Editor’s Note: I got together with some author friends and decided to give away our books for free. That’s right. You can get my new memoir, Hell & Paradise, and over 20 other nonfiction titles for free. Check it out here.
💥 Best for a Gut-Punching Power Read
Hell and Paradise by Anton Volney
A fierce, high-voltage wake-up call about truth, survival, and what happens when you finally give yourself permission to be powerful. 🔥
(Yes, that’s you. And yes, it’s making waves.)
🧠 If You Want More Clients
Get More Clients by Lynn M. Whitbeck
Get More Clients is a short, easy-to-read book that walks you through simple, proven tips to close more sales and grow your business.
🔮 For the Meditative & Mindful
The Presence Inner Work by Diego Simon
A calming, spacious read that feels like a long exhale. Great for inner work and visualization.
👻 Dark & Gritty
No Dogs in Philly: A Cyberpunk Horror Noir by Andy Futuro
Grit meets glitch. Think Blade Runner meets Stephen King. If that combo excites you? Dive in.
🤓 For the Writers in the Room
A Writer's Guide to Deeper Stories by Thaddeus Thomas
Masterclass in emotional depth and layered storytelling. A must-read if you’re crafting powerful narratives.
🧩 Nostalgic & Wholesome
My Old Memory Pieces: 1950s Golden Age Everyday Life
A cozy, slow-sipping cup of tea in book form. Takes you back to a time when life felt simpler (at least on the surface).
🍵 For The Self Help Junkie
Self-Care Isn’t Selfish by Jenny Lytle, BSN, RN
The compassionate nurse's step-by-step guide to personalized stress relief.
🧘For The Spiritually Minded
How to Attain Eternal Peace by Pranay Saha
Mastery over the self, transcend illusions of mind, connect with universal consciousness, and achieve deep inner peace
Now, let’s get into it…
Dear Permission to be Powerful Reader,
On March 14, 2018, Stephen Hawking died.
There are few people more universally respected than Stephen Hawking.
And, for just one day…
The universe stopped.
The online trolls stopped fighting to commemorate this legend.
Just thousands of humans quietly whispering: Thank you.
What followed was the most beautiful digital elegy the internet may have ever seen.
“He died on Einstein’s birthday. Born on Galileo’s death day. On Pi Day. Of course he did.”
“He was supposed to live two years. He gave us fifty-five. That’s a miracle in slow motion.”
“The average IQ of the planet just dropped.”
“He made the cosmos feel like home.”
“He made black holes sound beautiful.”
“He was the Einstein of our time. But funnier. And better at cameos.”
“My expectations were reduced to zero at 21. Everything since has been a bonus.” — Stephen Hawking
“Although I cannot move and I have to speak through a computer, in my mind I am free.”
“He disproved his own theory just to get it right. Who else does that?”
“He didn’t just survive. He radiated.”
“He was our awkward, brilliant uncle who could explain string theory and make us laugh in the same breath.”
“Lost my mom to ALS. He gave me hope it wasn’t just doom.”
“He made science holy. He made suffering noble. He made being alive feel epic.”
“He belonged to everyone.”
“He showed up for disabled kids like me. And never made us feel small.”
“He didn’t age. That’s what messed me up. He always looked immortal.”
“He inspired me to study physics. He inspired my brother to believe in himself.”
“Smart people aren’t always kind. He was both.”
“I wish someone had gone to his time travelers’ party.”
“They did. But they couldn’t tell him yet.”
“The universe folds inward sometimes. And when it does… it writes poetry.”
“We all knew this day would come. Still felt like the stars dimmed a little.”
“He outlived his condition. Outwitted his critics. Outloved his fate.”
“One of those deaths you always saw coming—but still shocks you.”
What do you even call this?
A thread?
A funeral pyre made of keyboards?
A spontaneous digital eulogy that turned Reddit into a stardust-soaked sanctuary?
Yes. All of that.
Because in this rarest of moments, no one was clout-chasing.
No one was rage-baiting.
Everyone… was remembering.
And isn’t that the most human thing of all?
“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance. It is the illusion of knowledge.” — Hawking
Stephen Hawking reminded us we were stardust.
And that we were meant to shine.
So on that strange, synchronistic Pi Day…
When he died on Einstein’s birthday…
The internet didn’t rage.
It revered.
Let this serve as a time capsule.
Not just for Hawking. But for us.
For the rare moment we all looked up at the same time and said:
“Damn. He was one of the good ones.”
🌌 Tributes from the Scientific Community
Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist: “His passing has left an intellectual vacuum in his wake. But it’s not empty. Think of it as a kind of vacuum energy permeating the fabric of spacetime that defies measure.” Time
NASA: “His theories unlocked a universe of possibilities that we & the world are exploring. May you keep flying like superman in microgravity.” The Guardian
University of Cambridge: “Professor Hawking was a unique individual who will be remembered with warmth and affection not only in Cambridge but all over the world.” University of Cambridge
🌍 World Leaders and Institutions
Barack Obama: “Have fun out there among the stars.” The Guardian
Theresa May, UK Prime Minister: “Professor Stephen Hawking was a brilliant and extraordinary mind—one of the great scientists of his generation.” The Guardian
Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister: “His grit and tenacity inspired people all over the world.” Time+1The Guardian+1
🎭 Celebrities and Cultural Icons
Eddie Redmayne, actor who portrayed Hawking in The Theory of Everything, attended his funeral and delivered a reading.
Brian May, Queen guitarist and astrophysicist, also attended the funeral, honoring Hawking's contributions to science and culture.
The Big Bang Theory cast expressed their condolences, highlighting Hawking's appearances on the show and his influence on popularizing science.
🕊️ Funeral and Memorials
Hawking's funeral was held on March 31, 2018, at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge. The bell rang 76 times, once for each year of his life. NPR
His ashes were interred at Westminster Abbey, between the graves of Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. Wikipedia
At the 2018 Winter Paralympics closing ceremony, IPC President Andrew Parsons paid tribute to Hawking, acknowledging his contributions to science and his role as an inspiration to people with disabilities. Wikipedia
👇 Want More Writing Like This?
Inside the Permission to Be Powerful VIP Vault, you’ll find:
💥 The Trillion Dollar Swipe File – Copywriting’s Death Star
🧠 The ADHD X Factor – Turn distraction into weaponized creativity
🤖 The AI Prompt Bible – Over 70 elite blueprints for business, life & content
📚 Hell & Paradise – The raw memoir that started everything
⚡ The Monster Method – 8-line emails that built Tony Robbins’ funnel empire
🌀 The Trigger Method – Heal your inner child with neuroscience & soul
And posts just like this—dripping with heart, soul, reverence, and fire.
This is where the raw, good stuff lives.
🎟️ Join VIP – and get the soul hits before they hit the front page.
Until next time,
Anton
Permission to be Powerful.
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