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Extraterrestrial

The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth

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Extraterrestrial

By: Avi Loeb
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
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About this listen

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 Astronomy Astronomy & Space Science Science Solar System Interstellar

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Critic reviews

"Visionary." (Stephen Greenblatt)

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The book was not what I was expecting, but I thoroughly recommend it.

Science should be as creative an endeavour as the arts, and if dome well, it is how we find out facts. The problem humanity faces is science, or too many of the administrators and scientists who determine what science is done, are no longer imaginative and instead push the orthodoxy. We need to change. We need to take more risks in what hypotheses we test. And where better to start than a harder look for past or present intelligent life away from Earth? Perhaps we have already missed a key bit of space archaeology that came through our solar system.

Avi Loeb is a successful scientist who is imaginative. He wants to take a few risks to test unpopular hypotheses. He is the type of person who should be running science rather than many who end up doing so.

Read it. Particularly if you a scientist.

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A very good listen, the authors presents his facts in a very understandable manner. I feel like the level of detail required to fully explore his ideas cannot by covered in a short book and it is difficult to condense it down while retaining the argument.

Good but not what I expected

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This was a superb account of an event from a purely scientific point of view based on the data. no conjecture pure facts. I really enjoyed that Avi interwove stories of his life in between the more science based parts, it kept it engaging and gave it a human touch.

Inspirational stuff. A beacon of hope.

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Very convincing with detailed analysis, well written, and spoken. I am a believer and will keep an eye on Avi Loeb in future!!!!!

Excellent Listen

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A very thought intriguing not just about the object but how humans view their place in the universe as a whole. My scientific background is in biomedical science and obviously far from the field which is discussed here however, the data and interpretation of Oumuamua is an interesting view point (one which I do not share). Dr Loeb does put forward a fantastic point about cosmic modesty (one he has put forward before) which personally I believe is exactly how we should be thinking when we look toward the stars.

There a is a very simple track to follow that firstly humans thought we were the centre of the universe, then that got knocked back and then we thought we were the centre of the solar system ect ect. This book does in a less than subtle way point out the absurdity of that kind of arrogance in a more contemporary pov, i.e. we are not special.

The data presented for Oumuamua being ET here is interesting, but a tad too speculatory to be counted when one presents the evidence that Dr Loeb has put forth. However, such pov's should not be discounted as bunk or nonsense, they deserve a lot more attention than they currently are. Very well presented book, points presented which I considered more 'reaching' than any sort of data to prove the fact, but definitely something which helps bring attention toward a subject which should have a lot more credence thrown behind it. (4/5 (if one can put a number on such things!)

Not just about Oumuamua

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philisophical, fascinating, aweinspiring, thoughtprovoking, unbelievable, terrifying.

it left me questioning our existence and our beginning.

Fascinating!

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My interest lies directly within the subject matter of this Audible title. I bought it as an off chance and having listened it is the most profound study/explanation of current thinking and forward thinking. The revelation that space exploration is actually space archeology lit my mind. I thoroughly recommend this as a listen for us who have even a passing interest in the universe.

Profound

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Fascinating presentation on the data and possible interpretations on it w regard to life in the universe. I’m
Particularly humbled by the fact that mr Loeb obviously tries to dumb complicated stuff down and I still struggle to grasp some of it. Oh well. Great book nonetheless

Fascinating book

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I only bought this book as tendering for an animation project around the subject of Astrophysics and Dr Loeb’s name came up.

Well written and thought provoking. I do hope this inspires a while new era of discovery.

Amazingly thought provoking read!

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Very interesting open minded. This guy is addictive to listen to if you have a thirst for knowledge

Compelling

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