80,000+ Books in-stock in NZ 📚

Winter Reads Sale! Enjoy up to 20% off 1,700 books! 🚀

First Contact

A History of Our Obsession with Aliens
Brief Description
A narrative and visual exploration of humanity's age-old search for—and fixation with—aliens, from the science to pop culture to UFO sightings. First Contact explores the ancient idea—and epic quest to prove—that we are not alone in the universe. Presented in a heavily illustrated cabinet of curiosities... Read More
Format: Hardback
$5000
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

A narrative and visual exploration of humanity's age-old search for--and fixation with--aliens, from the science to pop culture to UFO sightings.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A narrative and visual exploration of humanity's age-old search for—and fixation with—aliens, from the science to pop culture to UFO sightings.

First Contact explores the ancient idea—and epic quest to prove—that we are not alone in the universe. Presented in a heavily illustrated cabinet of curiosities format, the book explores our fascination with aliens from early history to present day. It includes chapters on alien conspiracy theories, aliens in science fiction, the actual science behind our search for aliens, and what happens if and when they come...or, if we are in fact descended from aliens.

Each chapter is filled with bite-sized explainers and longer sections on meatier topics such as habitable zones, xenolinguistics, and UFO religions. Smaller topics will include alien abductions, ancient astronauts, exodinosaurs, Project Cyclops, and the Great Moon Hoax.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781523527755

Publisher: Workman Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 02 October 2025

Country: United States

Imprint: Workman Adult

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 206.0mm

Weight: 580g

Pages: 272

About the Author

Becky Ferreira is a science writer based in Ithaca, New York. She has bylines in The New York Times, Motherboard/VICE, WIRED, Popular Science, MIT Technology Review, and The Washington Post, among other publications. She has also appeared as an expert guest on the Science Channel and hosted the Motherboard video series "Space Show."

More from Health & Wellness

View all

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.