Summary in seconds: selecting the right book for a “Book Review,” my journey with “Die Empty” from discovery to falling in love with this wonderful book, the resemblances between the objectives of my blog “Under the Light Pole”, and “Die Empty”.
Several weeks before to the launch of my blog, I stumbled upon a brief anecdote shared by an online acquaintance. The story revolved around a thought-provoking question posed by a lecturer during a gathering he presided over. The lecturer asked, “What is the richest land on Earth?” One of the participants replied “The oil-rich Persian Gulf region.” Another attendee added “the diamond mines of Africa.” The lecturer countered “No, it is the cemetery!” He added “Yes, cemeteries are the richest land in the world, not due to material wealth, but because they cradle the silent resting place of people who had departed, taking with them a treasure trove of valuable ideas that did not benefit anyone.” This incident inspired “Todd Henry” to write his remarkable book “Die Empty” in which he passionately strived to motivate people to convert their aspirations into tangible accomplishments before it is too late. The author of “Die Empty,” eloquently wrote “Do not go to your grave while you carry within you the best of you; always choose to die empty.” This echoes a sentiment akin to what I have been advocating on my blog: our world will not change with what we want and hope to achieve but will change with what we have accomplished.
The author of “Die Empty” encourages his readers to empty themselves of all the creativity lingering inside them, advises us to rely on sustained effort, not accident strokes of luck, and notes that the effort will be well worth it. Life is short; learn how to die empty.
And that is why I have selected “Die Empty” by Todd Henry as the inaugural book for review in “Book Review” section of my blog. In my forthcoming article, I will introduce the book and its author to readers.