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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Review of "The Humans" by Matt Haig
Matt Haig never disappoints, and "The Humans" is no exception. It’s a clever, creative, and deeply human story — ironic, considering it’s told from the perspective of an alien. Haig’s ability to blend humor, philosophy, and raw emotion is on full display here, making "The Humans" a novel that is both heartwarming and profoundly thought-provoking.
Plot Summary
The story begins with an alien being sent to Earth on a mission to eliminate all evidence of a major mathematical discovery made by a human professor named Andrew Martin. To complete the task, the alien takes on the professor’s form, living his life as an imposter. What follows is a hilariously awkward fish-out-of-water story as the alien attempts to understand human customs, from wearing clothes to eating peanut butter.
But what starts as a humorous exploration of human absurdity evolves into something much deeper. The alien, initially cold and indifferent to human life, begins to see the beauty in human flaws. He experiences love, grief, and joy for the first time, forming connections with the people around him — particularly Andrew’s wife and son, who are grappling with their own emotional wounds. As the alien becomes more "human," he faces a choice: complete his mission or embrace the messy, beautiful chaos of human existence.
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Themes
1. What It Means to Be Human
The heart of the story lies in its exploration of what makes us human. The alien's outsider perspective allows Haig to highlight the odd, quirky, and sometimes absurd behaviors we all take for granted — eating bananas, wearing clothes, singing songs that make no logical sense. But more than that, the story dives into the emotional core of humanity: love, loss, fear, and the ability to hope despite it all. Through the alien’s reflections, Haig celebrates the small, everyday moments that make life worth living.
2. Love and Family
As the alien takes on Andrew Martin’s identity, he is forced to live alongside Andrew's family. What begins as cold observation becomes genuine love for his "wife" and "son." The alien’s growing empathy for the family, especially his connection to Andrew’s son (who struggles with depression), is one of the most touching aspects of the story. Haig masterfully portrays how love can change us, even those who believe themselves immune to it.
3. Mental Health and Existential Reflection
Haig has written candidly about his own struggles with mental health, and "The Humans" subtly reflects those experiences. Andrew's son, Gulliver, faces isolation and depression, and the alien's growing empathy for him is one of the most moving parts of the story. But even beyond that, the alien's journey mirrors the experience of living with anxiety or depression — the feeling of being an "outsider" in your own life. Haig's compassion for those struggles is clear, and his message is one of hope and understanding.
4. The Beauty of the Mundane
Some of the most memorable moments in "The Humans" are the simple, everyday experiences that the alien views with childlike wonder. Drinking wine, listening to music, or experiencing love for the first time — these small joys are celebrated as profound moments of existence. Haig reminds us to appreciate the small, everyday beauties that we often overlook.
Matt Haig never disappoints, and "The Humans" is no exception. It’s a clever, creative, and deeply human story — ironic, considering it’s told from the perspective of an alien. Haig’s ability to blend humor, philosophy, and raw emotion is on full display here, making "The Humans" a novel that is both heartwarming and profoundly thought-provoking.
Plot Summary
The story begins with an alien being sent to Earth on a mission to eliminate all evidence of a major mathematical discovery made by a human professor named Andrew Martin. To complete the task, the alien takes on the professor’s form, living his life as an imposter. What follows is a hilariously awkward fish-out-of-water story as the alien attempts to understand human customs, from wearing clothes to eating peanut butter.
But what starts as a humorous exploration of human absurdity evolves into something much deeper. The alien, initially cold and indifferent to human life, begins to see the beauty in human flaws. He experiences love, grief, and joy for the first time, forming connections with the people around him — particularly Andrew’s wife and son, who are grappling with their own emotional wounds. As the alien becomes more "human," he faces a choice: complete his mission or embrace the messy, beautiful chaos of human existence.
---
Themes
1. What It Means to Be Human
The heart of the story lies in its exploration of what makes us human. The alien's outsider perspective allows Haig to highlight the odd, quirky, and sometimes absurd behaviors we all take for granted — eating bananas, wearing clothes, singing songs that make no logical sense. But more than that, the story dives into the emotional core of humanity: love, loss, fear, and the ability to hope despite it all. Through the alien’s reflections, Haig celebrates the small, everyday moments that make life worth living.
2. Love and Family
As the alien takes on Andrew Martin’s identity, he is forced to live alongside Andrew's family. What begins as cold observation becomes genuine love for his "wife" and "son." The alien’s growing empathy for the family, especially his connection to Andrew’s son (who struggles with depression), is one of the most touching aspects of the story. Haig masterfully portrays how love can change us, even those who believe themselves immune to it.
3. Mental Health and Existential Reflection
Haig has written candidly about his own struggles with mental health, and "The Humans" subtly reflects those experiences. Andrew's son, Gulliver, faces isolation and depression, and the alien's growing empathy for him is one of the most moving parts of the story. But even beyond that, the alien's journey mirrors the experience of living with anxiety or depression — the feeling of being an "outsider" in your own life. Haig's compassion for those struggles is clear, and his message is one of hope and understanding.
4. The Beauty of the Mundane
Some of the most memorable moments in "The Humans" are the simple, everyday experiences that the alien views with childlike wonder. Drinking wine, listening to music, or experiencing love for the first time — these small joys are celebrated as profound moments of existence. Haig reminds us to appreciate the small, everyday beauties that we often overlook.
Superb science fiction - an alien takes over a human mathematician's body to stop him developing a theorem that will lead to rapid human development, which the aliens don't approve of.
He takes over the body, life and family of the mathematician, knowing he'll have to kill anyone else who knows of the theory. As the alien becomes more human, ethical problems develop.
He takes over the body, life and family of the mathematician, knowing he'll have to kill anyone else who knows of the theory. As the alien becomes more human, ethical problems develop.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It had some interesting ideas, but overall, I really didn't like it.
This might be the new contender for best book I’ve read this year. It was so good; moving, funny, strange, just pure perfection.
Interesting premise, but I struggled to
stay engaged. Finished it and ultimately enjoyed it but it was a slog.
stay engaged. Finished it and ultimately enjoyed it but it was a slog.
I thought this book was interesting. There are some stirringly beautiful passages, however, I think Matt Haig sometimes sacrifices plot and character development in favor of lengthy ruminations on life and what it means to be human. This book could easily be half as long, and you would still get the entirety of the storyline. It felt at times as if Haig had written some good essays on the human experience and decided to tape them together using this alien narrator and call it a novel. That said, I still enjoyed the book, and found myself laughing out loud at many parts, while also being moved by the prose and introspection at points. The last third is especially wonderful. I would recommend this book to my more fervent of reader friends, but not anyone who is easily bored, nor would I read it again.