I just finished reading Don’t Die, by Zero, a novel by Bryan Johnson. Currently, Bryan is probably the most (in)famous biohacker in the world. He’s a tech entrepreneur, and the founder of Braintree Financial and Kernel. And I have the good fortune to count him among old friends, since the time that we lived next door to each other two decades ago. In my observation, Bryan has always been exceptionally audacious and tenacious – both. He dreams big. He works hard. The most obvious consequence of this has been Bryan’s achievement of financial goals that most of us can only imagine, despite serious challenges that many of us know all too well, such as crushing depression. Bryan has, in recent years, directed his audacity toward saving humanity from our greatest threats – extinction level risks such as climate change and artificial intelligence. And he’s been doing that with characteristic tenacity, iterating over and again on ideas, proposals, and plans. I’ve commented before on early versions of his vision for future intelligence. And I’ve offered criticisms too. Clearly, Bryan still isn’t satisfied. He continues to iterate on plans to save humanity. And more saliently, he is now cultivating social movement around such efforts. That leads to his new book, which you can download for free. Don’t Die, by Zero is an invitation, to you and me and humanity. It’s an invitation to join in and contribute however we can to formulating and pursuing plans – maybe even THE plan, if ever there could be such a thing. But it’s also not just a general vague invitation. It proposes a specific approach that, if successful, could have considerable benefits for you personally, in addition to those for humanity at large. Undoubtedly, many will chime in with their perspectives on the book. Some will praise it. Some will ridicule it. It’s provocative that way, intentionally so. My own contribution will stem from a perspective that overlaps with and diverges from Bryan’s in two ways. First, like Bryan, I was raised and educated in Mormon culture, became disillusioned with religion as a young adult, and then found new inspiration in technological evolution. Second, unlike Bryan, the new inspiration eventually rekindled my religiosity and renewed my enthusiasm for Mormonism. Before I continue, you should know that Don’t Die, by Zero is a fictional story with twists that I’m going to spoil. If you want to experience those twists emotionally, which I do recommend, then please stop here and come back after you’ve read the book. But if you’ve already read the book or don’t care about spoilers, let’s continue. Summary Chapter 1 introduces the narrator, Scribe, as he reflects on humanity’s past achievements and contemplates the potential for future technological advancements. On his last day on Earth, Scribe hopes that his notes will inspire solutions for global challenges. He discusses humanity’s future evolution and the need for swift adaptation. The chapter concludes with Scribe assembling a group of friends to plan for the future as his time wanes. In Chapter 2, a diverse group of friends gathers at Scribe’s home for a weekend reunion, each displaying unique quirks. Farm Boy arrives punctually early, Model Builder secures the best room ahead of time, and Blueprint, a newer friend, has distinct needs. Self Critical and Game Play arrive together, Seeks Authority and Self Harm join late, and Cognitive Bias appears unwell. This chapter establishes the backdrop of the reunion, emphasizing the friends’ distinct personalities and hinting at brewing tension. Chapter 3 reunites Scribe and his friends, including Dark Humor, Blueprint, and Game Play. Dark Humor hints at Scribe’s impending death without direct discussion. Blueprint focuses on measuring UV levels, and Game Play delves into the philosophy of life, death, and games. Devil May Care expresses a desire for a new adventure. The chapter explores themes of mortality, purpose, and the unique dynamics among fr ...