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How to Pass as Human
How to Pass as Human is an attempt on the part of the world's first android to understand the irrational, unpredictable, eclectic creatures known as human beings. Written in the form of a field guide, complete with sketches, graphs, flowcharts, and other reference materials, Android Zero (aka "Zach") has compiled a variety of useful information for future androids on how to pass undetected as human beings. Along the way, he also attempts to solve the mystery of his own creation with the help of Andrea, a human female who has taken an interest in him that may be more than friendly, and eventually leading him to "meet his maker" and discover the surprising purpose of his existence.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published October 20, 2015
29 people are currently reading
364 people want to read
About the author
Nic Kelman
5 books19 followersNic Kelman was born in New York City to parents from the UK and the US. Documentarian Alfred Kelman was his father. Kelman received a Bachelor of Science in Brain and Cognitive Science and a Minor in Film and Media Studies from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then received a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Brown University where he studied under a full fellowship.
Kelman's first novel, "girls: a paean," (Little, Brown and Company, 2003) was a San Francisco Chronicle and New York Journal News Best Book of the Year. It went on to become a critically acclaimed international bestseller and has been translated into more than a dozen languages. In Italy, where Fazi Editore was the publisher, it was notably successful.
Kelman's second book was published worldwide in French and English by Assouline in 2006. It was the world's first art history book on the subject of video games and was thus titled, simply, "Video Game Art."
Kelman's third book and second novel, Il Comportamento della Luce, was published in 2008 by Fazi Editore.
DreamWorks Studios purchased Kelman's original sci-fi screenplay, "Genneris," as a directing project for Steven Spielberg in 2010. Since then, Kelman has sold original screenplays to many other directors and studios including Roland Emmerich, Warner Brothers, and Paramount Pictures.
In 2015, Kelman's fourth book, the illustrated novel, "How To Pass As Human," was published by Dark Horse Books.
From August 2017 to March 2021, Kelman worked at Wizards of the Coast, most recently as Director of Entertainment Development.
As well as writing his own projects, he currently works as a freelance Narrative and IP Development Consultant.
Kelman's first novel, "girls: a paean," (Little, Brown and Company, 2003) was a San Francisco Chronicle and New York Journal News Best Book of the Year. It went on to become a critically acclaimed international bestseller and has been translated into more than a dozen languages. In Italy, where Fazi Editore was the publisher, it was notably successful.
Kelman's second book was published worldwide in French and English by Assouline in 2006. It was the world's first art history book on the subject of video games and was thus titled, simply, "Video Game Art."
Kelman's third book and second novel, Il Comportamento della Luce, was published in 2008 by Fazi Editore.
DreamWorks Studios purchased Kelman's original sci-fi screenplay, "Genneris," as a directing project for Steven Spielberg in 2010. Since then, Kelman has sold original screenplays to many other directors and studios including Roland Emmerich, Warner Brothers, and Paramount Pictures.
In 2015, Kelman's fourth book, the illustrated novel, "How To Pass As Human," was published by Dark Horse Books.
From August 2017 to March 2021, Kelman worked at Wizards of the Coast, most recently as Director of Entertainment Development.
As well as writing his own projects, he currently works as a freelance Narrative and IP Development Consultant.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
couldnt-finish
March 17, 2016Here's the draw for this book: It's supposed to be written by an android who is on a mission and is being hunted. It's a primer for the next android who finds it so that that android can be better prepared to pass as human.
Pretty spiffy, right?
And you're thinking, "But, Erica, you're kind of a nerd. This should be as delicious as pie for you." You would not be wrong. This should have been right up my alley.
Sadly, it was not.
I made it to page 90 and stopped.
My issues started from page 1:
--I didn't believe the android's voice. It was as if Data (from Star Trek, in case you don't know what craziness I spout) lost his clueless innocence and became an insufferable, judgmental "Nice guy" and you might argue that Data was exactly that but I would disagree.
--And also, language is programmed into an android, right? So why wouldn't this particular guy use perfect speech? It wasn't because he was trying to mimic human speech patterns, he didn't bring up anything of the sort for the little while I was with him.
--Also, if he's starting with a blank slate, gathering all his observation from online research and direct observation, why was he so sexist from the get-go? Why did he delineate so strongly between male and female? In his infographics, women are traditionally (a la 1950's American sitcoms) feminine with the tight dresses and the female accoutrements while the men are all middle-of-the-line guys in good shape but mostly not alpha male types. Even in Las Vegas, maybe especially in Las Vegas, there would be a significant number of observable gender roles that did not match his notion of maleness and femaleness. I suppose I figured an android would be more objective and reliable and since he said he was not programmed, per se, I didn't think he'd have formed such throwback judgments so early on in his awareness.
--There's some poking fun at human society going on which is cute at first but it gets old quickly.
--Also I didn't like the illustrations at all.
Aside from the format - storyline interspersed with the android's manual on understanding humans - there wasn't anything for me to enjoy in this book which means I am not the audience for this particular piece, more's the pity.
Pretty spiffy, right?
And you're thinking, "But, Erica, you're kind of a nerd. This should be as delicious as pie for you." You would not be wrong. This should have been right up my alley.
Sadly, it was not.
I made it to page 90 and stopped.
My issues started from page 1:
--I didn't believe the android's voice. It was as if Data (from Star Trek, in case you don't know what craziness I spout) lost his clueless innocence and became an insufferable, judgmental "Nice guy" and you might argue that Data was exactly that but I would disagree.
--And also, language is programmed into an android, right? So why wouldn't this particular guy use perfect speech? It wasn't because he was trying to mimic human speech patterns, he didn't bring up anything of the sort for the little while I was with him.
--Also, if he's starting with a blank slate, gathering all his observation from online research and direct observation, why was he so sexist from the get-go? Why did he delineate so strongly between male and female? In his infographics, women are traditionally (a la 1950's American sitcoms) feminine with the tight dresses and the female accoutrements while the men are all middle-of-the-line guys in good shape but mostly not alpha male types. Even in Las Vegas, maybe especially in Las Vegas, there would be a significant number of observable gender roles that did not match his notion of maleness and femaleness. I suppose I figured an android would be more objective and reliable and since he said he was not programmed, per se, I didn't think he'd have formed such throwback judgments so early on in his awareness.
--There's some poking fun at human society going on which is cute at first but it gets old quickly.
--Also I didn't like the illustrations at all.
Aside from the format - storyline interspersed with the android's manual on understanding humans - there wasn't anything for me to enjoy in this book which means I am not the audience for this particular piece, more's the pity.
February 7, 2016
The mix of text-based story and technical guidebook to humanity was an intriguing concept, but one that ultimately failed. At first, the charts and graphs were integrated into the story, but as the story developed they became random facts. I ended up skipping most of them in the second half of the book and the story itself wasn't good enough to read on its own.
February 4, 2020
Erica below nailed it. Superficial, stereotypical (rather than data-based) view of the world, sexist, gender normative, negative... really just a horrible read of humanity. The story was so flimsy and weak. I’m the target audience for stuff like this and this was both horribly blind to the modern world and poorly written.
January 1, 2016
The concept is awesome and hilarious.
Unfortunately, the story it hangs on is just moderate, and the plot twist is so-so, but decent.
However, what costs this book one star is the tacked on, rather pedestrian and forced HEA, which honestly, removes a lot of the strength of the story, that right before the end because poignant and powerful.
Instead, it's just another "awkward guy meets perfect girl who, against all odds, falls in love with him and his oddballness" story.
Meh.
Unfortunately, the story it hangs on is just moderate, and the plot twist is so-so, but decent.
However, what costs this book one star is the tacked on, rather pedestrian and forced HEA, which honestly, removes a lot of the strength of the story, that right before the end because poignant and powerful.
Instead, it's just another "awkward guy meets perfect girl who, against all odds, falls in love with him and his oddballness" story.
Meh.
April 10, 2018
300 Units of time post materiel consumption:
This book is amazing and its easily my favorite so far this year. A short little story combined with a hilarious analysis of human behavior from the point of view of the hypothetical 'Android 0' exploring humanity. The book had me laughing out loud and I had so much fun with it that I had trouble putting it down.
Nailed it.
If I had to criticize it (and I do or else what the point) I would say that the first half of the book is better than the second half, and I assume thats because the author had a better idea how he wanted to start the story but wasnt quite sure how to end it. And the spacing between the story moments with the information analysis section also became a little more annoying.
To read this book I would highly recommend reading the story -first- and then going back and reading all the analysis bits. They are both fantastic in their own right but you would probably enjoy them more if you separate them.
TL;DR: I loved it and I highly encourage you to read it if you want a bit of a laugh.
For related laughter stimulation: www.reddit.com/r/totallynotrobots/
This book is amazing and its easily my favorite so far this year. A short little story combined with a hilarious analysis of human behavior from the point of view of the hypothetical 'Android 0' exploring humanity. The book had me laughing out loud and I had so much fun with it that I had trouble putting it down.
Nailed it.
If I had to criticize it (and I do or else what the point) I would say that the first half of the book is better than the second half, and I assume thats because the author had a better idea how he wanted to start the story but wasnt quite sure how to end it. And the spacing between the story moments with the information analysis section also became a little more annoying.
To read this book I would highly recommend reading the story -first- and then going back and reading all the analysis bits. They are both fantastic in their own right but you would probably enjoy them more if you separate them.
TL;DR: I loved it and I highly encourage you to read it if you want a bit of a laugh.
For related laughter stimulation: www.reddit.com/r/totallynotrobots/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2016
While the story is from the perspective of a man-made existence, I have never read a book that so deeply analyzes human behavior. Yes, this book has a nice plot– but beside all that is Kelman's profound perspective on the human mind and how we act. As I read this book, I was often so overwhelmed by my new realizations on human behavior, that (every once in a while) I had to look up from the page and take a deep breath. Do not read this book for the plot –which is indeed very engaging– but read it for Kelman's extremely deep thoughts that are buried beneath the surface of the text.
As for the layout of the book: Each facet of human life (i.e. habitat, happiness, relationships, technology... there are over twenty in this book) is organized into a section after each chapter of the story. Kelman's use of graphs and flowcharts to explain human behavior are impeccable.
All in all, I would HIGHLY reccomend this book.
As for the layout of the book: Each facet of human life (i.e. habitat, happiness, relationships, technology... there are over twenty in this book) is organized into a section after each chapter of the story. Kelman's use of graphs and flowcharts to explain human behavior are impeccable.
All in all, I would HIGHLY reccomend this book.
February 6, 2016
An absolutely brilliant premise, with a pretty standard alien-among-us-revealed plot. The commentary about how other robots can pass as human is at first hilarious, then thought-provoking, and then finally a little too much and a little too obvious. It might be self-contradictory to say that the commentary gets in the way of the plot, in the end, given that I just said the plot was too obvious, but that's what it means to be human -- to be self-contradictory, hypocritical, and simply contrary. So robots reading this review please take note: I'm proving my humanity with this illogical reaction to your estimable owner's manual.
January 6, 2021
With a unique blend of sci-fi and realistic fiction, Nic Kelman’s “How to Pass as Human” creates a unique reading experience that provides interesting insights into the strangeness of human life and interaction.
https://kratosgamer.medium.com/a-revi...
https://kratosgamer.medium.com/a-revi...
January 15, 2016
Kind of disappointingly shallow analysis of humans and not enough story. Better integration of story and guidebook sections would have helped. Insufficient rounding of probability estimates - why do people think that unjustifiably precise numbers are an indicator of super-intelligence?
April 16, 2024
Very informative.
For those of us who are nuero-spicy, I found this book very i formative and have been trying to implement some of the suggestions to better fit in. For my softer, romantic side, I found it sweet and endearing.
For those of us who are nuero-spicy, I found this book very i formative and have been trying to implement some of the suggestions to better fit in. For my softer, romantic side, I found it sweet and endearing.
August 17, 2019
This wasn't really a graphic novel, its more of an illustrated textbook. Reading it on comixology was more of a chore than a pleasure.
November 9, 2017
Šo grāmatu man reiz vārdadienā iedāvināja Andris, un pērnā gada Ziemassvētku blogeru grāmatu dāvināšanas pasākumā es šo saņēmu arī no Spīganas. Teikšu kā ir – grāmata man ir vairāk nekā gadu, un vienreiz pat sāku lasīt, bet atradās kas svarīgāks darāms, un grāmata atlikās malā. Taču nu, tuvojoties gada beigām, saņēmos un pabeidzu.
Grāmata ir pasaules pirmā androīda Zero mēģinājums saviem sekotājiem sniegt padomu, kā izlikties par cilvēku. Racionālai būtnei izlikties par cilvēku ir daudz grūtāk, nekā tas šķiet. Tādēļ nepieciešami daudzi paskaidrojumi, grafiki un atsauces. Zero sastādītais materiāls noteikti noderēs nākotnes androīdiem. Paralēli faktoloģiskajam materiālam Zero ir atstājis vēstījumu par to, kā viņš mēģinājis atrast savu radītāju un atklāt savas eksistences mērķi.
Pašam androīda stāstam nav ne vainas, grūti racionālai būtnei dzīvot cilvēku pasaulē un izlikties par vienu no tiem. Viņam trūkst daudzas cilvēkiem raksturīgās iezīmes –neefektivitāte, melošana, prasme nosist laiku, taču tas nav nekas tāds, ko nevarētu apgūt. Daudz vairāk viņu uztrauc sava radītāja atrašana. Īsti nav saprotama arī viņa eksistences jēga, jo prasība kļūt kā cilvēkam ir diezgan izplūdis jēdziens. Puse grāmata ir nedaudz virs vidējā sarakstīti androīda piedzīvojumi, kuri beigās nedaudz sāk vilkt uz farsu. Taču jāatceras, ka grāmata ir sarakstīta izklaidei nevis dziļi filozofiskām pārdomām. Ir jau viņā arī ambīcijas uz tām, taču formāts nav šeit pateicīgs šim pasākumam. Jo atziņa, ka cilvēks sevī neietver tikai visas sliktās īpašības, ir diezgan primitīvs.
Faktoloģiskā daļa izklāsta cilvēka dzīves un pasaules uztveres dažādus aspektus. Ja pirmās pāris sadaļas spēj ieinteresēt ar savu ironiju, atrautību no standarta izklāsta un ļaut paskatīties uz cilvēka ikdienu no malas skaitļu un grafiku valodā. Tad ar laiku nāk atklāsme, ka visi tie skaitļu un grafiki ir tikpat atbilstoši realitātei kā paša androīda stāsts. Kādu laiku ir smieklīgi, bet cik ilgi var smieties par vieniem un tiem pašiem jokiem. Ja sākotnēji fakti un stāsts bija savstarpēji saistīti, tad beigās faktu sadaļa bija pati par sevi atrauta no visa, tikai lai būtu.
Grāmatas ideja ir pa pirmo, un nosaukums – intriģējošs, diemžēl autoram nav izdevies realizēt savu spožo ideju. Līdzko lasītājam izbeidzas novitātes sajūta, un tas ir pēc trīsdesmit lapaspusēm, sāk parādīties stāsta primitīvisms un faktu gadījuma raksturs. Pie tam neapzinoties sāc piesieties faktiem un beigās vēl dusmoties, ka autors tik banāli mēģina uzbāzties lasītājam ar paša sadomātiem faktiem un neapstiprinātiem pieņēmumiem. Grāmatai lieku 6 no 10 ballēm. Lasīt var, bet neattaisno cerības.
Grāmata ir pasaules pirmā androīda Zero mēģinājums saviem sekotājiem sniegt padomu, kā izlikties par cilvēku. Racionālai būtnei izlikties par cilvēku ir daudz grūtāk, nekā tas šķiet. Tādēļ nepieciešami daudzi paskaidrojumi, grafiki un atsauces. Zero sastādītais materiāls noteikti noderēs nākotnes androīdiem. Paralēli faktoloģiskajam materiālam Zero ir atstājis vēstījumu par to, kā viņš mēģinājis atrast savu radītāju un atklāt savas eksistences mērķi.
Pašam androīda stāstam nav ne vainas, grūti racionālai būtnei dzīvot cilvēku pasaulē un izlikties par vienu no tiem. Viņam trūkst daudzas cilvēkiem raksturīgās iezīmes –neefektivitāte, melošana, prasme nosist laiku, taču tas nav nekas tāds, ko nevarētu apgūt. Daudz vairāk viņu uztrauc sava radītāja atrašana. Īsti nav saprotama arī viņa eksistences jēga, jo prasība kļūt kā cilvēkam ir diezgan izplūdis jēdziens. Puse grāmata ir nedaudz virs vidējā sarakstīti androīda piedzīvojumi, kuri beigās nedaudz sāk vilkt uz farsu. Taču jāatceras, ka grāmata ir sarakstīta izklaidei nevis dziļi filozofiskām pārdomām. Ir jau viņā arī ambīcijas uz tām, taču formāts nav šeit pateicīgs šim pasākumam. Jo atziņa, ka cilvēks sevī neietver tikai visas sliktās īpašības, ir diezgan primitīvs.
Faktoloģiskā daļa izklāsta cilvēka dzīves un pasaules uztveres dažādus aspektus. Ja pirmās pāris sadaļas spēj ieinteresēt ar savu ironiju, atrautību no standarta izklāsta un ļaut paskatīties uz cilvēka ikdienu no malas skaitļu un grafiku valodā. Tad ar laiku nāk atklāsme, ka visi tie skaitļu un grafiki ir tikpat atbilstoši realitātei kā paša androīda stāsts. Kādu laiku ir smieklīgi, bet cik ilgi var smieties par vieniem un tiem pašiem jokiem. Ja sākotnēji fakti un stāsts bija savstarpēji saistīti, tad beigās faktu sadaļa bija pati par sevi atrauta no visa, tikai lai būtu.
Grāmatas ideja ir pa pirmo, un nosaukums – intriģējošs, diemžēl autoram nav izdevies realizēt savu spožo ideju. Līdzko lasītājam izbeidzas novitātes sajūta, un tas ir pēc trīsdesmit lapaspusēm, sāk parādīties stāsta primitīvisms un faktu gadījuma raksturs. Pie tam neapzinoties sāc piesieties faktiem un beigās vēl dusmoties, ka autors tik banāli mēģina uzbāzties lasītājam ar paša sadomātiem faktiem un neapstiprinātiem pieņēmumiem. Grāmatai lieku 6 no 10 ballēm. Lasīt var, bet neattaisno cerības.
March 3, 2019
dnf at 38%. not a one star because i found some parts of this quite funny. I just got bored by it so😶. here’s some funny moments:
1. Our main character did his work so extremely fast that his manager got mad and said, “I get that you’re new and all, but take it easy, huh? You do that with every case and then they’ll expect it and then we’re fucked, ok?” Our dumbass Zach responded by saying he thought being fucked was a good thing, yet the manager seemed displeased.
2. There’s a formula that adds points when there is something good on one page to decide if Zach should agree with someone at work. There was a -2 is someone was previously sexually involved with their superior.
3. Someone says to Andrea, “Nice ass.” Zach gets a text that says, “punch him.” What does Zach do? Punch him.
4. “As you can see, humans consider their reproductive organs more important than their lives.”
5. Meanings of Certain Objects and Actions for Mating: Flowers- Let’s have sex.
1. Our main character did his work so extremely fast that his manager got mad and said, “I get that you’re new and all, but take it easy, huh? You do that with every case and then they’ll expect it and then we’re fucked, ok?” Our dumbass Zach responded by saying he thought being fucked was a good thing, yet the manager seemed displeased.
2. There’s a formula that adds points when there is something good on one page to decide if Zach should agree with someone at work. There was a -2 is someone was previously sexually involved with their superior.
3. Someone says to Andrea, “Nice ass.” Zach gets a text that says, “punch him.” What does Zach do? Punch him.
4. “As you can see, humans consider their reproductive organs more important than their lives.”
5. Meanings of Certain Objects and Actions for Mating: Flowers- Let’s have sex.
January 7, 2022
I’d say this gets a solid 3.5 star rating. I love the concept this speculative fiction covers. The illustrations are well done and while the narrative is simple, I enjoyed it!
One thing that started to wear on my after a while was the manual-like sections of the narrative. If some of the bar graphs had been cut, it would have made the book a little more enjoyable. Some of the graphs feel a bit like “filler.”
Overall I liked the concept, narrative, and the execution. I just thought the work could have been shortened slightly for greater impact.
One thing that started to wear on my after a while was the manual-like sections of the narrative. If some of the bar graphs had been cut, it would have made the book a little more enjoyable. Some of the graphs feel a bit like “filler.”
Overall I liked the concept, narrative, and the execution. I just thought the work could have been shortened slightly for greater impact.
March 26, 2018
Starts promising and becomes predictable
Such a great idea. An android is activated and given one direction...pass as human before your battery runs out and you'll meet the man that created you and be able to recharge. Part story part field manual for future androids, it started out compelling and funny. Then it became a bit preachy and judgemental. Then the story became completely predictable and unsatisfying. Very disappointed.
Such a great idea. An android is activated and given one direction...pass as human before your battery runs out and you'll meet the man that created you and be able to recharge. Part story part field manual for future androids, it started out compelling and funny. Then it became a bit preachy and judgemental. Then the story became completely predictable and unsatisfying. Very disappointed.
November 13, 2021
Wow. (And not in a good way.)
This book has an interesting premise, but it basically just devolved into a “nice guy” short story punctuated by increasingly cynical, stereotypical, dregs-of-the-internet graphs and notes about “how humanity works”. This book wishes it was Murderbot. But Murderbot is actually humane, inclusive, and has good characterization whereas this is reductive, sexist, and full of tired tropes that read like a pickup artist handbook. Don’t waste your time.
This book has an interesting premise, but it basically just devolved into a “nice guy” short story punctuated by increasingly cynical, stereotypical, dregs-of-the-internet graphs and notes about “how humanity works”. This book wishes it was Murderbot. But Murderbot is actually humane, inclusive, and has good characterization whereas this is reductive, sexist, and full of tired tropes that read like a pickup artist handbook. Don’t waste your time.
January 29, 2019
My local library had filed this by the romance novels. Fortunately I noticed the Dark Horse logo on the spine. Great concept. I liked the story. Actually wish this would've been presented as a true graphic novel. The visual field guide portions are amusing at first - but a bit long on wind. Would rather have seen more of the book portioned out for development of character(s).
June 3, 2021
This is really hard to get into and continue reading. The book goes back and forth between textbook format and one-to-three page light novel. The textbook format just takes me out of the interest on what's happening to the protagonists life, but when you do get to the part of actual story it fizzles out to introduce another human concept. It just feels all over the place.
June 11, 2017
this book was not for me. the premise and the mixed media was interesting but it fell short for me.
October 1, 2017
故事很简单，像童书，不过挺有意思的，关于AI的不讨厌的书其实不是很多。
December 29, 2017
it was ok, kinda disappointed that it didn't dispel/criticize more of the usual human stereotypes though, & was confused at the ending? overall good concept but could be executed more thoroughly
April 11, 2021
Find my review here: https://echoes-empty-mind.blogspot.co...
December 15, 2021
Good concept, poor execution, middling story, why is a robot sexist?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2022
this was not enjoyable at all
February 23, 2017
An intriguing glimpse of humanity as seen from an outsiders perspective. Filled with fascinating facts as to our contradictions and idyosuncicies, it nonetheless presents a very detatched view that truly reads as alien. A difficult yet bold read.
February 8, 2016
“Come passare per esseri umani: una guida all'integrazione per futuri androidi” Come non essere intrigati dal titolo?
Alla narrazione delle vicende di Zach, un androide che non sa quale sia lo scopo della sua creazione se non che deve cercare di “passare per essere umano”, si alternano dei dossier su alcuni aspetti della società umana come il lavoro, il denaro e il divertimento, analizzati dal punto di vista di Zach, quindi di un essere razionale che li incontra per la prima volta nella sua vita.
Questa analisi estremamente razionale e senza filtri è molto divertente, ma è anche in grado di portare alla luce tutte le insensatezze e le incoerenze della nostra società, dando quindi numerosi spunti di riflessione.
Sono proprio questi dossier il punto forte di How To Pass as Human, in quanto la storia di Zach, per quanto a tratti mi abbia coinvolto, è piuttosto banale e prevedibile, solo una scusa per inserire il restante materiale. Si sarebbe potuta ridurre inoltre la quantità dei dossier, che nell'ultimo terzo del libro iniziano ad essere troppo frequenti e ripetitivi.
Alla narrazione delle vicende di Zach, un androide che non sa quale sia lo scopo della sua creazione se non che deve cercare di “passare per essere umano”, si alternano dei dossier su alcuni aspetti della società umana come il lavoro, il denaro e il divertimento, analizzati dal punto di vista di Zach, quindi di un essere razionale che li incontra per la prima volta nella sua vita.
Abitudini riproduttive
Il punto fondamentale da ricordare quando si tenta di passare per un essere umano e si intraprendono rapporti sessuali è che il sesso in sé dovrebbe essere piacevole, ma, in realtà, rende infelici la maggior parte degli esseri umani. L'infelicità prima dell'atto sessuale deriva dal non essere coinvolti in un atto sessuale con sufficiente frequenza (notare inoltre come questa sia una funzione asintotica – gli esseri umani non possono avere rapporti sessuali in quantità ritenuta sufficiente). L'infelicità durante l'atto deriva dalla preoccupazione che il partner non stia provando piacere e non voglia quindi più fare sesso. L'infelicità dopo l'atto deriva dall'averlo compiuto senza essere emotivamente legati al partner […]. In ogni caso, il paradosso da ricordare è: anche se gli esseri umani desiderano avere relazioni sessuali con altri esseri umani più di ogni altra cosa, la maggior parte del tempo tali relazioni causano loro sofferenza.
Questa analisi estremamente razionale e senza filtri è molto divertente, ma è anche in grado di portare alla luce tutte le insensatezze e le incoerenze della nostra società, dando quindi numerosi spunti di riflessione.
Sono proprio questi dossier il punto forte di How To Pass as Human, in quanto la storia di Zach, per quanto a tratti mi abbia coinvolto, è piuttosto banale e prevedibile, solo una scusa per inserire il restante materiale. Si sarebbe potuta ridurre inoltre la quantità dei dossier, che nell'ultimo terzo del libro iniziano ad essere troppo frequenti e ripetitivi.
June 15, 2016
It's really like two books and a graphic novel mushed together:
There's a pretty standard boy-meets-girl, or in this case, android-meets-girl story, with a detective story in which the lead character tries to sort out his origins. It's actually what kept me reading.
Then, in every chapter, the android / protagonist connects what's happening in the story with "advice" for other androids trying to fit in as humans. This is the hook the book hangs on and it's ... weak. Sometimes it's played for laughs: It's situational comedy of the "what's up with (fill in the blank)?" variety. The author notes something -- interoffice romance, say, or bad drivers -- and turns it into a little lesson about how odd people are. It's kind of like the Spock / Data characters from Star Trek, turned into a book. "Human driving habits are illogical, Captain." It's not fresh and so it's not funny. It's especially not funny when the author (frequently) tries to turn it into a heartfelt philosophical discussion on why we do illogical things. Those parts are just hard to read and I wound up skipping them by the end. If nothing else, they really mess up the pace of the story and the humor. Just really poorly thought out as a concept.
The graphics that accompanied these sections were usually interesting and well done. I think this is the only book I've ever read where I wished the whole thing was a graphic novel.
There's a pretty standard boy-meets-girl, or in this case, android-meets-girl story, with a detective story in which the lead character tries to sort out his origins. It's actually what kept me reading.
Then, in every chapter, the android / protagonist connects what's happening in the story with "advice" for other androids trying to fit in as humans. This is the hook the book hangs on and it's ... weak. Sometimes it's played for laughs: It's situational comedy of the "what's up with (fill in the blank)?" variety. The author notes something -- interoffice romance, say, or bad drivers -- and turns it into a little lesson about how odd people are. It's kind of like the Spock / Data characters from Star Trek, turned into a book. "Human driving habits are illogical, Captain." It's not fresh and so it's not funny. It's especially not funny when the author (frequently) tries to turn it into a heartfelt philosophical discussion on why we do illogical things. Those parts are just hard to read and I wound up skipping them by the end. If nothing else, they really mess up the pace of the story and the humor. Just really poorly thought out as a concept.
The graphics that accompanied these sections were usually interesting and well done. I think this is the only book I've ever read where I wished the whole thing was a graphic novel.
April 15, 2016
This book almost drove me to drink. Okay, maybe not, but it did offer the most cogent rationale for why people do. This book is made up of two interlocking pieces - a middling short story about an android trying to pass as human which is okay, but nothing special, and the same android's treatise on how to pass as a human, which builds a remarkably coherent philosophy of humanity. Maybe it was just that it is very much in line with my way of thinking in general, but its outsider's take on why people do the things they do makes a lot of sense to me, and even offers some advice that I could have used when younger. And no, I'm not an android, but I don't pass for an average human either.
This is a strange book, actually more in line with the Science of Discworld books than anything else I can think of, but it was definitely an enjoyable read, and offers up a lot of food for thought as it explores why we do the things we do while ostensibly advising future androids on how to blend in. Creative, occasionally witty, and wryly observant.
This is a strange book, actually more in line with the Science of Discworld books than anything else I can think of, but it was definitely an enjoyable read, and offers up a lot of food for thought as it explores why we do the things we do while ostensibly advising future androids on how to blend in. Creative, occasionally witty, and wryly observant.
August 15, 2016
I really enjoyed this book a lot. It's about an android writing a "self-help" book on being human for any androids that may come after him. Seeing human behavior through such open, curious, and logical eyes was very funny. I especially liked his assessment of humans and how they handle kitchens. (Too true, too close to home!)
One thing I thought was a bit odd was how dismissive the android was of religion, even though he naturally assumed that HE had a creator (his father). So a human assuming that consciousness doesn't just happen and believes he has a Creator (i.e. religions) is somehow illogical. However, the android was spot on on how we humans create rules (in a religious setting or otherwise) only to break them, consistently and hypocritically. He rightly tells any android reading his words that he would be wise to randomly break rules and do things he declares are against his deeply held beliefs as a believable way of "passing as human."
One thing I thought was a bit odd was how dismissive the android was of religion, even though he naturally assumed that HE had a creator (his father). So a human assuming that consciousness doesn't just happen and believes he has a Creator (i.e. religions) is somehow illogical. However, the android was spot on on how we humans create rules (in a religious setting or otherwise) only to break them, consistently and hypocritically. He rightly tells any android reading his words that he would be wise to randomly break rules and do things he declares are against his deeply held beliefs as a believable way of "passing as human."
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