The HumansThe Humans
Score Modern
What it's about
An alien arrives on Earth with a gruesome task, taking the form of Professor Andrew Martin, a prominent mathematician at Cambridge University. Unimpressed by the human species at first, he's eager to finish the job and hurry home to his utopian planet, where everyone is all-knowing and immortal, until humans begin to surprise him.
Why it's worth reading
It was an Edgar Award finalist. It's funny, touching and full of affection for humanity.
You'll love it if you liked
The Midnight Library
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
A Man Called OveGood to know
It's light in tone but deals with depression and loneliness.
By the numbers
- Readers52 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller31 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz2 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #168 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #252 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #930 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1722 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic
More by Matt Haig
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Quick answers
Is The Humans worth reading?
Yes. It was an Edgar Award finalist. It ranks #1,722 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Humans about?
An alien arrives on Earth with a gruesome task, taking the form of Professor Andrew Martin, a prominent mathematician at Cambridge University. Unimpressed by the human species at first, he's eager to finish the job and hurry home to his utopian planet, where everyone is all-knowing and immortal, until humans begin to surprise him.
How long does it take to read The Humans?
About 8 hours (304 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Humans?
If you liked it, try The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams or A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.