Alien Thinking

This book describes a wide variety of speculations by many authors about the consequences for humanity of coming into contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. The assumptions underlying those speculations are examined, and some conclusions are drawn. As necessary background, the book also includes brief summaries of the history of thinking about extraterrestrial intelligence, searches for life and for signals, contrasting paradigms of how contact might take place, and the paradox that those paradigms allegedly create.

Astronomer Peter Linde takes the reader through the story of the search for extraterrestrial life in a captivating and thought-provoking way, specifically addressing the new research that is currently devoted towards discovering other planets with life.

Authors: Linde, Peter
Focuses on the revolutionary event of exoplanets - detection, characteristics and possibilities for life
Presents the history of SETI as well as new research and methods being used for detection and communication
Addresses philosophical questions about the possibility of finding extraterrestrial life and how to explain the Fermi paradox