The Humans

By Matt Haig

☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎

“Let’s not forget The Things They Do to Make Themselves Happy That Actually Make Them Miserable. This is an infinite list. It includes shopping, watching TV, taking the better job, getting the bigger house, educating their young, making their skin look mildly less old, and harboring a vague desire to believe there might be a meaning to it all.”

I love this book. You know how you think your family is pretty normal, until you bring someone new around and suddenly see everything and everyone through fresh eyes? That’s the premise here, except the “someone new” is an alien, and the “family” is the entire human race.

Through this outsider’s perspective, Matt Haig delivers sharp, funny, and surprisingly tender observations about what it means to be human.

While science fiction isn’t usually my go-to, The Humans feels wonderfully accessible because of its present-day Earth setting. It’s humorous, heartwarming, and full of moments that stop you in your tracks with how true they feel.

This is one of those sleeper novels I can easily imagine becoming a modern classic. For me, Matt Haig is a must-read author. His books make me feel understood, uplifted, and yes… human.