The Humans: A Novel

I read a lot of books, one or two a week. I don't tend to review them because I know my reactions are personal, and attempting to assign a number of stars is torturous. However, every year or so, one truly stands out for me and I find myself recommending it to everyone I know. A couple of years ago, it was *Defending Jacob* by William Landay. In the past year, it was *The Humans* by Matt Haig. I was initially interested in reading *The Humans* because the topic reminded me of "3rd Rock From The Sun", one of my all-time favorite TV sitcoms (at least the first season). Both premises are based on an outsider's interpretation of the human condition. The TV show was hilarious; this book is less so, but it has its moments. It is basically the story of an alien coming to earth on a serious mission. However, I found myself laughing almost to tears at one point as the alien was attempting to interpret a dog's conversation based on facial expressions since he couldn't decipher the dog's spoken language. The scene involves peanut butter. The alien has never experienced joy. Then on earth he discovers music! He is mesmerized by Debussy, feeling he has captured all the most beautiful aspects of the universe in his music ... but, then, wow, the alien hears the Beach Boys! And discovers the aforementioned peanut butter! And poetry! Etc. Mainly it is about what it is to be human and how it is our mortality that makes happiness possible. At one point the alien marvels that he has said "me" -- it has always before been "we". (That was thrilling.) I have inspired at least a dozen friends to read this book, and so far I think everyone likes or loves it, but for all different reasons. Some liked the collectivist vs. individual aspect, like I did. Some liked the human joy aspect, as I also did. One friend was just thrilled with all the wise observations that the alien made, his unique point of view. Another was tickled by all the Emily Dickenson quotes and references, most not attributed, and most of which, I must admit, I missed. One friend chose it for his book club, and said it was a success, both because people liked it and because it inspired lively discussion. Be aware that the novel starts slowly and is rather dark. I wasn't liking it at first, and others said the same thing. My cousin put it aside for several weeks, not enjoying it, then picked it back up one day, and stayed up most of the night with it, enthralled. The alien isn't likeable. His mission is to murder. But once the story is set, it is a compelling read, and one I will revisit. It is an easy read, but interesting and thought-provoking, at times touching, at times profound. The idea that mortality is essential to human happiness is not a theme often explored. The book is a paean to human happiness.

“I wondered if this was how people always talked to each other or if it was just unique to spouses.” (loc 863) This clever book is the literary equivalent of the TV show “Resident Alien” -- a creature from another galaxy arrives on planet Earth with a mission to kill, but he finds himself both baffled and intrigued by earthlings as he lives an undercover existence among us. The book is his first-person account of the experience, written after the fact, intended for his employers back on his home planet. It’s a funny, often goofy, invitation to poke fun at ourselves – and explore along the way the meaning of life, what’s important, and what is not. The story sags a little as it approaches the halfway point. The humor starts to feel tired, Haig tries a little too hard to be deep, and the ending is both predictable and a little clunky. But it’s a fun read, and it’s clear it comes from the author’s heart. There are a few too many (unnecessary) f-bombs to bring this book into a high school classroom. That’s a pity – the story, I suspect, would resonate with young people.

I never do this but here goes. I read some reviews good and not so good. The criticism that everything is stated so “on point” and bluntly? This is being written in the words of a non-emotional efficient being. Thus, he’s blunt. Matter of fact and Intentionally so. Also, a complaint is that the aliens who were attempting to preserve peace were hypocritical (on their long worn trajectory of preserving peace at any cost) devoid of emotion and thus “not caring”. This is an obvious observation and I imagine an hypocrisy for the reader to pick up on, furthering the Alien’s discernment of what matters and from whose perspective, not an error in the plot or concept. It is a baked in observation of how the performing of habits causes the loss of sight of the true reason behind them, Alien or human. The good points - well defined characters from, once again, the objective eye of an alien who slowly notices nuances and amalgams forming to create a unique person and more importantly the human experience. The alien had a fresh start on an old earth. It truly is a journey by observing and weighing, deciding and adjusting and asking “WHY.” This book does not need to be perfect because it illustrates human life and alien life (who knows about it?) as not being perfect and that perfection is subjective and undefined against the scope of such complex and unique beings. I loved this book, just how he transformed (without any spoiler) - it is really, to me, what life can give you when you hand destiny the nutcracker and think outside the galaxy.

O livro é espetacular com notas de humor incríveis. Recomendo a leitura.

I love this kind of humors that play with the human natures and the observation of the outsider

Ame este libro, estoy amando a este autor. Es un libro divertido pero te pone a pensar, de vdd ame la historia. Y el libro en físico está super bien, se lee bien y todo llego en buen estado.

Il libro che tutti dovrebbero leggere per dare il giusto peso alle cose.

Menschen haben Fehler. Menschen sind unsicher. Menschen zweifeln. Doch Matt Haig zeigt in seinem Roman, dass diese Schwächen gleichzeitig auch Stärken hervorbringen. Stärken, die und menschlich machen und die große Gefühle überhaupt erst ermöglichen. Als Außerirdischer hat man es auch der Erde nicht leicht. Menschen verhalten sich oft irrational. Ein Wesen von einem fernen, perfekten Planeten stolpert unweigerlich über den ein oder anderen Fettnapf. Aber dieser Außerirdische hat eine Mission: Er soll eine Entdeckung, die die Menschheit entwicklungstechnisch einen großen Sprung nach vorne katapultieren würde, verhindern. Das ist in den Augen der Außerirdischen durchaus rational, verhindert es doch Gewalt und leid auf der Erde und auf lange Sicht im ganzen Universum. Doch bei der Ausführung seines Plans kommt des Wesen in Schwierigkeiten. Es lernt uns Menschen kennen. Es lernt unser Leben kennen. Und es begreift, was unser Leben, trotz aller Nachteile und Problemen, so aufregend macht. Und diese Entdeckungen sind auch für uns menschlichen Leser nicht nur amüsant, sondern gleichfalls interessant. Ganz nüchtern wird uns ein Spiegel vorgehalten, in dem wir Dinge erkennen, über die wir uns so gar nicht bewusst waren. Jedenfalls zeigt uns das Buch anhand einer tollen, unterhaltsamen Geschichte, was uns in unserem Leben wirklich wichtig sein sollte und wie man Krisen überstehen und darin vielleicht sogar etwas Positives sehen kann. Könnte ich bei der Bewertung 100 Punkte vergeben, dann würde ich - wie vermutlich jeder, der das Buch gelesen hat - natürlich 97 Punkte geben. Aber da das leider nicht möglich ist, nehme ich die Fünf, welche auch eine wunderschöne Primzahl ist. ;) -------------------- The Humans würde ich heute vermutlich noch immer nicht kennen, hätte es nicht Stephen Fry empfohlen. Wem The Humans gefällt, dem könnte aber durchaus andersherum z.B. Stephen Frys Making History gefallen. Darin geht es um einen Geschichtsstudent, der eine Möglichkeit findet, die Geburt von Hitler in der Vergangenheit zu verhindern. Doch darf man die Vergangenheit ändern? Und wenn ja, wie würde die Welt dann heute aussehen? Ein sehr schönen Roman über Schuld, Gewissen und Hoffnung.