Things start to go a bit awry (not the writing; Haig maintains a beautiful, simplistic style throughout – but the Vonnadorians' scheme) when the Vonnadorian in question discovers that he is connecting to Isobel in a way he did not think possible, thus prospectively jeopardising the mission. He also finds himself engaging with Professor Andrew Martin, or 'his' son, Gulliver, a teenage tearaway that is attempting "academic suicide". In essence, possessed Professor Andrew Martin is a considerably better father and husband than the original Professor Andrew Martin. May this book remain in our libraries as a stark warning on the frailty and art of being human. Edelweiss This book kind of reminds me of We Are the Ants in that way. It's a coming of age story that involves aliens... and it has an extremely negative and pessimistic view of the world and humanity, until the main character slowly reaches an arc when they realize how beautiful and wonderful and meaningful life on Earth can be. It has the same overall message, which is probably why I loved this book so much. The humans are an arrogant species, defined by violence and greed. They have taken their home planet, the only one they have access to, and placed it on the road to destruction. They have created a world of divisions and categories and have continually failed to see the similarities between themselves. They have developed technology at a rate too fast for human psychology to keep up with, and yet they still pursue advancement for advancement's sake, and for the pursuit of money and fame they all crave so much."

Will he accomplish his mission? Or will he betray all he knows for an alien existence and what would the repercussions of his decisions be?

The Humans is a funny, compulsively readable novel about alien abduction, mathematics, and that most interesting subject of all: ourselves. Combine Douglas Adams’s irreverent take on life, the universe, and everything with a genuinely moving love story, and you have some idea of the humor, originality, and poignancy of Matt Haig’s latest novel. A brilliant exploration of what it is to love, and to be human, The Humans is both heartwarming and hilarious, weird, and utterly wonderful. One of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. S J Watson On the mathematics side, many years ago I did a few university distance learning maths (English) units, including one on the history of mathematics. I was surprised at how many of the early philosophers were also leading mathematicians. This book reminded me of the idea that mathematics is the basis of everything (after all, according to The Hitchhikers Guide number 42 is the answer to everything). Great idea, great plot and superb comedy, especially from the alien's puzzled analyses of primitive human ways

Haig once said he didn’t want to be seen as “Mr Depression”, but is that now inevitable? “I can’t control how other people see me,” he says. “I’m just grateful that I’ve got the freedom, thanks to my publisher, to write about what I want to write about. If I suddenly want to write a fairytale, or about Father Christmas or vampires or aliens, I can do it.” He enjoys the genre-busting variety, although he jokes about having a less “messy” writing career. “I dream about getting a detective – obviously, a detective with mental health problems – and following him through [all my books], but I haven’t found my magic detective yet.” The world is divided into those who have read this book and those who have not. Those who have read this book are shaking their heads in the affirmative right now. The first part of the book has several comic moments, the alien arrives knowing nothing of human life and finds himself naked and without language on a motorway. Matt Haig has held a magnifying glass to humans here and through the eyes of the alien Andrew we see our often irrational absurdity. The Humans is full of such lovely, grandiose statements about humankind. Matt Haig is not afraid of a sweeping generalisation any more than he is afraid of peculiar specifics… But this bravado is what makes the book work. If it had been written by a less mature, less confident writer it could have been a disaster. Thankfully, it’s not a disaster – it is a finely-tuned balancing act of humour and sincerity. Writers’ Hub Haig identifies as an atheist. [16] He has said that books are his one true faith, and the library is his church. [18]The narrator arrives on earth, looking exactly like Professor Martin. (We are never told how the real Martin was done away with. He never puts in an appearance in this novel.) While the alien was supposed to be a superior being, he went from seeing humans as we see birds or squirrels to seeing the better parts of humans - capacity to love and care for each other. His description of the human and his appalling concern with the nose was very funny. His confusion over having to be clothed likewise. It is not so much the story, but read it for that. It is not so much the characters, but read it for that too. It is for the statement it makes on the flawed yet wondrous nature of humans. This book will resonate with you long after you read it. (if not, we can't be friends.) You will be convinced the author himself is from another world, sent here to give us some wisdom, but perhaps also fearful if we can handle it. I liken it to "Illusions - The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah" by Richard Bach You can’t find happiness looking for the meaning of life. Meaning is only the third most important thing. It comes after loving and being. His fears were unfounded. Canongate rescued him. He realised the key was to write for himself and not worry about critical expectations or the division between literary and commercial fiction. The Humans gave him confidence and confirmed his new publisher’s faith in him; Reasons to Stay Alive, which was derived from a blog he wrote in 2014, established him firmly in the public mind as a teller of stories and an open, uninhibited, ego-free chaperone through the maelstrom of life.