LOS ANGELES (Agencies) - Dave Freeman, co-author of "100 Things to Do Before You Die", a travel guide and ode to odd adventures that inspired readers and imitators, died after hitting his head in a fall at his home. He was 47. Freeman died Aug 17 after the fall at his Venice home, his father, Roy Freeman, told the Los Angeles Times. An advertising agency executive, Freeman co-wrote the 1999 book subtitled "Travel Events You Just Can't Miss" with Neil Teplica. It was based on the Web site whatsgoingon.com, which the pair ran together from 1996 to 2001. "This life is a short journey", the book says. "How can you make sure you fill it with the most fun and that you visit all the coolest places on earth before you pack those bags for the very last time?" Freeman's relatives said he visited about half the places on his list before he died, and either he or Teplica had been to nearly all of them. "He didn't have enough days, but he lived them like he should have," Teplica said. The success of "100 Things" inspired dozens of like-minded books, with titles such as "100 Things Project Managers Should Do Before They Die" and "100 Things Cowboys Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die". Freeman graduated from the University of Southern California in 1983, briefly working for an ad agency in Newport Beach before moving to New York to work for Grey Advertising. On Sept 11, 2001, Freeman watched the second plane hit the World Trade Centre from his apartment just blocks away. He moved back to Southern California to be closer to his family.