"With wit and brio, Frank separates current nonsense about aliens
from the serious and fascinating search for extraterrestrial
life."
-- Carlo Rovelli, New York Times bestselling author of Seven Brief
Lessons on Physics"This wonderful book unravels the tangled ball of
humanity's thinking about aliens, and tells the whole story with
high humor and immense clarity. Adam Frank helpfully explains what
scientists are doing now to explore the galaxy remotely in search
of answers to this fascinating mystery. Read this and you'll know
as much as anyone does on the topic-- it's as clear as a map, as
clear as Drake's Equation." -- Kim Stanley Robinson, author of The
Ministry for the Future and the Mars trilogy"From the details of
the origins of life on Earth, to the physics (and hypothetical
future physics) of interstellar travel, The Little Book of Aliens
is a comprehensive exploration of the seemingly limitless potential
of intelligent life, human and beyond. Frank's book is science
writing at its best, revealing the awe-inspiring capacity of
science to help us understand, and navigate, the universe." --
Annaka Harris, New York Times bestselling author of Conscious: A
Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind"Aliens and UFOs
have held perennial fascination for us all. Now, Adam Frank gives
us an entertaining romp through our quickly changing attitudes to
these topics. In just the last decade, biologists have achieved
genuine insights into life's origin, and astronomers have
discovered thousands of 'exoplanets' orbiting distant stars. At
last, we understand what to look for and where, and Adam Frank has
written it down for us." -- Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal and
author of From Here to Infinity and On the Future"Adam Frank has
written a page-turner on the search for intelligent life in the
universe. As informative as it is entertaining, this book
ruthlessly falsifies common irrational beliefs about alien
existence, but also joyously describes the fascinating current
state of serious scientific research on the subject." -- Scott
Derrickson, director of Marvel Studio's Doctor Strange"The Little
Book of Aliens is not little at all. Its scope is vast and the
questions it answers as well as those it asks are as mind-blowing
as they are essential. Here you will learn what modern science has
to teach about life in the universe from a true master, who is
knowledgeable, clear, patient, generous, and really funny. If
aliens do land on Earth one day, I hope they choose Adam Frank's
backyard. They will be up for an awesome first encounter with a
first-rate scientist and human being."
-- Marcelo Gleiser, author of The Dawn of a Mindful Universe: A
Manifesto for Humanity's Future, and 2019 Templeton Prize
laureate"The Little Book of Aliens is a captivating guide. With a
chatty mix of wit and wisdom, Adam Frank comprehensively covers a
wide range of topics from historical details to claims of
modern-day sightings, while shedding light on our enduring
fascination with the concept of aliens."
-- Sara Seager, professor of planetary science and physics at MIT,
author of The Smallest Lights in the Universe"An irreverent,
expert, and characteristically 'frank' overview of all things
aliens, from the Drake Equation to UFOs to warp drive. This is a
whirlwind tour from Roswell to the James Webb Space Telescope that
stays firmly rooted in physics and the scientific method." -- Jason
T. Wright, professor of astronomy and astrophysics and director of
the Penn State Extraterrestrial Intelligence Center"Full of the
excitement of the scientific enterprise! At the bottom of this
engaging book is the profound question: Are we alone in the
universe? In clear and accessible writing, Professor Frank provides
a critical history of the belief in aliens and their conjectured
visitations to Earth, and discusses the methods scientists are
using now to search for extraterrestrial life." -- Alan Paige
Lightman, physicist and author of Einstein's Dreams and The
Accidental Universe"After years of dreaming about exploring the
cosmos for signs of intelligent life, [Frank] and other scientists
are on the threshold of a new era of unprecedented discovery in the
field of astrobiology.... The book brims with fascinating facts and
speculations....Frank advises we look for alien life where it most
likely exists: deep space. He also stresses the key point that we
have only begun to peer into the universe with instruments capable
of breakthrough discoveries, a useful riposte to critics of the
effort. Throughout, Frank champions the importance of demanding
standards of evidence: 'They are, literally, why science works.'"
-- Kirkus Reviews"'Is there anyone out there?' asks University of
Rochester astrophysicist Frank in this animated overview of
scientists' search for extraterrestrial life.... Frank discusses
some of the ways astronomers are currently looking for aliens and
hospitable planets, including studying the chemical composition of
distant planets' atmospheres by observing how they filter starlight
as it passes through... a solid survey of the hunt for life beyond
Earth." -- Publishers Weekly"Utilizing just enough hard science and
plenty of examples to aid in understanding some of the basics of
astrobiology, like Dyson spheres and the Drake equation, Frank has
provided the reader with a thorough and exciting front-row seat to
the future of searching for life in other worlds." -- Booklist
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