THE ALIEN PERSPECTIVE

Often complex ideas are explained with clarity and precision but this is clearly a passion project for the author and the book soars where he deploys more poetic language as when musing on the deeper themes that arise from his central question If you ve ever looked up at the sky and pondered on the big questions of life in the Universe this is essential reading BBC Sky at Night magazineAstronomer 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 th