FIRST CONTACT
The Story Of Our Obsession With Aliens
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"Read FIRST CONTACT and marvel at the sky, with its billions of possibilities for habitable worlds. Becky Ferreira’s vivid narrative sweeps us along in a scientific adventure that spans time from the Neanderthals to alien icebreakers to the fascinating question of what it would mean to make contact and find life elsewhere in the universe. We live in an amazing time where the search for other worlds like ours is becoming reality."
- Lisa Kaltenegger, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute and author of ALIEN EARTHS An utter delight. Becky Ferreira's tour of humanity's long history of mythologizing and searching for aliens is hilarious and enlightening—it's a tour that everyone should take. As a veteran science writer and natural humorist, Ferreira is an ideal guide. She shows that aliens certainly do exist: They're a part of what makes us human. If I could pick one book to be abducted with, this would be it. -Brian Merchant, best-selling author of BLOOD IN THE MACHINE |
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"Science reporter Ferreira offers a survey of the past, present, and future of humans in space and what (or, more compellingly, who), if anything, is up there waiting to be found.... Throughout, Ferreira maintains a lighthearted tone, mixing hard science with sharply comedic asides. While the core of the book is firmly situated in science, a standout early chapter charts the various archetypes of aliens in pop culture, ranging from monsters to peers. The style choices, from use of graphics to pullout explainers to the pithy chapter lengths, make First Contact a book that begs for return visits. Budding ufologists and alien skeptics alike will find something that alters their previous perceptions, providing enlightenment for anyone interested in discerning what lies beyond the stars.
YA/S: Teens interested in learning more about the science of space and the possibility of extraterrestrial life will find this highly readable and formatted in a similar manner to their textbooks."
- Booklist
YA/S: Teens interested in learning more about the science of space and the possibility of extraterrestrial life will find this highly readable and formatted in a similar manner to their textbooks."
- Booklist
Becky Ferreira's author signing in Ithaca, NY
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FIRST CONTACT provides a 360-degree view of humans' longstanding interest in finding out whether we're alone in the universe. The book's striking prose is as transporting as its visuals, which punctuate the text and take the reader to fascinating parts of spacetime. From the deep past to the dreams and realities of the present to the uncertainty and potential of the future, Ferreira's account of the search for extraterrestrial life brilliantly synthesizes the science, science fiction, and philosophy of the endeavor--while revealing in new ways, with each chapter, how that cosmic quest is fundamentally about life on Earth.
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Q&A with 'First Contact' author Becky Ferreira
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Reading FIRST CONTACT– a relentlessly entertaining tour of aliens both familiar and peculiar – made me clap my hands together in delight over and over again. Ferreira has put together a true marvel here, not only because she writes with clarity and verve, but because she is a storyteller armed with immeasurable wit. And this irreverent guide of hers doesn’t just take us to the stars; it also holds up a mirror to humanity to show us just how delightfully unhinged we are as a species. What a rush!
As life here on Earth gets more chaotic with every twirl around the sun, Ferreira reminds us that there's nothing more humanity-affirming than looking to the stars for hope, guidance, and answers. FIRST CONTACT approaches the cold, neverending void -- and the possibility that we're not alone in it -- with humor and warmth. As tempting as it is to escape to Mars or the Moon or Alpha Centauri when things get heated here on our home planet, Ferreira reminds us that humans have a long history of looking up, together, and that's worth holding onto.
FIRST CONTACT is a must-read for anyone interested in the past, present, and future of our attempts to make contact with life beyond Earth. From ancient civilizations gazing at the stars to modern scientists searching for signs of life among distant exoplanets, FIRST CONTACT weaves together history, science, and culture to tell the comprehensive story of search for alien lifeforms. Ferreira approaches the extraterrestrial question with a perfect balance of wit and wonder, asking not just if we're alone, but what it would mean for humanity if we finally discover we're not. From UFOs to SETI, FIRST CONTACT takes aim at the profound philosophical and scientific questions at the heart of a millennia old question: Are we alone? Even if we never find aliens, FIRST CONTACT is an important reminder that the search itself has a lot to teach us about what it means to be human.
- Robin George Andrews, author of HOW TO KILL AN ASTEROID
As life here on Earth gets more chaotic with every twirl around the sun, Ferreira reminds us that there's nothing more humanity-affirming than looking to the stars for hope, guidance, and answers. FIRST CONTACT approaches the cold, neverending void -- and the possibility that we're not alone in it -- with humor and warmth. As tempting as it is to escape to Mars or the Moon or Alpha Centauri when things get heated here on our home planet, Ferreira reminds us that humans have a long history of looking up, together, and that's worth holding onto.
- Samantha Cole, author of HOW SEX CHANGED THE INTERNET
FIRST CONTACT is a must-read for anyone interested in the past, present, and future of our attempts to make contact with life beyond Earth. From ancient civilizations gazing at the stars to modern scientists searching for signs of life among distant exoplanets, FIRST CONTACT weaves together history, science, and culture to tell the comprehensive story of search for alien lifeforms. Ferreira approaches the extraterrestrial question with a perfect balance of wit and wonder, asking not just if we're alone, but what it would mean for humanity if we finally discover we're not. From UFOs to SETI, FIRST CONTACT takes aim at the profound philosophical and scientific questions at the heart of a millennia old question: Are we alone? Even if we never find aliens, FIRST CONTACT is an important reminder that the search itself has a lot to teach us about what it means to be human.
- Daniel Oberhaus, author of EXTRATERRESTRIAL LANGUAGES
E.T. approves!
