The Humans - Book Review
December 13, 2021
I thought I had picked up a humorous novel, but instead discovered that this novel was a warm lesson in what it means to be Human. Not a bad trade in my opinion.
From the Back Cover
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.
Details
- Author: Matt Haig
- Published: 2013
- Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Prime Numbers and Clothes
On the planet Vonnadoria, the Vonnadorians live in harmony with mathematics. Mathematics has allowed them to develop technologies so advanced that life and technology are interwound into a symbiotic symmetry. This enlightened species has two goals in life: to advance the wonders of mathematics; and, to keep the cosmos in order.
Professor Andrew Martin of Earth has just messed up that order. His solution to the Riemann Hypothesis of prime numbers will revolutionize human existence, allowing Humans to advance in unimaginable ways.
This is bad. Very bad.
The Vonnadorians cannot allow a species so primitive to move forward so quickly. A species where war, violence, aggression and selfishness are still so ingrained in their makeup. A species that still wears clothes!
So Andrew Martin must die and his solution to the Riemann Hypothesis must be erased from Human history.
The Humans by Matt Haig is a story about the alien that is sent to Earth to accomplish this and his experience in what it means to be - Human.
A Funny, but Warm Account of What it Means to be Human
The book started out quite funny. Andrew Martin is "replaced" by the alien (the protagonist in the story) who finds himself naked on the highway. Immediately the alien, who has no name, tries to acclimate to these strange human behaviours.
We'll call him Andrew since that's who he is impersonating.
Poor Andrew is running around naked in Cambridge trying to escape the rain (his species hates rain). His exploits during the first few chapters are hilarious. The incident in the convenience store where he reads a Cosmopolitan magazine, his spitting at people (thinking that this was how Humans said hello to one another), and the dialogue between him and the detectives were highlights which made me laugh aloud.
Here's a rather funny excerpt from the book in which Andrew gives the detectives his opinion of wearing clothes:
"‘I do not like wearing clothes.' I said, with quite delicate precision. ‘They chafe. They are uncomfortable around my genitals.' And then, remembering all that I had learnt from Cosmopolitan magazine I leant in towards them and added what I thought would be the clincher. ‘They may seriously hinder my chances of achieving tantric full-body orgasm.'"
Andrew's "clincher" sends him to the mental health ward for a bit, which is a funny story on it's own.
Eventually Andrew is released from the ward and returned to his wife, Isobel, and son Gulliver. Isobel cares for him as any dutiful spouse would, but Gulliver - a teenager - focuses more on the YouTube embarrassment of his naked father running around Cambridge, and the fallout he will get at school.
Andrew didn't care too much about these ugly Humans. He had a job to do: destroy all evidence of the solution to the Riemann Hypothesis. This included killing anyone who might know - anyone like Isobel and Gulliver. However, patience is a virtue and Andrew must complete his mission in steps so Isobel and Gulliver's demise must wait.
As the story progresses, and as Andrew learns who knows what about the solution, he begins the process of eliminating the evidence. During all this, he experiences first hand what it's like to be Human; and, amazingly enough, begins to see Humans not as a violent, aggressive and selfish species, but as a species with wonderful qualities of community, self-sacrifice and love.
These admirable traits, especially the love and caring he receives from Isobel, move Andrew in ways that make him realise that Humans are a pretty special bunch. He says that:
"If you think something is ugly, look harder. Ugliness is just a failure of seeing"
I don't want to spoil the book, but let's just say that, though the solution to the Riemann Hypothesis is destroyed, Isobel and Gulliver do not die, and Andrew (the alien) learns that life is more than just about mathematics - it's about seeing each day as a blessing, and loving those who you care for deeply.
Here is a wonderful quote that Andrew writes to Gulliver as he tries to impart what he's learned about being human:
"It is not the length of life that matters. It's the depth. But while burrowing, keep the sun above you."
In essence live out your passions, but don't let those passions interfere with the people you care for. Make time for those you love and stop from time to time to take in the experience of being alive.
My Thoughts
I thought I had picked up a humorous novel, but instead discovered that this novel was a warm lesson in what it means to be Human. Not a bad trade in my opinion.
While I don't think it was an amazing read, I do think it was a good read and it helped that Matt Haig talked about his inspiration for the book, which I quote below:
"I first had the idea of writing this story in 2000, when I was in the grips of panic disorder. Back then, human life felt as strange for me as it does for the unnamed narrator …. It has taken me a lot of books to get to this one, the story I first wanted to tell. The one that attempted a look at the weird and often frightening beauty of being human."
So, Would I Recommend It?
Yes. If you're looking for a light weekend read that will warm your heart (but not move you to tears) this is a good book to pick up. It's got it's moments of funny, but it's main goal is to remind us all how important it is to love and be loved.
