Interest in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) is growing, especially with the recently released Pentagon report on UFOs, or UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, as they are now called).

In 1990, the first edition of Frank White’s The SETI Factor was unpublished. In it, Frank focused less on the technical aspects of the search and more on the potential social impact of contact with an extraterrestrial civilization. Now, more than 30 years later, many of his insights remain valid, even as fascination with the topic has grown.

In this second edition, Frank looks at how this search has broadened and is transforming our view of the universe, our planet, and ourselves. He asks the fundamental questions: what are the implications if there is no one “out there?” And what will be the impact if we make contact with extraterrestrial intelligence?

Interviews with scientists and experts on the topic lead Frank to believe that we are on the verge of a revolutionary shift in the consciousness of our species. He concludes with specific recommendations for how we can “get ready for SETI.”