What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
7 days and 02:44:46
1 copies available
U.S. only
Take Me to Your Leader: Perspectives on Your First Alien Encounter
Win a free print copy of this book!
7 days and 02:44:46
1 copies available
U.S. only
America’s favorite astrophysicist has written the most entertaining and universally appealing book of his stellar career: a practical guide for dealing with Alien visitors, an exploration of how it might happen, and a cultural history of our fascination with extraterrestrials.
“Ever since childhood,” writes Neil deGrasse Tyson, “I’ve wanted to be abducted by Aliens.”
Take Me to Your Leader is the culmination of a lifetime of fascination, speculation, and the amassing of scientific data about the possibility of Aliens visiting Earth. Drawing on a wealth of depictions from history, literature, pop culture, and film, Tyson applies the universal laws of physics to make the case for what Aliens might look like, act like, how they might travel through the universe to reach us, and what they might think of us upon arrival. Should such an event occur, Tyson further offers useful etiquette tips for your first close encounter.
If you’ve ever wondered why there are so many UFO sightings, or whether Aliens might already be among us, Tyson offers an informed perspective that is both factual and fun. Take Me to Your Leader is a tantalizing exploration of what would be the most mind-blowing experience of your life—the book for anyone who has ever wondered: Are we alone?
“Ever since childhood,” writes Neil deGrasse Tyson, “I’ve wanted to be abducted by Aliens.”
Take Me to Your Leader is the culmination of a lifetime of fascination, speculation, and the amassing of scientific data about the possibility of Aliens visiting Earth. Drawing on a wealth of depictions from history, literature, pop culture, and film, Tyson applies the universal laws of physics to make the case for what Aliens might look like, act like, how they might travel through the universe to reach us, and what they might think of us upon arrival. Should such an event occur, Tyson further offers useful etiquette tips for your first close encounter.
If you’ve ever wondered why there are so many UFO sightings, or whether Aliens might already be among us, Tyson offers an informed perspective that is both factual and fun. Take Me to Your Leader is a tantalizing exploration of what would be the most mind-blowing experience of your life—the book for anyone who has ever wondered: Are we alone?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Neil deGrasse Tyson
101 books285k followersNeil deGrasse Tyson was born and raised in New York City where he was educated in the public schools clear through his graduation from the Bronx High School of Science. Tyson went on to earn his BA in Physics from Harvard and his PhD in Astrophysics from Columbia.
In 2001, Tyson was appointed by President Bush to serve on a twelve-member commission that studied the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry. The final report was published in 2002 and contained recommendations (for Congress and for the major agencies of the government) that would promote a thriving future of transportation, space exploration, and national security.
In 2004, Tyson was once again appointed by President Bush to serve on a nine-member commission on the Implementation of the United States Space Exploration Policy, dubbed the “Moon, Mars, and Beyond” commission. This group navigated a path by which the new space vision can become a successful part of the American agenda. And in 2006, the head of NASA appointed Tyson to serve on its prestigious Advisory Council, which guides NASA through its perennial need to fit ambitious visions into restricted budgets.
In addition to dozens of professional publications, Dr. Tyson has written, and continues to write for the public. From 1995 to 2005, Tyson was a monthly essayist for Natural History magazine under the title Universe. And among Tyson’s fifteen books is his memoir The Sky is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist; and Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution, co-written with Donald Goldsmith. Origins is the companion book to the PBS NOVA four-part mini-series Origins, in which Tyson served as on-camera host. The program premiered in September 2004.
Two of Tyson’s other books are the playful and informative Death By Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries, which was a New York Times bestseller, and The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet, chronicling his experience at the center of the controversy over Pluto’s planetary status. The PBS NOVA documentary The Pluto Files, based on the book, premiered in March 2010.
In February 2012, Tyson released his tenth book, containing every thought he has ever had on the past, present, and future of space exploration: Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier.
For five seasons, beginning in the fall of 2006, Tyson appeared as the on-camera host of PBS NOVA’s spinoff program NOVA ScienceNOW, which is an accessible look at the frontier of all the science that shapes the understanding of our place in the universe.
During the summer of 2009 Tyson identified a cadre of professional standup comedians to assist his effort in bringing science to commercial radio with the NSF-funded pilot program StarTalk. Now also a popular Podcast, for three years it enjoyed a limited-run Television Series on the National Geographic Channel. StarTalk combines celebrity guests with informative yet playful banter. The target audience is all those people who never thought they would, or could, like science. In its first year on television and in three successive seasons, it was nominated for a Best Informational Programming Emmy.
Tyson is the recipient of twenty-one honorary doctorates and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest award given by NASA to a non-government citizen. His contributions to the public appreciation of the cosmos have been recognized by the International Astronomical Union in their official naming of asteroid “13123 Tyson.” And by zoologists, with the naming of Indirani Tysoni, a native species of leaping frog in India. On the lighter side, Tyson was voted “Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive” by People Magazine in 2000.
More recently, Tyson published Astrophysics for People In A Hurry in 2017, which was a domestic and international bestseller. This adorably readable book is an introduction to all that you’ve read and heard about that’s making news in the universe—consummated, in one plac
In 2001, Tyson was appointed by President Bush to serve on a twelve-member commission that studied the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry. The final report was published in 2002 and contained recommendations (for Congress and for the major agencies of the government) that would promote a thriving future of transportation, space exploration, and national security.
In 2004, Tyson was once again appointed by President Bush to serve on a nine-member commission on the Implementation of the United States Space Exploration Policy, dubbed the “Moon, Mars, and Beyond” commission. This group navigated a path by which the new space vision can become a successful part of the American agenda. And in 2006, the head of NASA appointed Tyson to serve on its prestigious Advisory Council, which guides NASA through its perennial need to fit ambitious visions into restricted budgets.
In addition to dozens of professional publications, Dr. Tyson has written, and continues to write for the public. From 1995 to 2005, Tyson was a monthly essayist for Natural History magazine under the title Universe. And among Tyson’s fifteen books is his memoir The Sky is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist; and Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution, co-written with Donald Goldsmith. Origins is the companion book to the PBS NOVA four-part mini-series Origins, in which Tyson served as on-camera host. The program premiered in September 2004.
Two of Tyson’s other books are the playful and informative Death By Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries, which was a New York Times bestseller, and The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet, chronicling his experience at the center of the controversy over Pluto’s planetary status. The PBS NOVA documentary The Pluto Files, based on the book, premiered in March 2010.
In February 2012, Tyson released his tenth book, containing every thought he has ever had on the past, present, and future of space exploration: Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier.
For five seasons, beginning in the fall of 2006, Tyson appeared as the on-camera host of PBS NOVA’s spinoff program NOVA ScienceNOW, which is an accessible look at the frontier of all the science that shapes the understanding of our place in the universe.
During the summer of 2009 Tyson identified a cadre of professional standup comedians to assist his effort in bringing science to commercial radio with the NSF-funded pilot program StarTalk. Now also a popular Podcast, for three years it enjoyed a limited-run Television Series on the National Geographic Channel. StarTalk combines celebrity guests with informative yet playful banter. The target audience is all those people who never thought they would, or could, like science. In its first year on television and in three successive seasons, it was nominated for a Best Informational Programming Emmy.
Tyson is the recipient of twenty-one honorary doctorates and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest award given by NASA to a non-government citizen. His contributions to the public appreciation of the cosmos have been recognized by the International Astronomical Union in their official naming of asteroid “13123 Tyson.” And by zoologists, with the naming of Indirani Tysoni, a native species of leaping frog in India. On the lighter side, Tyson was voted “Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive” by People Magazine in 2000.
More recently, Tyson published Astrophysics for People In A Hurry in 2017, which was a domestic and international bestseller. This adorably readable book is an introduction to all that you’ve read and heard about that’s making news in the universe—consummated, in one plac
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 13, 2026
I really enjoyed reading Neil deGrasse Tyson's thoughts and perspectives on the existence of alien life and the probability of their visitation to our planet. As usual his perspectives are very logical and based on fact.
May 14, 2026
Neil deGrasse Tyson says he was not abducted by aliens, but he doesn't mention if he is an alien. This distinction is critical. Science is America in going back into hiding. But somehow Neil deGrasse Tyson has been out there, with the people, unafraid to give knowledge to whomever seeks it. He humorously breaks down the anti-science thinking in a way that a 6-year-old, a 16-year-old, and a 60-year-old can all understand and relate to. He is an earthly treasure not from this earth. When we inevitably do find out that Neil deGrasse Tyson was a benevolent alien (no matter how much he overwhelmingly crushes this idea with fact, login, and reason) we will realize he came from the planet of Aristotle, Archimedes, Fibonacci, Magellan, Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Sagan, and Nye. The wise men, the elders, the healers of the mind. Bonus: The author also signed some hard copies of this book. Can you image what our great-great-great-great-great great grandkids are going to be able to show their friends? NBD, just a signed book from one of the greatest teachers of science of the turn of the millennia
May 14, 2026
There's something really cool about reading from an expert with such a passion for what he's rambling about.
Take Me To Your Leader is nothing like a guide for an extraterrestrial encounter, nor is it an essay on whether or not we should look for them. This is clearly a passion project where the author exposes not só random thoughts he has about what it would be like to actually connect with an alien species. You came for the aliens, and by the time you notice it, you are reading about how much people spend on their pets.
This is a book that covers so much of what we take for granted knowledge and shakes it on its head. I love when a book widens my horizons and makes me ponder about stuff that I had never deeply thought about and this definitely accomplished that goal. Neil DeGrasse Tyson is one of the best science communicators from our age.
Take Me To Your Leader is nothing like a guide for an extraterrestrial encounter, nor is it an essay on whether or not we should look for them. This is clearly a passion project where the author exposes not só random thoughts he has about what it would be like to actually connect with an alien species. You came for the aliens, and by the time you notice it, you are reading about how much people spend on their pets.
This is a book that covers so much of what we take for granted knowledge and shakes it on its head. I love when a book widens my horizons and makes me ponder about stuff that I had never deeply thought about and this definitely accomplished that goal. Neil DeGrasse Tyson is one of the best science communicators from our age.
May 15, 2026
Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Take Me to Your Leader: Perspectives on Your First Alien Encounter reads like a survival manual written by a cosmologist who has spent equal time studying quasars and scrolling through internet comment sections. The book’s central conceit—a hypothetical guidebook preparing humanity for contact with extraterrestrial life—allows Tyson to fuse scientific literacy with cultural satire in a way that is both informative and delightfully self-aware. Reading it feels less like attending a formal lecture and more like being cornered at a planetarium reception by the one astrophysicist charismatic enough to explain the Drake Equation while simultaneously roasting humanity’s inability to cooperate over parking spaces.
What makes the book compelling is its refusal to indulge the usual Hollywood fantasies surrounding alien contact. Tyson does not present extraterrestrials as either benevolent saviors or laser-eyed conquerors descending upon Earth for dramatic cinematic effect. Instead, he frames first contact as a sociological and philosophical stress test for civilization itself. The true subject of the book is not aliens—it is humanity’s astonishing capacity for irrationality under pressure. If extraterrestrials ever arrived, Tyson suggests, our first instinct would likely not be scientific curiosity but bureaucratic confusion, geopolitical competition, and a media frenzy somehow sponsored by a fast-food chain.
The satirical tone works because Tyson understands that humor often succeeds where technical exposition fails. He examines the likelihood of alien communication through the lens of scientific realism while simultaneously poking fun at our deeply anthropocentric assumptions. Humans, after all, tend to imagine extraterrestrials as suspiciously humanoid beings who conveniently speak English and possess a dramatic sense of timing. Tyson dismantles these assumptions with the calm patience of a professor grading a particularly ambitious but catastrophically wrong essay.
One of the book’s strongest themes is scale—both cosmic and intellectual. Tyson repeatedly reminds readers that the universe is incomprehensibly vast. The Milky Way galaxy alone contains somewhere between 100 and 400 billion stars, many of which likely possess planetary systems. Modern astronomy has identified thousands of exoplanets, including several in potentially habitable zones. The implication is mathematically humbling: if life emerged on Earth through natural processes, there is little reason to believe the cosmos performed that experiment only once. Tyson uses this statistical reality not to sensationalize alien life, but to emphasize humanity’s relative smallness. It is difficult to maintain nationalistic arrogance when confronted with distances measured in light-years.
The astronomy woven throughout the book provides some of its most engaging moments. Tyson has a gift for translating intimidating astrophysical concepts into language accessible enough for casual readers without sacrificing intellectual rigor. Discussions of radio signals, interstellar travel, and the limitations imposed by relativity are handled with clarity and wit. He notes, often indirectly, that even if intelligent life exists elsewhere, the universe’s enormous distances make spontaneous encounters improbable. Space is not merely big; it is offensively big. If Earth were reduced to the size of a grain of sand, our nearest stellar neighbor would still be miles away. Tyson’s explanations consistently reinforce the reality that science fiction frequently understates the logistical nightmare of traversing interstellar space.
What elevates the book beyond speculative entertainment is its exploration of human behavior. Tyson cleverly frames extraterrestrial arrival as a mirror reflecting Earth’s existing political and cultural dysfunctions. Who would speak for humanity? Governments? Scientists? Billionaires with suspiciously dramatic rocket launches? The United Nations? A social media influencer livestreaming the apocalypse with discount codes? Tyson’s satire works because none of these possibilities feel entirely impossible.
The hypothetical scenarios also expose humanity’s fragile relationship with evidence and expertise. Tyson subtly critiques anti-scientific attitudes by imagining how conspiracy theories and misinformation would spread during first contact. One suspects he wrote portions of the book with the exhausted expression of a man who has spent decades explaining basic astronomy to people convinced the moon landing was filmed in Nevada. His broader point is difficult to ignore: humanity may possess extraordinary technological achievements, but intellectually we remain alarmingly vulnerable to panic, tribalism, and pseudoscience.
Despite the satire, the book is never cynical. Tyson clearly retains faith in scientific inquiry and humanity’s potential for curiosity. That optimism becomes one of the work’s defining strengths. He portrays science not merely as a collection of facts but as a method for confronting uncertainty responsibly. In Tyson’s worldview, the appropriate response to alien contact would not be fear or worship, but careful observation, critical thinking, and perhaps an internationally coordinated committee meeting that runs only slightly overtime.
As someone who already admires Neil deGrasse Tyson both as a scientist and as an internet personality, I found the book especially enjoyable because it amplifies the qualities that have made him such a recognizable public figure. Tyson occupies a peculiar cultural role: simultaneously an astrophysicist, educator, meme participant, and cosmic motivational speaker. His public persona occasionally invites criticism for theatricality, yet that same theatrical instinct makes complex scientific ideas accessible to audiences who might otherwise avoid them entirely. In this book, his conversational style becomes an asset. The prose carries the cadence of someone enthusiastically explaining the universe while trying very hard not to laugh at humanity’s collective absurdity.
The book’s satirical academic tone also invites comparisons to earlier speculative writers who used hypothetical scenarios to critique society. Much like Jonathan Swift used absurd voyages to expose political folly, Tyson uses extraterrestrial contact to dissect human vanity and institutional incompetence. The difference is that Tyson’s satire emerges from astrophysical plausibility rather than pure fantasy. His arguments are grounded in genuine scientific understanding, which gives the humor additional weight. The jokes land because the science beneath them is credible.
Ultimately, Take Me to Your Leader succeeds because it treats alien contact not as escapism, but as an intellectual exercise in self-examination. Tyson asks readers to consider what humanity values, how we process uncertainty, and whether civilization is emotionally mature enough to survive confirmation that we are not alone. The answer, according to the book, is probably “not entirely,” but we would certainly produce fascinating television coverage along the way.
In the end, Tyson leaves readers with a paradox both amusing and profound: humanity spends enormous effort imagining aliens, yet the greatest mystery may still be ourselves. The universe, vast and ancient beyond comprehension, may someday introduce us to another intelligent species. Tyson’s book suggests that before such an encounter occurs, we might benefit from learning how to communicate more effectively with the intelligent life already here.
What makes the book compelling is its refusal to indulge the usual Hollywood fantasies surrounding alien contact. Tyson does not present extraterrestrials as either benevolent saviors or laser-eyed conquerors descending upon Earth for dramatic cinematic effect. Instead, he frames first contact as a sociological and philosophical stress test for civilization itself. The true subject of the book is not aliens—it is humanity’s astonishing capacity for irrationality under pressure. If extraterrestrials ever arrived, Tyson suggests, our first instinct would likely not be scientific curiosity but bureaucratic confusion, geopolitical competition, and a media frenzy somehow sponsored by a fast-food chain.
The satirical tone works because Tyson understands that humor often succeeds where technical exposition fails. He examines the likelihood of alien communication through the lens of scientific realism while simultaneously poking fun at our deeply anthropocentric assumptions. Humans, after all, tend to imagine extraterrestrials as suspiciously humanoid beings who conveniently speak English and possess a dramatic sense of timing. Tyson dismantles these assumptions with the calm patience of a professor grading a particularly ambitious but catastrophically wrong essay.
One of the book’s strongest themes is scale—both cosmic and intellectual. Tyson repeatedly reminds readers that the universe is incomprehensibly vast. The Milky Way galaxy alone contains somewhere between 100 and 400 billion stars, many of which likely possess planetary systems. Modern astronomy has identified thousands of exoplanets, including several in potentially habitable zones. The implication is mathematically humbling: if life emerged on Earth through natural processes, there is little reason to believe the cosmos performed that experiment only once. Tyson uses this statistical reality not to sensationalize alien life, but to emphasize humanity’s relative smallness. It is difficult to maintain nationalistic arrogance when confronted with distances measured in light-years.
The astronomy woven throughout the book provides some of its most engaging moments. Tyson has a gift for translating intimidating astrophysical concepts into language accessible enough for casual readers without sacrificing intellectual rigor. Discussions of radio signals, interstellar travel, and the limitations imposed by relativity are handled with clarity and wit. He notes, often indirectly, that even if intelligent life exists elsewhere, the universe’s enormous distances make spontaneous encounters improbable. Space is not merely big; it is offensively big. If Earth were reduced to the size of a grain of sand, our nearest stellar neighbor would still be miles away. Tyson’s explanations consistently reinforce the reality that science fiction frequently understates the logistical nightmare of traversing interstellar space.
What elevates the book beyond speculative entertainment is its exploration of human behavior. Tyson cleverly frames extraterrestrial arrival as a mirror reflecting Earth’s existing political and cultural dysfunctions. Who would speak for humanity? Governments? Scientists? Billionaires with suspiciously dramatic rocket launches? The United Nations? A social media influencer livestreaming the apocalypse with discount codes? Tyson’s satire works because none of these possibilities feel entirely impossible.
The hypothetical scenarios also expose humanity’s fragile relationship with evidence and expertise. Tyson subtly critiques anti-scientific attitudes by imagining how conspiracy theories and misinformation would spread during first contact. One suspects he wrote portions of the book with the exhausted expression of a man who has spent decades explaining basic astronomy to people convinced the moon landing was filmed in Nevada. His broader point is difficult to ignore: humanity may possess extraordinary technological achievements, but intellectually we remain alarmingly vulnerable to panic, tribalism, and pseudoscience.
Despite the satire, the book is never cynical. Tyson clearly retains faith in scientific inquiry and humanity’s potential for curiosity. That optimism becomes one of the work’s defining strengths. He portrays science not merely as a collection of facts but as a method for confronting uncertainty responsibly. In Tyson’s worldview, the appropriate response to alien contact would not be fear or worship, but careful observation, critical thinking, and perhaps an internationally coordinated committee meeting that runs only slightly overtime.
As someone who already admires Neil deGrasse Tyson both as a scientist and as an internet personality, I found the book especially enjoyable because it amplifies the qualities that have made him such a recognizable public figure. Tyson occupies a peculiar cultural role: simultaneously an astrophysicist, educator, meme participant, and cosmic motivational speaker. His public persona occasionally invites criticism for theatricality, yet that same theatrical instinct makes complex scientific ideas accessible to audiences who might otherwise avoid them entirely. In this book, his conversational style becomes an asset. The prose carries the cadence of someone enthusiastically explaining the universe while trying very hard not to laugh at humanity’s collective absurdity.
The book’s satirical academic tone also invites comparisons to earlier speculative writers who used hypothetical scenarios to critique society. Much like Jonathan Swift used absurd voyages to expose political folly, Tyson uses extraterrestrial contact to dissect human vanity and institutional incompetence. The difference is that Tyson’s satire emerges from astrophysical plausibility rather than pure fantasy. His arguments are grounded in genuine scientific understanding, which gives the humor additional weight. The jokes land because the science beneath them is credible.
Ultimately, Take Me to Your Leader succeeds because it treats alien contact not as escapism, but as an intellectual exercise in self-examination. Tyson asks readers to consider what humanity values, how we process uncertainty, and whether civilization is emotionally mature enough to survive confirmation that we are not alone. The answer, according to the book, is probably “not entirely,” but we would certainly produce fascinating television coverage along the way.
In the end, Tyson leaves readers with a paradox both amusing and profound: humanity spends enormous effort imagining aliens, yet the greatest mystery may still be ourselves. The universe, vast and ancient beyond comprehension, may someday introduce us to another intelligent species. Tyson’s book suggests that before such an encounter occurs, we might benefit from learning how to communicate more effectively with the intelligent life already here.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
“Ever since childhood,” writes Neil deGrasse Tyson, “I’ve wanted to be abducted by Aliens.” Same, Neil. Same. And never more than now, given the state of our nation. He has obviously thought about it a lot, so Neil informs us in Take Me To Your Leader what to do and what not to do if aliens ever do come for a visit because we have been seriously misled by artists, authors, Hollywood, and even Bugs Bunny. Friends, let us not embarrass Neil in front of the aliens.
I won’t ruin the book, but I will say that you’ll learn:
1.) the catholic church’s current stance on extraterrestrial life;
2.) why you should toss a coin to any alien at first encounter;
3.) why whales, elephants, dolphins, and ants would be of more interest to visiting aliens than humans;
4.) the claims of abduction by extraterrestrials have plummeted since the invention of one particular thing; and
5.) Usain Bolt’s top speed compared to that of a bobcat
All of which are good enough reasons to check out the book. I know it will be one I pick up over and over again. 5 stars
**A note on the audiobook - At this point, I listen to Neil’s previous books so much that I assume friendship and call him by his first name. I’m never one to discourage reading print pages, but I can’t imagine consuming his books without hearing his voice. He is always entertaining while making complex concepts sound a bit easier. I did an immersive read with the ebook and audiobook at the same time.
Thank you to Simon Six, Simon & Schuster Audio, Neil deGrasse Tyson (author), Edelweiss, and Libro.fm for the digital review copy and advance listener copy of Take Me To Your Leader (narrated by the author). Their generosity did not influence my review in any way.
I won’t ruin the book, but I will say that you’ll learn:
1.) the catholic church’s current stance on extraterrestrial life;
2.) why you should toss a coin to any alien at first encounter;
3.) why whales, elephants, dolphins, and ants would be of more interest to visiting aliens than humans;
4.) the claims of abduction by extraterrestrials have plummeted since the invention of one particular thing; and
5.) Usain Bolt’s top speed compared to that of a bobcat
All of which are good enough reasons to check out the book. I know it will be one I pick up over and over again. 5 stars
**A note on the audiobook - At this point, I listen to Neil’s previous books so much that I assume friendship and call him by his first name. I’m never one to discourage reading print pages, but I can’t imagine consuming his books without hearing his voice. He is always entertaining while making complex concepts sound a bit easier. I did an immersive read with the ebook and audiobook at the same time.
Thank you to Simon Six, Simon & Schuster Audio, Neil deGrasse Tyson (author), Edelweiss, and Libro.fm for the digital review copy and advance listener copy of Take Me To Your Leader (narrated by the author). Their generosity did not influence my review in any way.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.25 Stars
"If you've locked Aliens in a back room that you won't show anyone, then scientifically, that's the same thing as having no Aliens locked in the back room."
A fast, witty, and surprisingly grounded look at the fact that while aliens may exist, visitation (using what we know of science and the universe) just isn’t realistic. Tyson keeps the explanations clear and fun, even when the reality is a little sad. The physics of acceleration, distance, and the sheer emptiness of space (and what that would mean for any visiting species) were the most fascinating parts. There's also a fun chapter about what it would mean scientifically if aliens had super powers. Easy to read, easy to understand, and full of those “wow, space is wild” moments.
*I received a final copy from the publisher*
"If you've locked Aliens in a back room that you won't show anyone, then scientifically, that's the same thing as having no Aliens locked in the back room."
A fast, witty, and surprisingly grounded look at the fact that while aliens may exist, visitation (using what we know of science and the universe) just isn’t realistic. Tyson keeps the explanations clear and fun, even when the reality is a little sad. The physics of acceleration, distance, and the sheer emptiness of space (and what that would mean for any visiting species) were the most fascinating parts. There's also a fun chapter about what it would mean scientifically if aliens had super powers. Easy to read, easy to understand, and full of those “wow, space is wild” moments.
*I received a final copy from the publisher*
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
*As a Collections Management Librarian, I received a copy of this book for free for consideration of purchase.*
4.5 stars.
I'm a sucker for a book written by someone with expertise but with a focus on a certain special interest. This was a fun little book about aliens that focused both on Neil DeGrasse Tyson's knowledge of astrophysics AND on his fun little side interest in the prospect of aliens.
I will say, I did experience existential dread at least once while reading this, but this tends to happen for me when I start thinking to hard about the vastness of the universe, so that's not his fault.
I only dock it 0.5 star because, while I found it fun and informative, I don't think it's one I'll return to down the road.
4.5 stars.
I'm a sucker for a book written by someone with expertise but with a focus on a certain special interest. This was a fun little book about aliens that focused both on Neil DeGrasse Tyson's knowledge of astrophysics AND on his fun little side interest in the prospect of aliens.
I will say, I did experience existential dread at least once while reading this, but this tends to happen for me when I start thinking to hard about the vastness of the universe, so that's not his fault.
I only dock it 0.5 star because, while I found it fun and informative, I don't think it's one I'll return to down the road.
Review of advance copy
Goodreads is giving me problems due to having received an advanced listener copy from librofm. I tried to rate this book at 4 but goodreads will not let me correct it This book is not what I would normally read but I loved the title and was interested to see what Neil had to say on aliens. He used a lot of pop culture references and scientific evidence, or lack there of, to discuss and dissect whether aliens are here or have been here. I think you should listen/read and decide for yourself what you believe
May 14, 2026
I could listen to Dr. DT forever. It's not just the ASMR of his voice, but it's also the way he can "dumb it down" for me to understand extremely complex ideas and mathematical gobbledegook (to me) into simple to get chunks. And he does it WITHOUT condescension. I feel like I'm pretty open minded about the endless possibilities of things. Dr. DT always reminds me to keep a healthy dose of skepticism, but not to the point of absolute cynicism. This book was such a delightful read but hearing him narrate the audiobook version was so much better!
May 15, 2026
The human race is pretty egocentric. Especially when it comes to alien life theories.
It made me mad he got a fact about Project Hail Mary wrong in this book.
Just like the author, I too have always wanted to be abducted by aliens just to see what they’re like and hopefully come back to tell everyone.
It made me mad he got a fact about Project Hail Mary wrong in this book.
Just like the author, I too have always wanted to be abducted by aliens just to see what they’re like and hopefully come back to tell everyone.
May 15, 2026
Interesting book about the exploration of claims of alien life and encounters by well known astrophysicist. Interesting and demonstrates that it's hard to prove a "negative ". This is mostly an exhaustive de-bunking of reports of alien life.
May 13, 2026
Tyson shares some valuable insights about first encounters, the history of UFO's, and what Physics can teach us about finding and interacting with other life forms. Beam it up today!!!
May 13, 2026
I enjoy watching Neil on Star Talk and I have enjoyed his other work . While he did give away some of this book the other day on a YouTube video. I still enjoyed this very much.
May 15, 2026
Love you NDT
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews