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.

When a university professor proves an important math theory, an alien assassin from another galaxy is sent to Earth to kill him. This is because humans are viewed as too primitive, crude, unsophisticated, and willful to manage the outcomes of the discovery. The alien takes the professor's form, inhabiting his life as well as his body, with the intention of killing his wife and teenaged son and anyone else who might know of the math discovery. The alien arrives filled with contempt for the human species and determined to get his work done quickly, then return to his placid, unchanging, emotionless planet as soon as possible. But when he hangs with the defeated wife and near-suicidal teen for a few weeks, his perspective changes. I loved this story. As the alien overcomes his prejudices and unwittingly becomes part of the family, we see that which is good about humans and their civilization. The ending is deep and satisfying. Adding to the richness of the writing is the afternote from the author, one of my favorites (The Midnight Library is a wonderful book), who tells us the story was born of his own mental illness. In 2000, he suffered a "breakdown of sorts" - a panic disorder that severely limited his life for the duration. All he could do was read. When he recovered, he wanted to talk about what it felt like, to be so alienated, and in so doing, perhaps help other people. The book is LOL funny, poignant, deep. Highly recommended.

Skip this book! I bought this book because it has good reviews and the plot-line/premise seemed interesting enough. I spent a couple months reading it and TRYING to like it. I also spent the whole time and after trying to understand why I didn’t like it. Here’s the best I can do…the writing is soooo mediocre. It doesn’t create mood or draw you in, it plainly states what it wants to say in the most “on-the-nose” way to say it. Hopefully this doesn’t read as a spoiler, but this book is about an alien that has to function on Earth with an alien quest. Basically, if you or anyone on the street had to write about how an alien might interact with Earth, that is what is written in this book. For example, in response to water the alien might say, “water??? What disgusting thing is this clear material that you ingest into your front. Humans are so strange.” As I read I felt like saying, okayyyy yeah I get it, the alien finds Earth strange. It’s just too juvenile to get into. If you’re buying this for a pre-teen, perhaps they’d enjoy it better. For a grown adult looking to be wowed, look elsewhere.

A mathematician has proofed the Riemann Hypothesis, which would unlock the mysteries of the prime numbers. Aliens from another galaxy (!) consider this is so threatening that they kill him and replace him with one of them, who is supposed to kill everyone who knows anything about the discovery. The alien slowly adjusts to life on earth and to what it is to be a human, and starts to value things he didn’t know even existed before. He learns to love his wife and son and to enjoy the good things in human life – many things the man his is replacing did not do. Especially the first half of the book was very good and well written. Towards to the end the naïve philosophizing started to be pretty irritating. Once more the message from the aliens is “be nice and friendly and stop the wars”. Not to mention the incredible hypocrisy of the aliens: they supposedly abhor violence and consider even eating meat as an abomination, but are ready to execute several human with the slightest reasons. Also, the aliens seem pretty dense on many levels – if they were able to learn about the mathematical discovery as soon it was made, how are they were SO unfamiliar with earth and humans in every possible way? All in all, the book was an enjoyable read, but it doesn’t stand much logical scrutiny. Strange for a book where one of the main points is mathematics.

The Humans is a story of an alien trying to remove all evidence of the solving of a mathematical hypothesis by an eminent Cambridge professor,Andrew Martin, which is the key to understanding the prime numbers and would lead to a huge leap in technological advancement. The aliens believed that humans are a primitive, and violent race and hence, these advancements will allow humans to create havoc not just on Earth but all around the universe. Hence, an unnamed alien is sent to Earth, who kills Andrew Martin, inhabits his body, and tries to erase all traces of his discovery. The initial part of the book is funny, but as it progresses, we get to discover humans through the eyes of the alien, who first looks at humans with disdain but eventually starts enjoying life on Earth and loving his fake family. I found this book funny, engaging, and sentimental. The highlight for me is the 97 point advice for a human. What I loved the most if that through a seemingly funny story about an alien, Matt Haig tells us what it means to be human - which includes dogs, peanut butter, sunsets, pain, sorrow, fear, poetry, and much more.

This isn’t a book about aliens. I mean, yes, the main character is an alien. But that’s not what the book is about. It’s about stopping and looking at your life through fresh eyes. Re-discovering who you are, and who the people around you are. Appreciating our loved ones, and music, and art, and all of the mundane day-to-day activities that make up a life. It’s about not saying “I don’t have enough time,” because you have tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. The writing is fantastic. The pacing is good, the dialog is authentic, and the characters are believable. But don’t read this book because of that. Read it because it will take you to a place of gratitude for your own life.