The Measure by Nikki Erlick

How do you measure a life? Is it measured by how long you live or by what you leave behind?

This book held my attention. The novel is both science fiction and thought experiment. There are elements of love but also horror. The subject matter has led to great conversations with friends and family. It’s the book that keeps on giving.

One night, a box is delivered to everyone in the world (who is over 22). Inside is a length of string. The length of the string measures how long the recipient has left to live. Everyone now faces the same impossible choice, to look or not to look. The book follows a cast of characters whose fates intertwine in a clever way. The writing was good and the ideas thought-provoking. It would be a perfect pick for book groups.