Andy Weir (2009) — a man dies, meets God, and learns a huge secret about every person on Earth
Original version available: read this lesson at B2/C1 level →
Andy Weir wrote this very short story in 2009 and put it online for free. Millions of people have read it and talked about it. This is the same idea, told here in simple English. Read each part, then stop and talk. The end is a big surprise — read slowly.
You died. It happened in a car accident, on your way home. There was no pain. You left a family behind, and they were very sad.
Then you met someone. There was nothing around you — just empty space. But it did not feel cold or frightening.
"What happened? Where am I?" you asked.
"You died," the man said. He said it in a quiet, kind voice.
"There was a truck. It hit my car…"
"Yes," he said. "But do not worry about that now."
You looked at him. "Are you God?" you asked. "You must be God."
He smiled. "You understand quickly," he said.
"What happens now?" you asked. "Heaven? Hell?"
"No," said God. "You will be born again. You will live a new life, as a new person — a new baby, in a new time. You will not remember this life, or any other life."
"Again? So I have done this before?"
"Yes. Many, many times. Each time, you were a different person."
You thought about this. "So maybe I lived a long time ago? I could have been someone in the past?"
"Yes, you were," said God. "But here is something you do not know yet. For me, time is not a line. Your lives do not happen in order."
"Every person who ever lived is you," said God. "Every person who will live is you too. You are every human being on Earth."
You could not speak. "I am… everyone?"
"Now you understand," said God. "Every time you hurt someone, you hurt yourself. Every kind thing you did, you did for yourself too."
"But why?" you asked. "Why all of this?"
"Because one day you will become like me," said God. "This whole universe is an egg. It is for you. You are growing. You must live every human life — all of them. When you have lived them all, and learned everything, you will be ready. Then you will be born."
You looked at God for a long time. Then you went on to your next life. And God went back to work.
Eight useful words. Tap each card to see what it means and an example sentence.
1. He spoke in a soft, ______ voice. 2. God told you a big ______. 3. You will be ______ again as a new person.
In the story, the man does not know where he is. He has to guess. We use these words to show how sure we are about something:
must = I am sure it is true. "You must be God."
can't = I am sure it is NOT true. "This can't be real."
might / could = maybe — I am not sure. "I might have lived before."
After all three, we use the base verb: must be, can't be, might be.
1. He knows everything about me. He be God. (I am sure)
2. I feel no pain at all. This be a normal place. (I am sure it is not)
3. Maybe I lived long ago. I have been a soldier. (not sure)
4. She is laughing and happy. She be sad. (I am sure she is not)
5. The lights are on, so someone be at home. (I am sure)
1. must 2. can't 3. might (or could) 4. can't 5. must
Look at each situation and say a sentence with must, might or can't.
1. Your friend is not answering the phone. → "He ______ ."
2. There is loud music next door. → "They ______ ."
3. A stranger knows your name. → "We ______ ."
Say your sentences out loud. There are many good answers.
This story is famous for its ending. Here are three simple things the writer does to make it work.
God does not tell you the truth all at once. The story gives it to you slowly, one step at a time. Then comes the big surprise: you are every person on Earth. A surprise like this at the end is called a twist.
The story does not say "a man died." It says "you died" and "you are everyone." This makes the story feel personal. It feels like it is about you, the reader.
The story is about life, death, and the whole universe — very big ideas. But the writer uses short, simple sentences. The small words make the big idea even more powerful.
Do all three. Use the timer and try to keep talking. The sentence starters can help you begin.
Now tell the story again in your own words. Use short, simple sentences. Try to use four or five words from the Words tab, and tell the events in order.
These steps will help you: a man dies and meets God · God says the universe is like an egg for him · he has lived every human life · every person he met was also him · he is growing into something bigger.
Imagine the story is true: every other person is really you. How would you treat people? What would you do differently?
Do you think a story like this could be true? Say what you think and why.