ET: We are gone, sorry we missed you

kw: book reviews, humor

I didn't tag either "fiction" or "nonfiction", because there is a little of both in Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race by Jon Stewart and about sixteen of the writers at The Daily Show. It purports to be a guide for visiting space aliens who may come across Earth after the demise of humanity.

The book's 244 pages are largely photo-collages with blurbs that range from hilarious to puzzling to downright depraved. Come to think of it, that's a pretty fair depiction of the human race. I reckon that, if the book survives after we are gone, it will provide a better introduction to who we were than the typical encyclopedia; shorter, too.

There are even a few items of unflinching honesty, such as this, from one of the pages of FAQ's:

Q: Were scientists the most esteemed members of your civilization?

A: Absolutely. The only people more renowned than scientists were actors, musicians, athletes, politicians, game-show hosts, heiresses, religious leaders, cartoonists, plumbers, serial killers, celebrity chefs and women who looked good in swimsuits.

Other than a few like that, though, everything is gauged to evoke a laugh, a guffaw, a giggle, or at least an uneasy snigger. So, 'nuff said. Finish your dinner first, then read it yourself.