They Are Already Here: UFO Culture and Why We See Saucers

This book is a sort of combination of two things: A brief, partial history of UFOs (or UAPs, or whatever we might want to call them) as a cultural phenomenon, the organizations UFO enthusiasts and investigators have formed, and what the US military has said about the matter. And a more personal account of the author's experiences attending UFO conferences, driving around Area 51, and talking to various UFO folks -- mostly the ones who are at least trying to take a more scientific approach to the subject, some more successfully than others. I'd say that neither aspect of the book is entirely satisfying, but it is nevertheless interesting.

Scoles is not credulous on the matter, and, no, she doesn't actually believe alien spaceships are show more visiting the Earth. But she does experience and understand the tempting feeling inside urging us to believe in exciting and extraordinary things, and approaches the people who have made that leap to belief with nuanced understanding and sympathy. I admit, there were times when I found myself a little frustrated, wanting her to be a bit more debunk-y, so to speak, but I do realize that in doing so, I'm neatly illustrating one of her points, that science-minded skeptical folks often instinctively want to take a confrontational approach that isn't always the most effective or useful. Which is definitely a point worth keeping in mind. show less

A charming and earnest investigation into the UFO phenomenon and the subculture that surrounds it. The author spends time on location interviewing the passionate outsiders as well as locals who have come to live with strange lights in the sky and disappearing cows. Her focus is not so much on whether these claims of alien existence cover-ups are true, but rather what draws people to this particular conspiracy. What is it about visitors from another planet that fires the imagination and the almost religious fervency of some people?

A very enjoyable read and very fairly handled.

They are Already Here by Sarah Scoles and read by Suzie Althens tells the story of the author's quest for the truth behind a New York Times article in December 2017 the featured a UFO and discussed a program called the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program. She was intrigued by the skepticism of the UFO community, and her research took her into the world of UFOlogy. This book follows her path, delving into the history of UFOs while also offering anecdotes of her adventure.

The book is interesting. Scoles tells her story as if she is Agent Scully, the skeptical half of the X-Files. She has a dry wit that comes off a little snarky at times, especially when describing the true believers of the UFO community. The narrator does a show more good job of projecting Scoles' tone. If you are intrigued by UFOs, but skeptical of their existence, this book is for you. show less

This review is of the HighBridge audiobook version, narrated by Suzie Althens.

This is a nonfiction journalistic work on the U.F.O. phenomenon, past and present. Rather than focusing on IF alien life exists (although it touches on that as well), it delves deeply into WHY so many want to believe that alien life exists. The author recounts her interviews with well known ufologists, sitting in on U.F.O. conferences, her own "Unidentified Flying Object" experiences, her thoughts on the subject, and her personal journey to Area 51.

The narrator captures the author's voice perfectly, making it sound almost like more of a memoir than a nonfiction narrative. It was very hard to tear myself away, as the content was quite intriguing. However, I show more disliked that the author was quite vocal about her religious beliefs, calling the fundamentals of Christianity "absurd" as well as criticizing other religions. It was unnecessary. I would still give the book a hearty four stars. show less

UFO's have already been endlessly discussed and will continue to be endlessly discussed. "They Are Already Here: UFO Culture and Why We See Saucers" by Sarah Scoles is a worthy addition to the available information, an audiobook that was interesting and entertaining for the most part. I was less interested when it veered off to discuss religion, but otherwise found it fairly engrossing listening. I liked that it was fact-based as opposed to the conspiracy theory tendencies I have noticed in some other books on the same or similar subjects. My copy came from HighBridge through the Library Thing Early Reviewer program.

I received this audiobook as Part of LibraryThing's Early review program.

I spent most of the book trying to figure out what the the author's deal was. Now that I've completed it, I'm still not completely sure. She's a Mormon turned atheist, and she seems to spend much of the book arguing that UFOlogoy is a modern day religion.

The book is more about the people who "study" UFOs than the UFOs themselves.

She doesn't really explain the "Why we See Saucers" mentioned in the subtitle of the book other than a flimsy argument that we see them because we want to see them.

I will say the version of an "official" story about the Roswell incident that she recount's here is the first one I have heard that holds any water.

As far as its quality as show more an audiobook: I was pleasantly pleased that they are still making CD versions in 2020. In fact when I finally received it I hadn't even realized it was going to be an audiobook, and I love audiobooks on CD. The reader was OK. Her voice wasn't annoying or anything, but personally I always prefer audiobooks that are read by the author. show less

Author Sarah Scoles delves into the UFO phenomena, giving some historical background and interviewing well known and not-so-well-known UFO-ologists.

In the average US population, some people believe in visits by extraterrestrials but others are skeptics. Many people (as high as 1 out of 6) have seen unexplained things in the sky. Others want to believe so badly , that they begin to see phenomena. Many believe there is information hidden by the government.

It’s amusing enough to keep my interest, but even if you’re like me and have read only a very small bit on UFO’s, you won’t find much new in this book.

This is the sort of nonfiction audiobook that badly needs a list of chapters or better yet, an index. If you would like to show more compare something in the audio to something else you have read, you will be quite frustrated finding the sequence you would like to compare. Everything about this book points it toward listening casually once through for entertainment.

Disappointing. show less