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Interstellar

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and Our Future Beyond Earth

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 'LOEB IS AN ASTRONOMICAL SHERLOCK HOLMES' Washington Post
'A JOY IN CONJECTURE AND AN OMNIVOROUS SPIRIT OF INQUIRY. . . CARL SAGAN WOULD HAVE LIKED THIS BOOK' The Times

From the iconoclastic Harvard astronomer and New York Times best-selling author of Extraterrestrial, an urgent explanation of why becoming an interstellar species is imperative for humanity's survival - and a game plan for how we can settle among the stars.

In 2017, Avi Loeb, Chair of Harvard's Astronomy Department, went public with a theory that shook the scientific community - our solar system has been visited by advanced alien technology. His provocative and persuasive argument (and internationally bestselling book Extraterrestrial) has opened thousands of minds to the existence of intelligent life beyond Earth. This book tackles the huge question of what happens next?

Long the stuff of science-fiction, here at last is the science fact. From advances in deep space probes to ongoing searches for extraterrestrial technology in our night sky, through the latest heated debates over the existence of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, Interstellar offers a thrilling, front-row view of the technology and the ideas currently preparing us for contact with alien civilizations. Providing the first realistic and practical blueprint for how that might actually occur, Professor Loeb lays out the profound implications of our becoming - or not becoming - an interstellar species. In an urgent, eloquent appeal for more proactive engagement with the outer universe, he powerfully contends why we must seek out other life forms, and in the process, choose who and what we are within the universe.

Combining cutting-edge science, physics, and philosophy, Loeb takes us on a mind-bending journey through the furthest reaches of science, space-time, and the human imagination. Interstellar is an eye-opening, necessary look at our future that proves, once again, that scientific curiosity offers the key to our survival.

'Loeb is surely correct. . . scientists studying the vastness of the cosmos should entertain risky ideas more often, for the universe is undoubtedly more wild and unexpected than any extremes conjured by the human imagination' Economist
'A COMPELLING ARGUMENT FOR A MORE OPEN-MINDED APPROACH TO SCIENCE - A COMBINATION OF HUMILITY AND WONDER' New Statesman

(P) 2023 HarperCollins©2023 Avi Loeb Astronomy Astronomy & Space Science Cosmology Future Studies Science Social Sciences Interstellar Solar System

Critic reviews

Praise for Extraterrestrial:

Compelling . . . The book is not so much a claim for one object as an argument for a more open-minded approach to science - a combination of humility and wonder
Skeptics should take seriously the meticulous defense of the alien origin story offered in Extraterrestrial . . . You don't have to share his conviction to be impressed by the breadth of his argument
So interesting... I recommend [Extraterrestrial] to people who have any interest in this extraordinary subject of life existing in other places than on Earth. (WILLIAM SHATNER (on 'Extraterrestrial', from Amazon.com))
Advance praise for Interstellar: Interstellar is a deliciously provocative and deeply optimistic book. Avi Loebinvites us to reimagine our place in the universe, confront urgent questions about our future, and remember that scientific curiosity is key to our survival. (DANIEL H. PINK, #1 New York Times bestselling author of DRIVE and THE POWER OF REGRET)
Is humanity prepared to meet its neighbors? In this brilliant, provocative, and beautifully written book, leading astronomer and extraterrestrial evangelist Avi Loeb says we better get ready - and soon. So buckle up and start reading! (DANIEL GILBERT, Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, author of the New York Times bestseller STUMBLING ON HAPPINESS)
Science at its best inspires, unifies, and points toward a better future. The innovative work Avi Loeb is leading to discover evidence of extraterrestrial civilizations does all three. Interstellar is a must-read for anyone who has ever been haunted by the question, "Are we alone?" (NIA IMARA, professor of astronomy at the University of California, Santa Cruz)
This is a fascinating book about extraterrestrial civilizations by one of the world's leading astrophysicists. You don't need to agree with all of Avi's views to be inspired by his hopeful and thought-provoking vision for humanity's interstellar future. (MAX TEGMARK, professor at MIT, bestselling author of LIFE 3.0 and OUR MATHEMATICAL UNIVERSE)
Interstellar is possibly the most visionary and important manifesto of our necessarily interstellar future as humankind. (DR. FRANK LAUKIEN, chairman, president, and CEO, Bruker Corporation)
[Avi Loeb is] the world's 'Leading Alien Hunter'.
Readers of grand speculations by the likes of Freeman Dyson and Stanislaw Lem will find nothing in Interstellar to make them blink . . . Loeb, who has spent a career writing about black holes, dark matter and the deep time of the universe, argues that unless we go looking for extraterrestrials, we're never going to find them. His dating metaphor grew on me: are we to be cosmic wallflowers, standing around on the off-chance that some stranger comes along? Or are we going to go looking for things we'll never spot without a bit of effort?
All stars
Most relevant
This book's subtitle is a bit of a misnomer because as the author points out repeatedly there isn't much of a search going on and most of what is written about is speculative and rambling. You could listen to any half hour of it and the chances are it would make much the same points and cover much the same ground. I don't give it 1 or 2 stars because there are some good, thought-provoking moments, just not enough of them. I don't feel there is enough material in this for a book, more of a long magazine article.

Rambling with the odd gem

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I've enjoyed Avi's work up to now on many occasions and am encouraging his enthusiasm and willingness to not conform

Good writing... Great story

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