Extraterrestrial

The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth

By: Avi Loeb

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

The world's most eminent scientist of space explains why he believes in extraterrestrial life.

Harvard's top astronomer lays out his controversial theory that our solar system was recently visited by advanced alien technology.

In late 2017, scientists at a Hawaiian observatory glimpsed a strange object soaring through our inner solar system. Astrophysicist Avi Loeb conclusively showed it was not an asteroid; it was moving too fast along a strange orbit and leaving no trail of gas or debris in its wake. There was only one conceivable explanation: the object was a piece of advanced technology created by a distant alien civilisation.

In Extraterrestrial, Loeb takes listeners inside the thrilling story of the first interstellar visitor to be spotted in our solar system. He outlines his theory and its profound implications: for science, for religion and for the future of our planet. A mind-bending journey through the furthest reaches of science, space-time and the human imagination, Extraterrestrial challenges listeners to aim for the stars - and to think critically about what's out there, no matter how strange it seems.

©2021 Avi Loeb (P)2021 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Critic reviews

"Visionary." (Stephen Greenblatt)

Academically strong and opens doors

As a data scientist and astronomy geek myself, Avi’s message is preaching to the choir among those in the same wavelength but presents a compelling case for more creative thinking in the academic world.
Reads well, and I often caught myself knowing the term or uttering it before it being announced, giving me a cool confirmation that signals, math and philosophy are tightly entwined in investigating our relationship to the sky and experiences outside of pure theory brings the human center stage into why we may keep the extra terrestrial channels open, otherwise half the equation is simply omitted for unreasonably fearful scepticism that has marred the scientific community.

Outstanding, inspiring with compelling evidence

Outstanding, educational and Inspiring. Every scientist should listen to this, and much of these same concepts relating to a scientist's humility and an evidence based approach regardless of current consensus should also be taught and practiced in our education system.

Compelling evidence is presented and thoroughly reasoned through. Besides Oumuamua and its analysis, this book also contains discussions of other potential evidences of life in our own solar system.

How would our world change if we had undeniable evidence another non human civilization and how might our focuses within science and education change? How would undeniable discovery of even primitive life on a another planet change these fields and how we use our resources and collaborate?

Very well read.

Outstanding audio book.

Credible call for openness and MORE evidence.

Avi Loeb makes a case for examining evidence and following it where it leads. Science should be about evidence and not unwarranted skepticism-as-identity posturing.

Personal story in first few chapters

I tried to get thru the first few chapters to the actual extraterrestrial part but most remained at the personal growing up as a Jew part. I read history books for that purpose, not astrophysics.

Wrong title...?

Though I totally agree with the call of the author for scientists to leave their echo chaimber while practicing research, the topic in the title is more used to make his point on this fact rather then the core subject of the book. Independent, creative thinking should indeed be the core culture in the scientific community. Not forcing talented people to follow the ego of the already established scientists because otherwise their careers are doomed before they even start...

That said, this was not what I was expecting given the title. If you like to read a semi autobiography and an opinion on the subject above, then this is the book for you.