The Humans - Matt Haig

"Our hero, Professor Andrew Martin, is dead before the book even begins. As it turns out, though, he wasn’t a very nice man--as the alien imposter who now occupies his body discovers. Sent to Earth to destroy evidence that Andrew had solved a major mathematical problem, the alien soon finds himself learning more about the professor, his family, and “the humans” than he ever expected. When he begins to fall for his own wife and son--who have no idea he’s not the real Andrew--the alien must choose between completing his mission and returning home or finding a new home right here on Earth."

This is one of the best books I have ever read and it is now a permanent resident of my bookshelf.  

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 and through the eyes of the alien, Andrew we see our often irrational absurdity.

As the book progresses it becomes more poignant, Martin learns more about what it means to be human, thanks partly to a dog, peanut butter and Emily Dickinson. The 97 point list that features in the book is perhaps the book's shining moment, Matt's skilful blending of the emotional with the humorous means he avoids this list becoming saccharine and it is genuinely moving, my favourite point being "It's not the length of life that matters. It's the depth. But while burrowing, keep the sun above you."

The Humans is a beautifully written insight into what it means to be a human and how pain, sorrow and fear are a necessary part of that.

The author explores these deep issues with a very light touch, keeping a steady dose of unassuming British humour. The plot is kept entertaining though its overall nature is predictable, but as Haig takes pains to show, the beauty is in the small details. That is what makes the human species worth preserving. At first glance no alien race would be able to resist the temptation to exterminate a dangerous, almost rabid, species like ours. Given time, we just might charm them though.

Disclaimer: The novel makes a good case for the humans. I am not entirely convinced.

I am not doing this book credit so I will ask you to please give it a go. Age rating 14+ deep issues are discussed such as suicide, cheating and murder.