Well this what not what I was expecting at all... On the face of it, it's a witty analysis of human beings and their behaviour, but it's also so much more than that: the marketing and cover do not do it justice. It is a very funny novel, but is also a very moving account of what it is to be human and what makes us 'us'. It does get quite existential at times, and some of the stuff about death and the 'meaning' of it all are quite depressing (unless, like Camus, you just accept there is probably no point to any of it). But the message from our Vonnodorian friend seems to state the opposite - that despite the fact that we are mortal, being human is actually pretty cool as we get to love and experience love. Is that the meaning of our lives? The alien has convinced me. Make love not war, people! And if you can't make love, then make toast and peanut butter - it's the next best thing.