How the prospect of non-existence has shaped us into what we are. It is not only the powerful—emperors, pharaohs, and popes—who seek immortality; within each of us lies the yearning for eternal life. This pursuit has given rise to astonishing works of art, rich religious traditions, and the admirable progress of the sciences. Its outcome is human civilization. The philosopher and journalist Stephen Cave has identified four paths through which we have hoped for eternal life for millennia: through the resurrection of the body or the ascension of the soul, through the extension of life via medicine and magic, or through a legacy. With the latest scientific findings, Stephen Cave explores the crucial question of whether we can truly escape our finitude. Thought-provoking, elegant, and entertaining.