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Title details for The Alien Perspective by David Whitehouse - Available

The Alien Perspective

A New View of Humanity and the Cosmos

by David Whitehouse
ebook
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Astronomer and science writer David Whitehouse takes us on a journey through the evolving cosmos as he considers humankind's place in the universe - and how our survival depends on otherworldly perspectives. From the Earth to the depths of outer space, this inspiring book shows how human evolution has been intertwined with the workings of the cosmos from the very beginning, and what the far-distant future may hold, both for the universe and for ourselves. Given enough time, Whitehouse contends, we must communicate with intelligent aliens whose divergent perspective will transform our understanding of the universe. First contact may even come sooner than we think. We have already transmitted signals towards promising exoplanets. If, say, Gliese 581d harbours life, the return signal could reach us in 2051. Drawing the thread of human consciousness from the cave to the cosmos, the acclaimed author of Apollo 11: The Inside Story charts our future journey to the end of space and time and considers whether something of humanity could remain at the end of it all.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    September 1, 2022

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781785789373

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781785789373
      • File size: 2667 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      October 21, 2022

      Whitehouse (Apollo 11: The Inside Story; Space 2069) uses his background as a former BBC correspondent and science editor to attempt to answer the eternal question: Is there life on other planets? The book looks at this question through the lens of many kinds of intelligent life (not just humankind), the history of Earth as it relates to other planets, and what's already known about the universe. Whitehouse examines what it would take for life to crop up on another planet, such as water and oxygen, and whether extraterrestrials would need those elemental building blocks. He argues that humans must communicate with beings on other planets to better understand the universe and says that first contact may come sooner than anyone thinks, and the return signal may reach Earth as early as the year 2051. Whitehouse's book will leave readers with the distinct impression that life on other planets does not have to look the same as it does on Earth. VERDICT This is an excellent book for readers wanting to understand life here and elsewhere.--Gabby Burnette

      Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      October 15, 2022
      The question of whether we're alone in the universe is one of the most profound, and one which struggles to be taken seriously in scientific circles. It's a question that extends beyond science into the realms of religion and philosophy. Evidence of intelligent life elsewhere would upend our understanding of our place in the universe. In his latest, Whitehouse summarizes the efforts we've made to search for other life in the universe, from SETI to UFO sightings, and the limitations such efforts must overcome. He assesses what we actually know about the likelihood that anyone else is out there. He also explores possibilities for what alien life might be like, an impossible question to answer, as we only have ourselves as an example, whereas life on other planets could be radically different. Finally, he examines what's in store for the future of the universe with an eye toward whether or not life might survive. In the end, without definitive contact with extraterrestrials, any searches we make tell us more about ourselves than about life elsewhere.

      COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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