Review of Aliens and Humans

[Pablo Josue Mendia]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Aliens and Humans" by Harry Keller.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Aliens & Humans: Fermi’s Paradox Solved – At Last, by Harry E. Keller Ph.D., is a book that aims to show the probabilities (and not the uncertainties) of events. Keller explains that the book’s title may mislead us. He wants to answer why aliens are not "knocking on our figurative doors" and why we are on Earth. After this clarification, Keller’s book begins, and it has six main parts: (1) Cosmology, (2) Biology, (3) Finding Civilization, (4) Velocity, (5) Choices, and (6) Expansion.

The aim is to help us understand Fermi’s Paradox (FP) and whether we find an answer. FP is the contradiction between the high chance of extraterrestrial life existing and our lack of evidence or contact with them. Keller tries to answer two versions of this paradox. The Weak FP asks, “Why aren’t aliens here?” The Strong FP asks, “Why haven’t we been able to detect aliens?” However, the book is so much more than its attempt to answer these questions.

The book has big numbers, lots of data, and inductive reasoning. Through its pages, readers can expect to understand light-years, inverse-square forces, infinity, the stars, planets and galaxies, the “Goldilocks zone,” dwarf planets, The Orion Spur, abiogenesis, extinctions, Earth’s composition, the panspermia theory, the Kardashev Scale, Alcubierre Drives, negative mass, wormholes, the conservation of energy and momentum, interstellar shielding, self-replicating probes, bizarre ideas, destructive choices, and much more. Keller also uses “I” to distinguish his estimates from scientific data.

Why is it unlikely that instantaneous transporters, like in Star Trek, will be successfully developed for humans? If the Andromeda Galaxy collides with ours, what would happen? Is travel or communication between galaxies likely? How many years can a small mass star live? What is the difference between red and brown dwarf stars? What are the chances of a star having a planet that can sustain life? What is SSMBH? How dangerous are cosmic dust particles? Are alien visitations likely? If you read Keller’s book, he answers these questions (with likelihoods) and much more.

If the paragraphs above capture your attention, read this book. If it sounds too dry and analytical, avoid it.

I liked Krishna's game of chess as an example of exponential growth. I also learned science acronyms like FTL (faster than light). I appreciate that Keller recommends The Great Silence: Science and Philosophy of Fermi’s Paradox (by Milan M. Ćirković) for readers who want to compare Keller’s hypotheses and claims with Ćirković's. Lastly, the book has images, charts, and short sections, avoiding information overload.

I was not fond of the book’s lack of citations and references. This lack leaves readers to independently verify Keller's claims against current scientific hypotheses and theories. However, Keller mentioned that he would not include citations or references in the book to avoid an academic aura and be more accessible to young readers. For this reason, I did not find it sufficient to deduct a star. 

The book is well-edited, containing minor grammar errors that few people will find. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to all readers interested in scientific reading with thought-provoking likelihoods and unlikelihoods that avoid overwhelming readers with an academic feeling.

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Aliens and Humans
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[Blueberry Dragon]

A well-presented science book without information overload seems like a rarity. I will be recommending this to popular science buffs. Thanks for the informative review, @Pablo Josue Mendia.

[Cynthia Pence]

Aliens & Humans: Fermi’s Paradox Solved – At Last sounds like a fascinating exploration of one of the most intriguing questions in science: the existence of extraterrestrial life. The breakdown of Fermi’s Paradox into its two versions provides a structured approach to understanding this complex topic, and I appreciate that Keller delves into a wide range of scientific concepts while making it accessible to readers.

[Nneka Bridget]

This review effectively highlights the key themes and insights of "Aliens & Humans: Fermi’s Paradox Solved – At Last." It emphasizes the book's analytical approach to understanding Fermi's Paradox while acknowledging its accessibility for younger readers. The mention of interesting concepts and the author's unique perspective adds to its appeal. However, the lack of citations could raise concerns for some readers regarding the verifiability of claims. Overall, this sounds like a compelling read for those interested in the scientific exploration of extraterrestrial life and cosmology. The five-star rating is well-deserved for its engaging content and readability.