Book Club | The Humans (Matt Haig)

In The Haven Book Club this month, we read and discussed The Humans by Matt Haig.

The Humans follows an alien sent to Earth to assume the identity of Andrew Martin, who has recently solved The Riemann Hypothesis, the most notorious unsolved problem in mathematics. The alien is not there to congratulate Andrew. Instead, he is present to eliminate anyone who might have been exposed to the discovery. According to the Vonnadorian alien race from which he hails, humans are not yet ready for (and ultimately unworthy of) the power this knowledge would bestow upon them.

The alien inhabiting Andrew was taught by his super-advanced race to view humans as barbaric, repulsive, and dangerous. However, as we progress through the story from “Andrew’s” perspective, we witness a softening as he begins to perceive and experience a more nuanced and complex truth.

Humans possess absurd customs and rituals, often exhibiting contradictory thoughts and feelings, with love and beauty woven in. This is evident through music, art, and the poetry of Emily Dickinson.

Andrew begins the story as a transformed man, but will the entity possessing his form soften, too, as he sees humanity in a new way, thanks mainly to Isobel (his wife) and Gulliver (his son)?

“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.” – The Vonnadorian Critique From Observing The Humans.

It is difficult to read The Humans without noticing the author’s presence. Matt Haig uses the narrative to explore and express both a lament and a manifesto regarding the best and worst of human potential.

The book can sometimes feel like a dose of self-help presented through science fiction, as it conveys Haig’s message of hope and appreciation for humanity. This message may be too heavy-handed for some, while others may find it a peaceful balm in a world often bereft of good news.

What Did You Think of The Humans?

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