Civilized Life in the Universe: Scientists on Intelligent Extraterrestrials

by George Basalla

Book Overview

This book is a selective and fascinating history of scientific speculation about intelligent extraterrestrial life. From Plutarch to Stephen Hawking, some of the most prominent western scientists have had quite detailed perceptions and misperceptions about alien civilizations: Johannes Kepler, fresh from transforming astronomy with his work on the shape of planetary orbits, was quite sure alien engineers on the moon were excavating circular pits to...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195171810
• ISBN13: 9780195171815
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.0" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Big question

Skeptics? Believer? That is the question. And the question is answered in this book. Science versus Ufology. Science versu aliens. Ufology and your beliefs. All are here in this book. S. Mahdi, Cairo, Egypt

Learn why E.T. isn't going to phone us

Basalla has produced an absolutely fantastic overview of the history of speculation about life on other worlds and the scientific quest to communicate with intelligent aliens. He manages to top himself by collecting a series of devastating arguments that reveal the anthropomorphism that has always tainted, and continues to taint, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. (Aliens are trying to reach us with radio telescope technology? Really? Why, what a convenient coincidence-that's same technology we're using to try to talk to them!) In a scant 200 pages, Basalla manages to place the search for E.T. in unvarnished perspective as the quasi-theological longing it is. This book should be required reading for all SETI buffs.