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bartlebebop's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
cyndaqueen's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.75
mandypandyrox's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
mimimilaa's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really nice book about humanity told from a unique viewpoint. It took me a while to really get into the story because obviously the main character isn't really relatable at first, but once I get sucked in, I really enjoyed it.
brandilovesbooks's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
angela1025's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jessiexiong's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this book was decent, it definitely made me feel a little better considering my existentialism dread. I did find the writing a little too cheesy at certain times but given the premise of the book it's understandable. This book kind of reminded me of Andy Weir's "The Egg", in the sense that after reading it; it grounded me. I've always loved the idea that the accomplishments of mankind could be observed outside of individualistic pursuits and rather as a collective whole, and Matt Haig does a good job at exploring this. He also does a good job at exploring the absurdity of human greed, mankind's ego, and the pros and cons of sentient morality. This book toes the line between a heavy read and whimsical narration. I didn't find it very funny like some of the other reviews may suggest, but it did make me feel a little better.
Spoiler
given some of the subject matter concerning Gullivermissyjohnson's review against another edition
4.0
Audio road trip book recommended by Jake. I enjoyed the breakdown of the details of how humans function from the perspective of an alien. We are “simple” creatures but very complex regarding communication. I especially enjoyed the description of a single facial expression that can convey many many emotions and ideas. The same is true for a tone of voice.
markalkman's review against another edition
4.0
“It was, of course, another test. Everything in human life was a test. That was why they all looked so stressed out.”
Another great book by Matt Haig. I finished it in three days, I just couldn't put it away. His writing is absolutely mesmerizing. The concept of the story is briliant, especially once you've read the author's note in the back of the book. It makes so much sense and it's about so much more than an alien trying to figure out what it's like to be human. It's about humans figuring out what it means to be human. Matt has such a beautiful way with words and I can't stop yelling at people that they really need to start reading his books. I read his latest novel 'How To Stop Time' at the start of this year and it was honestly life altering. I still think about it. A lot. I'm pretty sure 'The Humans' will haunt me for quite some time as well.
"You can't find happiness looking for the meaning of life. Meaning is only the third most important thing. It come after loving and being."
I had to get used to the way the story is narrated. It actually took me thirty pages or so before I could actually enjoy the book. But once I did, there was no going back. I knew I was going to like it because it's a Matt Haig book and I love him (but I thought the same thing when I read 'Release' by Patrick Ness and I didn't like that whatsoever, so...) but it turned out I was going to love this book.
"You are more than the sum of your particles. And that is quite a sum."
Our narrator is an alien from a planet called 'Vonnadoria' where life is based around maths, logic and rationality. There is no pain and everything is beautiful, but life is dull. Our nameless narrator has been sent to earth to pose as mathematics professor Andrew Martin and to kill everyone who knows about prof. Martins progress on solving the Riemann Hypothesis. He has to erase the prove, and that isn't a problem, but as it turns out: killing people is.
"Sometimes, to be yourself you will have to forget yourself and become something else. Your character is not a fixed thing. You will sometimes have to move to keep up with it."
The alien starts enjoying life as professor Andrew Martin and he starts to care for the people around him. He starts buying time with the hosts, the aliens that sent him to earth in the first place. But that doesn't go to plan. He sees the human life through his own eyes for the first time and he starts to appreciate the little things. And he realizes he could never go back to Vonnadoria because he's grown too attached to the people around him. Even though he is, in fact, an imposter.
"You are lucky to be alive. Inhale and take in life's wonders. Never take so much as a single petal of a single flower for granted."
It's a wonderful book about life and loss, about joy and hurt, about peanut butter sandwiches and getting drunk on Australian wine. It's about making mistakes and owning up to them. It's about saving lives - either your own or that of someone else. It's about learning to appreciate that being human is actually a gift. No matter how hard life can be sometimes.
"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."
It's wonderful and I absolutely love it. I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy sci-fi. But mark my words, it's not a fantastic thought-out sci-fi alien story with loads of background. It just isn't, but that's not the main goal of what Matt Haig is trying to tell us. This is partly autobiograpghical and I think we can all find pieces of ourselves within his words.
"When humans really like something they clap their hands together. It makes no sense. But when they do it on behalf of you, it warms your brain."
Well, I'm clapping for you, sir. You wrote a wonderful book and I can't wait to read the rest of your work.
Another great book by Matt Haig. I finished it in three days, I just couldn't put it away. His writing is absolutely mesmerizing. The concept of the story is briliant, especially once you've read the author's note in the back of the book. It makes so much sense and it's about so much more than an alien trying to figure out what it's like to be human. It's about humans figuring out what it means to be human. Matt has such a beautiful way with words and I can't stop yelling at people that they really need to start reading his books. I read his latest novel 'How To Stop Time' at the start of this year and it was honestly life altering. I still think about it. A lot. I'm pretty sure 'The Humans' will haunt me for quite some time as well.
"You can't find happiness looking for the meaning of life. Meaning is only the third most important thing. It come after loving and being."
I had to get used to the way the story is narrated. It actually took me thirty pages or so before I could actually enjoy the book. But once I did, there was no going back. I knew I was going to like it because it's a Matt Haig book and I love him (but I thought the same thing when I read 'Release' by Patrick Ness and I didn't like that whatsoever, so...) but it turned out I was going to love this book.
"You are more than the sum of your particles. And that is quite a sum."
Our narrator is an alien from a planet called 'Vonnadoria' where life is based around maths, logic and rationality. There is no pain and everything is beautiful, but life is dull. Our nameless narrator has been sent to earth to pose as mathematics professor Andrew Martin and to kill everyone who knows about prof. Martins progress on solving the Riemann Hypothesis. He has to erase the prove, and that isn't a problem, but as it turns out: killing people is.
"Sometimes, to be yourself you will have to forget yourself and become something else. Your character is not a fixed thing. You will sometimes have to move to keep up with it."
The alien starts enjoying life as professor Andrew Martin and he starts to care for the people around him. He starts buying time with the hosts, the aliens that sent him to earth in the first place. But that doesn't go to plan. He sees the human life through his own eyes for the first time and he starts to appreciate the little things. And he realizes he could never go back to Vonnadoria because he's grown too attached to the people around him. Even though he is, in fact, an imposter.
"You are lucky to be alive. Inhale and take in life's wonders. Never take so much as a single petal of a single flower for granted."
It's a wonderful book about life and loss, about joy and hurt, about peanut butter sandwiches and getting drunk on Australian wine. It's about making mistakes and owning up to them. It's about saving lives - either your own or that of someone else. It's about learning to appreciate that being human is actually a gift. No matter how hard life can be sometimes.
"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."
It's wonderful and I absolutely love it. I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy sci-fi. But mark my words, it's not a fantastic thought-out sci-fi alien story with loads of background. It just isn't, but that's not the main goal of what Matt Haig is trying to tell us. This is partly autobiograpghical and I think we can all find pieces of ourselves within his words.
"When humans really like something they clap their hands together. It makes no sense. But when they do it on behalf of you, it warms your brain."
Well, I'm clapping for you, sir. You wrote a wonderful book and I can't wait to read the rest of your work.