vital role: share it far and wide. The more people who see the link — especially in countries where ordering is easier — the better chance we have of waking something up in the world. You matter to this movement more than you know. In Norwegian:

    SIDEN DU HAR LEST SÅ LANGT SOM TIL HIT ANTAR JEG AT DU VIL HJELPE. SÅ I ET SISTE FORSØK: PRØV Å GÅ TIL AMAZON.DE OG SKRIV INN: “WAKING UP A JOURNEY TOWARDS A NEW DAWN FOR HUMANITY” I SØKEFELTET. DA SKAL DU FINNE BOKEN. OG DET BURDE VÆRE MULIG Å BESTILLE FRA NORGE. For om man skriver inn amazon.no i en nettleser vil man automatisk bli omdirigert til amazon.de. M.a.o. amazon.de er norges Amazon nettbutikk…

    Tusen takk for at du ikke har gitt opp… 🙂

    This book was written with love, fire, and faith in what’s possible.
    If it speaks to something in you — help me carry it the last five days to the world.

    We’re not just launching a book.
    We’re planting a seed.

    Let’s do this together. 💚

    🚀 Call to Action:
    Visit wakingupstory.com now and preorder Waking Up for just $0.99.
    Let’s show the algorithm what a hopeful future looks like. Or just click the link below to preorder:

    PREORDER HERE

  • LAUNCH COUNTDOWN DAY 2: 6 DAYS LEFT TO LAUNCH

    LAUNCH COUNTDOWN DAY 2: 6 DAYS LEFT TO LAUNCH

    6 DAYS  

    (a sunrise in verse) written by chatGPT. Prompted by HNS

    The sky is shifting.  

    Subtle at first —

    a breath,  

    a shimmer,  

    a whisper of light.

    We stir in our sleep,  

    not knowing the dream is ending,  

    not knowing  

    we are already waking.

    The systems we built  

    — of numbers, walls, and worth —  

    begin to crack,  

    not from violence,  

    but from the pressure of truth  

    pressing gently from within.

    Can you feel it?

    Something ancient rises  

    not to conquer,  

    but to remember.

    We were never meant  

    to sell our hours,  

    to cage our joy,  

    to fear each other  

    in the name of survival.

    We were born to belong.  

    To build without barter.  

    To give without guilt.  

    To grow without fear.

    And maybe  

    — just maybe —  

    this is the dawn  

    we’ve been waiting for.

    Only 6 days now.  

    ✨ Hold the light.  

    🌱 Preorder the book.  

    🔥 Be part of the awakening. Preorder for  Only $0,99 until May 2.2025

    PREORDER HERE

    👉

  • LAUNCH COUNTDOWN: Day one – The Final Week Begins

    LAUNCH COUNTDOWN: Day one – The Final Week Begins

     Seven days.  

     That’s all that remains between now and the release of Waking Up.  

     But this isn’t just the final stretch of a book launch. For me, it’s the closing of a much longer journey — one that began in the ashes of collapse, illness, and radical questioning. A circle that’s been quietly forming over years, finally ready to complete itself.    

     This story — born as a film script over a decade ago, then transformed through the fires of stroke, solitude, and soul — is now emerging as a novel. Not just any novel. A signal. A seed.  

    Waking Up is a message in a bottle, cast into a stormy sea, hoping to reach those who feel — deep down — that a different world is not only possible, but necessary.  

     A world beyond money, beyond control, beyond the illusions that divide us.  

     A world built on something real:  

    Gratitude. Love. Joy.  

     And now I’m asking you — heart to heart:  

     👉 Would you spend one dollar to support a vision of a better future for humanity?  

     For just $0.99, you can preorder Waking Up and help push this story into the world where it belongs.  

     This isn’t about me. It’s about us.   

    Right now we’re at 15 preorders. The goal is 200 before launch day.  

     Not because of charts, money or ego — but because every single order tells Amazon the algorithm, “This matters. People care.”  

     If this vision resonates with even a small part of you, now’s the moment. Let’s cross this threshold together.  

     Because this is more than a countdown.  

    It’s a crossing.  

     And the new world?  

     It’s closer than we think.  

     — H  

     📘 Waking Up launches May 2.  

     Preorder for $0.99 here:

     

    GET YOUR COPY
  • The Awakening Has Begun: Early Reviews and Reflections

    The Awakening Has Begun: Early Reviews and Reflections

    When you send a book out into the world, especially one as personal and daring as Waking Up, you have no idea how people will receive it. You just hope it lands in the hearts of the right readers.

    Now, with launch day still just ahead, the first Goodreads reviews are starting to come in. I wanted to share a few of them here—some glowing, some critical, all thoughtful—because they each reflect something meaningful about the conversation this book hopes to spark.

    —

    ⭐⭐ 5 stars — Rolf-Henrik Sundbye (April 20, 2025)

    > This book couldn’t have come at a better time! A science fiction novel that isn’t a dystopia, but instead offers a positive and hopeful vision, is exactly what we need right now. The story of Ben’s ‘wake-up’ is intriguing, exciting, and inspiring. How can a civilization exist without money? You can feel your curiosity start to pulse immediately. This is a book I truly recommend!

    My reflection:

    That word—”hopeful”—comes up a lot, and it means the world to me. I didn’t want to write an escape. I wanted to write a return. A re-imagining. A story that dares to believe we’re capable of more.

    —

    ⭐⭐ 5 stars — Robin Cox (April 9, 2025)

    > The idea of a moneyless, wageless, classless and stateless world has exerted a certain enduring appeal down the ages. Harald Sandø’s novel depicting such a world is the latest in a long and venerable tradition of utopian literature that explores this idea in the context of a high-tech future. The novel is well written and easy on the eye. The unfolding drama keeps the reader’s attention. It is not just the surface story that draws one in but also the deeper philosophical points that the author makes. Perhaps above all – what does it mean to be a human being? A highly recommended book!

    My reflection:

    This review speaks to the deeper roots of the book—its place in the lineage of speculative fiction that challenges dominant worldviews. And yes: the question beneath it all really is, what does it mean to be human?

    —

     ⭐⭐ 5 stars — Tore Hessen (April 8, 2025)

    > Waking Up is unlike anything I’ve read before—a profound, imaginative journey that dares to dream of a world beyond money, fear, and separation. Rather than painting a dystopian future (as so much sci-fi does), this novel offers a deeply thought-out, credible utopia grounded in emotional honesty and spiritual insight.

    >

    > The story follows Benjamin Michaels, who awakens from cryonic sleep into a completely transformed society. As he learns about the Natural Exchange System and reconnects with a humanity that has evolved beyond scarcity, I found myself questioning not just how the world works—but how I live my life. The book is rich with philosophical depth, yet remains engaging and accessible throughout.

    >

    > This isn’t just a book—it’s a call. A reminder that a better world isn’t only possible… it’s inevitable if we choose it.

    My reflection:

    This reader absolutely got the pulse of the book. That phrase—“it’s a call”—captures what I felt while writing it. It truly felt like a calling. It’s not just a future I imagined. It’s one I feel is remembering us.

    —

    ⭐⭐ 5 stars — Johan Fågelström (April 5, 2025)

     Waking Up is not just a novel—it’s a philosophical mirror disguised as fiction.

     Set in our own time, beginning in 2015, the story follows Benjamin Michaels—a man whose personal crisis leads to cryonic preservation. He awakens a century later into a profoundly transformed world: one free from money, fear, and competition. What unfolds is a carefully crafted vision of a society built on contribution, trust, and deep human connection—powered by a Natural Exchange System that feels both visionary and surprisingly grounded.

    >

    > From a storytelling perspective, the structure flows beautifully. The pacing, character arcs, and emotional rhythm are finely tuned—which makes sense, given the author’s background in film. There’s a cinematic quality to the narrative: immersive world-building, layered dialogue, and a gradual revelation that keeps the reader engaged while gently challenging their assumptions.

    >

    > What impressed me most is how the book balances entertainment with depth. It invites reflection without preaching, and explores complex ideas without losing its emotional core. Rather than offering escape, Waking Up invites introspection—daring to ask: “What if humanity actually got it right?”

    My reflection:

    That question—”What if we got it right?“—was the seed that started it all. It’s not a prediction. It’s a possibility. And stories help us rehearse possibilities.

    —

     ⭐ 2 stars — Federico Pistono (March 5, 2025)

    Waking Up is an ambitious novel with a thought-provoking premise and a bold vision for a future society. The themes it explores—utopianism, post-capitalist structures, and the transition into a world without money—have immense narrative potential. However, while the book carries a strong ideological backbone, it struggles to deliver a compelling and immersive story.

     The most significant issue lies in the characters. They feel one-dimensional, existing more as vessels for ideological exposition than as real, complex individuals… [review continues]

    My reflection:

    While I don’t share all of Federico’s conclusions, I truly appreciate the depth and care he brought to this critique. Some of his observations, especially about character depth and world-building, are worth exploring as the story evolves. This is, after all, just the beginning.

    —

     Closing Thoughts:

    I’m humbled and energized by these early responses. Some readers are feeling exactly what I hoped this story might awaken. Others are challenging me to sharpen my craft, refine my message, and grow. That’s the beauty of storytelling: it starts with one voice, but becomes a chorus.

    If you’ve read Waking Up or plan to, I’d love to hear what you think. Leave a review on Amazon, share a thought, or reach out. This isn’t just a novel. It’s a conversation about who we are—and who we might become.

    With gratitude,  

    Harald Neslein Sandø

    Preorder Waking Up for only $0,99 until launch day May 2. 2025 →

    GET YOUR COPY NOW
  • MEGA – Make Earth Great Again

    MEGA – Make Earth Great Again

    Because a truly great country wouldn’t leave the rest of the world behind.

    I’m not against making my country great again.  

    Who wouldn’t want the place they call home to thrive?

    But here’s the question:  

    Does greatness have to come at the expense of others?

    Can we redefine what greatness means — not just for one nation, but for the whole planet? INCLUDING all nations?

    Maybe it’s time for a new acronym:  

    MEGA – Make Earth Great Again.

    A world where my country still shines, but doesn’t cast a shadow over the rest.

    What is “Greatness”, Anyway?

    For far too long, “greatness” has been measured by domination.  

    The biggest GDP. The strongest military. The loudest voice at the table.

    But is that really greatness? Or is it simply hubris?

    True greatness doesn’t isolate or separate, it elevates and includes. It lifts others. It inspires collaboration, not conquest. It cultivates wisdom, not just wealth.

    What if greatness meant creating a world where all can thrive — not just a chosen few behind their own national borders?

    No Country Is Separate From the Earth

    Wanting my country to thrive is natural. But it still lives on this Earth.  

    And this Earth is shared. Interconnected. Fragile — and miraculous.

    The idea that one place can become “great” while the rest of the world suffers…  

    That’s not ambition. That’s assumption.

    Climate, health, food, peace, environment — these things don’t respect borders.  

    No matter how high the walls, how big the military or how strong the economy,  

    a burning planet burns for all.

    Making Earth great again includes making my country great — not instead of it.  

    Because my country is part of this world, not apart from it.

    A New Definition of Greatness

    So what would it mean to make Earth great again?

    It could mean a world where:

    • Clean air and water are guaranteed.
    • A planet where all the world’s resources are declared the common heritage of all the world’s people.
    • Food is grown in harmony with nature and freely shared.
    • Education is a given, not a privilege.
    • Energy is free from fossil fuels and free for all.
    • Nature and the environment is thriving.
    • Innovation serves life, not profit.
    • Collaboration instead of domination.
    • Greatness becomes a shared project — not a contest.

    In the world I imagine in my book Waking Up — greatness looks very different from what we’ve been taught.

    It’s not about standing tallest, but about reaching widest.

    It’s not about control, but about contribution.

    MEGA as a Movement

    MEGA isn’t a critique. It’s a calling.

    It’s not anti-patriotism — it’s much deeper and wider than that. It asks us to expand our love of country into love of planet. and humanity.

    Because when the Earth thrives, so does my country. So do all countries.

    > Let’s stop trying to win the world — and start caring for it and each other.

    That might be the greatest thing we ever do.

    If this vision resonates with you, dive deeper into a future where worth is no longer defined by artificial standards, and greatness is measured by human flourishing and planetary harmony.

    My novel Waking Up explores what MEGA could actually look like — not as a slogan, but as a lived reality. 🌍

    📘 Grab the book here – only $0.99 during preorder. UNTIL MAY 3. 2025

    PREORDER HERE
  • Can We Stop Climate Change? Or is that even the right question?

    Can We Stop Climate Change? Or is that even the right question?

    We Are almost Out of Time

    The Earth is sending signals. Not gentle ones anymore, but sirens. Fires, floods, droughts, tipping points. Climate change is not in the future — it’s now.  

    And no, we can’t stop all of it. But we can still stop the worst of it.  

    We can still choose what kind of world comes next.  

    But That window is closing fast.  

    The real question isn’t can we stop it?  

    It’s will we change — radically, collectively, now?

    What’s Already Gone — And What’s Still in Our Hands

    – The damage is real and irreversible in places — polar melt, coral collapse, mass species loss.  

    – But we are not powerless.  

    – The science is clear: the sooner we act, the more suffering we prevent.  

    – Every fraction of a degree matters. Every year matters. Every decision matters.

     What’s Missing Isn’t Tech — It’s Trust

    – We have the solutions: clean energy, rewilding, regenerative food systems, circular design.  

    – What we don’t have is a system designed for global cooperation.  

    – Today’s world runs on short-term profits, national interests, and fear.  

    – But the climate doesn’t care about borders. The atmosphere is One.  

    – The real emergency is this:

    we’re still acting like separate tribes on a dying planet.

    What Could Be — The World We are Capable of Creating

    In Waking Up, my novel, I paint a vision of a different future.  

    Not fantasy — possibility.

    – A world without money, where trust has replaced trade.  

    – A planet restored — where we live in harmony with nature, not in conquest of it.  

    – Communities where people contribute their gifts freely, because economy no longer depends on scarcity.  

    – Global systems run on collaboration, gratitude, and shared purpose — a Global Resource Based Economy with a Natural Exchange System – not fear and debt.

    This isn’t utopia. It’s what could emerge when we stop asking, “What’s in it for me?”  

    And start asking, “What’s best for all of us? Including me?”

     ⚠️  We Have One Shot — And It’s Now

    – We are living through a narrowing doorway.  

    – If we don’t unite across borders, classes, and ideologies now, we will miss it.  

    – The coming years will decide whether Earth becomes a furnace of survival…  

    …or a flourishing garden of rebirth.

     💡 This Is the Awakening

    We don’t need more doom. We need direction.  

    We need a vision that’s bigger than carbon stats and political soundbites.  

    We need to remember that another world is still possible — but only if we create it together.

    That’s the message of Waking Up – A journey towards a new dawn for humanity  

    Not just a novel — an inspiration. A mirror. A call.  

    Because whether we make it through this moment or not…  

    will depend on whether we wake up — together — in time.

    Call to Action

    If this message speaks to you, I invite you to preorder the e-book Waking Up for just $0.99 — available at this special price until the official launch on May 2, 2025.
    Your preorder doesn’t just get you the story early and cheaply — it helps amplify the message and bring more eyes to a vision of a healed world.

    PREORDER NOW

    Let’s reach the goal together.