Name: The Humans
Rating: 4.189393939393939 (264 reviews)
ISBN: 9781410464194

Matt Haig

Regarding humans unfavorably upon arriving on Earth, a reluctant extraterrestrial assumes the identity of a Cambridge mathematician before realizing that there is more to the human race than he suspected.

The Humans

Regarding humans unfavorably upon arriving on Earth, a reluctant extraterrestrial assumes the identity of a Cambridge mathematician before realizing that there is more to the human race than he suspected and embarking on a darkly comic effort to save humanity from itself. By the award-winning author of The Radleys. 40,000 first printing.

A Novel

Loved it! Really makes you think about human existence...but in a fun way :)

Ellie Younger

The bestselling, award-winning author of The Midnight Library offers his funniest, most devastating dark comedy yet, a "silly, sad, suspenseful, and soulful" (Philadelphia Inquirer) novel that's "full of heart" (Entertainment Weekly).When an extra-terrestrial visitor arrives on Earth, his first impressions of the human species are less than positive. Taking the form of Professor Andrew Martin, a prominent mathematician at Cambridge University, the visitor is eager to complete the gruesome task assigned him and hurry home to his own utopian planet, where everyone is omniscient and immortal. He is disgusted by the way humans look, what they eat, their capacity for murder and war, and is equally baffled by the concepts of love and family. But as time goes on, he starts to realize there may be more to this strange species than he had thought. Disguised as Martin, he drinks wine, reads poetry, develops an ear for rock music, and a taste for peanut butter. Slowly, unexpectedly, he forges bonds with Martin's family. He begins to see hope and beauty in the humans' imperfection, and begins to question the very mission that brought him there. Praised by The New York Times as a "novelist of great seriousness and talent," author Matt Haig delivers an unlikely story about human nature and the joy found in the messiness of life on Earth. The Humans is a funny, compulsively readable tale that playfully and movingly explores the ultimate subject--ourselves.

silly, insightful, fun, funny, a little cheese, a couple “holes” that could have been more masterfully sewn up, overall a breeze to read and i may have been teary in the final chapter 😸🤧🥲

Kat Albanese

The bestselling, award-winning author of The Radleys is back with his funniest, most devastating dark comedy yet, a “silly, sad, suspenseful, and soulful” (Philadelphia Inquirer) novel that’s “full of heart” (Entertainment Weekly). When an extra-terrestrial visitor arrives on Earth, his first impressions of the human species are less than positive. Taking the form of Professor Andrew Martin, a prominent mathematician at Cambridge University, the visitor is eager to complete the gruesome task assigned him and hurry home to his own utopian planet, where everyone is omniscient and immortal. He is disgusted by the way humans look, what they eat, their capacity for murder and war, and is equally baffled by the concepts of love and family. But as time goes on, he starts to realize there may be more to this strange species than he had thought. Disguised as Martin, he drinks wine, reads poetry, develops an ear for rock music, and a taste for peanut butter. Slowly, unexpectedly, he forges bonds with Martin’s family. He begins to see hope and beauty in the humans’ imperfection, and begins to question the very mission that brought him there. Praised by The New York Times as a “novelist of great seriousness and talent,” author Matt Haig delivers an unlikely story about human nature and the joy found in the messiness of life on Earth. The Humans is a funny, compulsively readable tale that playfully and movingly explores the ultimate subject—ourselves.

Bilge Ince

You don’t have to be an academic. You don’t have to be anything. Don’t force it. Feel your way, and don’t stop feeling your way until something fits. Maybe nothing will. Maybe you are a road, not a destination. That is fine. Be a road. But make sure it’s one with something to look at out of the window. 

I believe this is the best book I have read from Matt Haig. His quirky and witty mind came with an alien in observer mode on the Earth. And his observations were not only the pure truth but also humorous and emotional. I felt sadness and joy at the same time while I was reading. And also felt that nothing is important, yet everything is important.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME. OR IS THERE? After an 'incident' one wet Friday night where Professor Andrew Martin is found walking naked through the streets of Cambridge, he is not feeling quite himself. Food sickens him. Clothes confound him. Even his loving wife and teenage son are repulsive to him. He feels lost amongst a crazy alien species and hates everyone on the planet. Everyone, that is, except Newton, and he's a dog. What could possibly make someone change their mind about the human race. . . ?

Matt Litwin

It’s a poor imitation for a Kurt Vonnegut book, trying to balance the dark cynicism of an aliens view of humanity with the lighthearted “‘the real meaning of life is the friends we made along the way”

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME. OR IS THERE? After an 'incident' one wet Friday night where he is found walking naked through the streets of Cambridge, Professor Andrew Martin is not feeling quite himself. Food sickens him. Clothes confound him. Even his loving wife and teenage son are repulsive to him. He feels lost amongst an alien species and hates everyone on the planet. Everyone, that is, except Newton, and he's a dog.Who is he really? And what could make someone change their mind about the human race . . . ?

Lisaa

menna

I actually thoroughly enjoyed this one! Wasn’t expecting much, and perhaps that played into its perceived grandeur, but it turned out to be quite the page-turner. I read pages 121-278 in the same sitting. 

I’d been falling away from my normally romantic outlook on life and humanity. Every day felt duller than the last. This book reminded me of life’s simple joys, its contrasting dualities, and the complexities of human nature that all make this worldly experience worthwhile. It feels like life has color again. 

I could go on about the depth and layering and poetic devices and all the things I loved that made its reading so engaging, but instead I’ll just say this: it’s worth the read.

samantha

I actually thoroughly enjoyed this one! Wasn’t expecting much, and perhaps that played into its perceived grandeur, but it turned out to be quite the page-turner. I read pages 121-278 in the same sitting. 

I’d been falling away from my normally romantic outlook on life and humanity. Every day felt duller than the last. This book reminded me of life’s simple joys, its contrasting dualities, and the complexities of human nature that all make this worldly experience worthwhile. It feels like life has color again. 

I could go on about the depth and layering and poetic devices and all the things I loved that made its reading so engaging, but instead I’ll just say this: it’s worth the read.

Esslam Ben Ramadan

I think the general idea with this book is to go into it without any expectations and give it a little time. There are some gems in here and some sage advise that are shared as part of the story but can be used as guidelines for all aspects of life.

Jayme Bosio

This book was beautiful and funny and romantic and sad. I absolutely loved it. Damn you, Sara!

Dave Perkins

I just love this guy. Such a beautiful reflection on humanity.

The bestselling, award-winning author of The Radleys is back with what may be his best, funniest, and most devastating dark comedy yet. When an extraterrestrial visitor arrives on Earth, his first impressions of the human species are less than positive. Taking the form of Professor Andrew Martin, a prominent mathematician at Cambridge University, the visitor is eager to complete the gruesome task assigned him and hurry back home to the utopian world of his own planet, where everyone enjoys immortality and infinite knowledge. He is disgusted by the way humans look, what they eat, and their capacity for murder and war, and he is equally baffled by the concepts of love and family. But as time goes on, he starts to realize there may be more to this weird species than he has been led to believe. Disguised as Martin, he drinks wine, reads poetry, and develops an ear for rock music and a taste for peanut butter. Slowly, unexpectedly, he forges bonds with Martin's family, and in picking up the pieces of the professor's shattered personal life, he begins to see hope and beauty in the humans' imperfections and to question the mission that brought him here. Praised by The New York Times as a "novelist of great seriousness and talent," Matt Haig delivers an unlikely story about human nature and the joy found in the messiness of life on Earth. The Humans is a funny, compulsively readable tale that playfully and movingly explores the ultimate subject--ourselves.

Oana Munteanu

I just love how the author describe, in a humor and realistic, the beauties and flaws of the humans. The ending of the story gave me goosebumps.  

Fraser Simons

Like all of Haig’s works, it’s an interesting premise with a conceit that slowly turns into a wildly prescriptive and contrived manner of regurgitating self-help aphorisms. There is literally a section near the end that is just a list of these. 

Far too artificial and sickly sweet and prescriptive for my tastes. I’m completely done with Haig after this. Writing for a different person than me.

The Humans

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