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The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe
Jane Wagner's masterpiece--The first play in more than 20 years to become a national bestseller--is now a motion picture!
In this satire, a form all too lacking in American theater, Trudy the bag lady, Wagner's central character, tries to explain modern American material society to an alien (i.e., interstellar) committee.
In this satire, a form all too lacking in American theater, Trudy the bag lady, Wagner's central character, tries to explain modern American material society to an alien (i.e., interstellar) committee.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
13 people are currently reading
986 people want to read
About the author
Jane Wagner
25Ìýbooks23ÌýfollowersJane Wagner is an American writer, director and producer. Wagner is best known as Lily Tomlin's comedy writer, collaborator and life partner.
She is the author of The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, The Incredible Shrinking Woman and other Tomlin vehicles.
She is the author of The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, The Incredible Shrinking Woman and other Tomlin vehicles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
January 24, 2019
This was such a fun read! I found myself hearing Lily Tomlin and all her voices in my head which had me bursting into laughter out in public. That's a five star experience if ever there was one!
Here's a part that really got me:
"You don't know what it's like!
Hyperactive twins!
When they turned three, my doctor prescribed Ritalin--
I wouldn't dream of giving drugs to my children,
but it does help when I take it myself.
....Sometimes it gets so bad, I brew up some
Sleepytime herb tea, pour it over ice, serve it in Spiderman
glasses and
tell them it's a new-flavor
Kool-Aid."
The running gags, especially "Soup," also caught me in surprise moments of laughter.
Here's a part that really got me:
"You don't know what it's like!
Hyperactive twins!
When they turned three, my doctor prescribed Ritalin--
I wouldn't dream of giving drugs to my children,
but it does help when I take it myself.
....Sometimes it gets so bad, I brew up some
Sleepytime herb tea, pour it over ice, serve it in Spiderman
glasses and
tell them it's a new-flavor
Kool-Aid."
The running gags, especially "Soup," also caught me in surprise moments of laughter.
May 10, 2022
This is a hilarious and emotionally moving play. There is a large cast of very diverse characters, who are brilliantly interconnected. This play shows great insight about the human condition. Content a bit dated to the culture of the 1970s, but the understanding shown applies to all of human nature. Exceptionally perceptive work.
I also saw Lily Tomlin perform this live several times when it played in San Francisco. Amazing experience!
I also saw Lily Tomlin perform this live several times when it played in San Francisco. Amazing experience!
August 23, 2007
F-ing nuts.
"Here we are, standing on the corner of 'Walk, Don't Walk.' You look away from me, tryin' not to catch my eye, but you didn't turn fast enough, did you?"
"Here we are, standing on the corner of 'Walk, Don't Walk.' You look away from me, tryin' not to catch my eye, but you didn't turn fast enough, did you?"
January 28, 2011
I read this because when you hear so many women pulling monologues from it (the same one really) you feel the need to read the actual play. I really wish I could have seen this show performed by Lily Tomlin. I think her as the actress would be a lot of what makes it, but I did like it. Considering when it was written and when it was on Broadway, it is no wonder it was the smash it was. I will say this however: actresses who pull that same Trudy monologue for auditions need to pick different monologues. Don't get me wrong, the one you consistently choose is a nice one, but there are definitely more meaty and gritty monologues later in the show to provide a better showcase for your acting chops. Just saying...
September 13, 2008
Jane Wagner had to have had Lily Tomlin in mind when she wrote Signs, because so many facets of Tomlin's personality are reflected in this brilliant play. The characters are loosely interwoven, diverse in nature, and absolutely unforgettable. I really came to love this play when my daughter used different monologues from it as audition pieces, and I got to hear the language and hear the characters develop over and over. Kudos to Wagner: she did a splendid job.
June 18, 2019
Amazing, phenomenal, A fuggin' plus.
My favorite book since middle school when I randomly picked it up off the shelf of the school library, read it twice back-to-back, and then decided never to return it.
You can read my full review !
My favorite book since middle school when I randomly picked it up off the shelf of the school library, read it twice back-to-back, and then decided never to return it.
You can read my full review !
May 26, 2019
Funny, funny, hilarious, and absolutely spot on. Thanks for the recommendation, Pam! I adore this book!
Read
October 25, 2021jane really got me!!! the end really got me!!!
July 17, 2015
Pretty rich. Gleefully subversive.
I enjoyed this more than I expected, especially after skimming through and seeing all the photos of Lily Tomlin, which made it seem goofy as hell. It takes the starting-point acceptance of a lot of feminist principles for granted, which I liked. It's filled with witty one-liners, many of which have since circulated to the point of saturation, but it's also powered by wide-eyed curiosity about, and compassion for, the human animal. Only, foe all of its reveals and epiphanies and philosophical, outside-looking-in musings, it falls just short of real, profound wisdom. The meaning of life shouldn't be the begrudging tolerance of pain and suffering, as in Agnus' "candle" metaphor. We can take the next step and end ALL suffering, but that message isn't exactly commercial. Hope sells better. In any event, I thoroughly sympathize with the feminist (humanist) heart of this play, and merely wished it brought in a little more of the brooding, Schopenhauer angle. It's definitely a better synthesis of and capstone to the Women's-Lib and New-Age craze than another, similar, but entirely unfunny play I just read: David Rabe's In the Boom Boom Room.
Look for the term "affluenza" as applied to the character of Kate, though, in the afterword. That term JUST came up recently, describing a legal defense for that rich teenage idiot who ran over and killed, what, four people? The search for intelligent death...
I enjoyed this more than I expected, especially after skimming through and seeing all the photos of Lily Tomlin, which made it seem goofy as hell. It takes the starting-point acceptance of a lot of feminist principles for granted, which I liked. It's filled with witty one-liners, many of which have since circulated to the point of saturation, but it's also powered by wide-eyed curiosity about, and compassion for, the human animal. Only, foe all of its reveals and epiphanies and philosophical, outside-looking-in musings, it falls just short of real, profound wisdom. The meaning of life shouldn't be the begrudging tolerance of pain and suffering, as in Agnus' "candle" metaphor. We can take the next step and end ALL suffering, but that message isn't exactly commercial. Hope sells better. In any event, I thoroughly sympathize with the feminist (humanist) heart of this play, and merely wished it brought in a little more of the brooding, Schopenhauer angle. It's definitely a better synthesis of and capstone to the Women's-Lib and New-Age craze than another, similar, but entirely unfunny play I just read: David Rabe's In the Boom Boom Room.
Look for the term "affluenza" as applied to the character of Kate, though, in the afterword. That term JUST came up recently, describing a legal defense for that rich teenage idiot who ran over and killed, what, four people? The search for intelligent death...
August 11, 2019
For more reviews, check out my blog:
Going into this I had no idea what to expect. This book was crazy, weird, and everything I needed. Such a fantastic read that sends you on a roller coaster of emotions and experiences. Silly, funny, heartbreaking, eyeopening, relatable, anger-inducing, frustrating, tear jerking, humorous. This book encompasses a range of human life and it is amazing.
The cast of characters is perfectly collaborated, acting as foils and compliments to each other in their strange interconnected way, linking humans and their experiences together in a surprisingly simply yet complicated way. Honestly, there is just so much going on in this work and I am amazed by it.
The book also includes some pretty great photos of Tomlin during her performances as well as some strange collage-esque photo art that is rather splendid.
Great read. I am now on the hunt for a copy of the show, because I can hardly fathom how amazing it is to see Tomlin enact all of the complexities and idiosyncrasies of these fantastic characters. I'm rather disappointed that my library doesn't have a copy, but I will persevere. I think it's worth it.
Going into this I had no idea what to expect. This book was crazy, weird, and everything I needed. Such a fantastic read that sends you on a roller coaster of emotions and experiences. Silly, funny, heartbreaking, eyeopening, relatable, anger-inducing, frustrating, tear jerking, humorous. This book encompasses a range of human life and it is amazing.
The cast of characters is perfectly collaborated, acting as foils and compliments to each other in their strange interconnected way, linking humans and their experiences together in a surprisingly simply yet complicated way. Honestly, there is just so much going on in this work and I am amazed by it.
The book also includes some pretty great photos of Tomlin during her performances as well as some strange collage-esque photo art that is rather splendid.
Great read. I am now on the hunt for a copy of the show, because I can hardly fathom how amazing it is to see Tomlin enact all of the complexities and idiosyncrasies of these fantastic characters. I'm rather disappointed that my library doesn't have a copy, but I will persevere. I think it's worth it.
June 3, 2018
I randomly picked this up at a used book store because it looked weird and I am a sucker for long titles. This has turned out a be a blessing of impulse buying because I loved this play! It is comprised mostly of monologues because it was written as a one woman show. Each monologue gives us a new character simply talking about their experience on life as a business woman, mother, teen rebel, feminist, and crazy bag lady. In the end this play left me with an appreciation of life and what makes it so beautiful (almost ironically as none of the characters are truly content with their lives, they are simply living them). Wagner's play is funny, witty, and heartfelt and I am going to run to the store to try and find the DVD of Lily Tomlin's performance in the film version!
March 21, 2020
The Search For Signs Of Intelligent Life In The Universe is the one-woman, multiple-character stage play, written by Jane Wagner and starring Lily Tomlin. The play centres around Trudy, a funny, thoughtful, mentally-complicated, bag lady who is tasked with explaining modern American life, as well as the difference between art and soup, to aliens from outer space. During the play, we meet all manner of different characters as Trudy channel surfs through their lives.
I laughed so hard and repeatedly. I am jealous as holy hell of those who got to see this play on Broadway but I am so pleased I’ve read it now. I couldn’t help reading the play with Lily Tomlin’s voice in my head. Definitely recommended.
I laughed so hard and repeatedly. I am jealous as holy hell of those who got to see this play on Broadway but I am so pleased I’ve read it now. I couldn’t help reading the play with Lily Tomlin’s voice in my head. Definitely recommended.
October 1, 2017
I absolutely loved this piece of feminist art. It was inspiring, beautiful, heartfelt. Between the interconnectedness of life/characters/ideals, Jane Wagner also kept the humor, the discussion, and the heartbreak. It really is a masterpiece of a script that more people should read, as it still has an effect on today's culture. I wish I could have seen Lily Tomlin perform it.
July 19, 2018
This was unbelievable! The most fun I've had reading something in a long time!!!! In the beginning I kept reading lines and pausing to think "that's such a great quote" but halfway through I realized I had thought that for most of the play! It had so many awesome, thoughtful and well written lines. I loved everything about it!
September 29, 2018
Feminist, humanist, philosophical, comedic, physical, and temporal. Full of anecdotes and quotes so full of character that you don't read them so much as feel them, right down to the lilts of each individual word. Its narrative dips and leaps and packs its pages full of such viscous human experience that it sticks to your cortex and you thank it for going through the trouble.
July 1, 2007
I also saw Lily Tomlin perform this when I lived in San Francisco. Excellent!
July 14, 2014
Brilliant characters and monologues, even when Tomlinson isn't bringing them to life.
October 25, 2022
I have read this play several times, most recently in 2000, after Lily Tomlin reprised this show on Broadway. This review was written at that time:
The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe explodes with wit, warmth, wisdom, and humanity. Jane Wagner's script is so strong that, coming back to it fifteen years after it was written, it sounds as epigrammatic as an Oscar Wilde play. Consider:
The conceit of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life is that aliens from another world have latched onto the eccentric but very in-tune bag lady Trudy to try to learn something about life here on Earth. The astonishing thing is that the conceit really works: it's not a gimmick, it's the foundation of a play of near-epic reach. Trudy channels for them a sampling of Earthlings: an alienated teenager who calls herself Agnus Angst, an upwardly mobile yuppie named Chrissy, two Manhattan hookers called Brandy and Tina. And what unfolds is an organic journey into the hearts and souls of these and several other lives, randomly and inextricably linked. As the play nears its wondrous conclusion, what feel at first like half-a-dozen disparate one-act plays merge into a seamless and inevitable whole.
You won't forget the long, touching saga of Lyn, Edie, and Marge, three women who become friends at the height of the feminist movement of the late sixties; nor are you likely ever to look at a can of Campbell's soup (or an Andy Warhol painting) in quite the same way after you've seen Trudy explain them to her alien friends. And it's just possible that, after you experience the extraordinary ending of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, you will have a renewed appreciation for the very idea of theater. A playwright friend of mine told me he could never imagine writing an ending as good as this one, and, with due respect to his talent, he's probably right.
The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe explodes with wit, warmth, wisdom, and humanity. Jane Wagner's script is so strong that, coming back to it fifteen years after it was written, it sounds as epigrammatic as an Oscar Wilde play. Consider:
"All my life I've always wanted to be somebody. But I see now I should have been more specific."That last one, especially, seems remarkably prescient for 1985: as the Me Generation gave way to post-everything America at the end of the millennium, the cautionary sagacity of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life got burnished into our collective consciousness.
"I have gained and lost the same ten pounds so many times over and over again my cellulite must have deja vu."
"I am sick of being the victims of trends I reflect but don't even understand."
"No matter how cynical you become, it's never enough to keep up."
The conceit of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life is that aliens from another world have latched onto the eccentric but very in-tune bag lady Trudy to try to learn something about life here on Earth. The astonishing thing is that the conceit really works: it's not a gimmick, it's the foundation of a play of near-epic reach. Trudy channels for them a sampling of Earthlings: an alienated teenager who calls herself Agnus Angst, an upwardly mobile yuppie named Chrissy, two Manhattan hookers called Brandy and Tina. And what unfolds is an organic journey into the hearts and souls of these and several other lives, randomly and inextricably linked. As the play nears its wondrous conclusion, what feel at first like half-a-dozen disparate one-act plays merge into a seamless and inevitable whole.
You won't forget the long, touching saga of Lyn, Edie, and Marge, three women who become friends at the height of the feminist movement of the late sixties; nor are you likely ever to look at a can of Campbell's soup (or an Andy Warhol painting) in quite the same way after you've seen Trudy explain them to her alien friends. And it's just possible that, after you experience the extraordinary ending of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, you will have a renewed appreciation for the very idea of theater. A playwright friend of mine told me he could never imagine writing an ending as good as this one, and, with due respect to his talent, he's probably right.
June 2, 2023
I read this a few years ago for the first time and now I pick it up all the time. It's very rare for a book to make me feel quite like this - so emotionally connected. It truly does give "the goosebump experience."
It's hard to separate the incredible writing and the sound of Lily's delivery in your head as you read it. Every character is so real, so imagned, so different from each other. There are so many different women and so many different stories in this and yet none feel short changed or overlooked.
In the last quarter of the play so much ties together and meld and becomes this more important, bigger thing. Reading this book reminded me why I love people, the beauty of human interconnectedness and to remember that we're all just struggling to live on this one big planet together. This play is so rich and layered and good and I wanna cry whenever I read it.
I want to talk about this play/performance for hours and comb through every last detail with anyone who's seen or read it. I want them to describe how they feel at the end. I want to ask them if they too finished feeling like they knew they answers to the universe, even if they still felt unable to express them.
I love this play. I love this play. I love play. Read it. Read it. Read it.
It's hard to separate the incredible writing and the sound of Lily's delivery in your head as you read it. Every character is so real, so imagned, so different from each other. There are so many different women and so many different stories in this and yet none feel short changed or overlooked.
In the last quarter of the play so much ties together and meld and becomes this more important, bigger thing. Reading this book reminded me why I love people, the beauty of human interconnectedness and to remember that we're all just struggling to live on this one big planet together. This play is so rich and layered and good and I wanna cry whenever I read it.
I want to talk about this play/performance for hours and comb through every last detail with anyone who's seen or read it. I want them to describe how they feel at the end. I want to ask them if they too finished feeling like they knew they answers to the universe, even if they still felt unable to express them.
I love this play. I love this play. I love play. Read it. Read it. Read it.
May 31, 2017
I was asked a few times what this book was about and a month later I still don't really have an answer. I can't put into words what this is supposed to be about or if there even is a plot - but what I do know is that I found the stream of conscious rambling to be pleasant. I can't visualize this being a play and I know nothing about Lily Tomlin but she must be one heck of a lady! The book had me very curiously hooked from beginning to end. I just can't explain it. This is one of the better books I've picked up in a while. (all year for sure)
February 12, 2022
What’s your reading nitro? When you hit an inevitable slow patch, when it feels like you are twenty pages into five different books and can’t seem to find one that’s sucking you in, what do you do? How do you get going again? My go-tos are middle-grade books I love (like Sideways Stories From Wayside School), graphic novels, and, yes, scripts. Movie scripts, theater scripts, just something with a quarter of the "words per page" of my usual books so I feel that nitro charge me back up. This is a wonderfully wacky script of a Tony Award winning one-woman stage show starring Lily Tomlin.
November 5, 2023
This woman, this book, this play�
I’m in awe ;)
This duo is so exceptional and inspiring! Wagner really writes genius brainy stuff (as Lily put it). I can’t get over how exceptional the book is. It’s a wonderful thing when you read something and your brain just clicks! Like a new window opens or a new level unlocks. This is everything.
It checks every box.
You’ll laugh
You’ll think
You’ll be very happy and hopefull that there are people out there who think like Jane Wagner does
I’m gonna search in every corner of the www to find a copy/torrent of the play!
I’m in awe ;)
This duo is so exceptional and inspiring! Wagner really writes genius brainy stuff (as Lily put it). I can’t get over how exceptional the book is. It’s a wonderful thing when you read something and your brain just clicks! Like a new window opens or a new level unlocks. This is everything.
It checks every box.
You’ll laugh
You’ll think
You’ll be very happy and hopefull that there are people out there who think like Jane Wagner does
I’m gonna search in every corner of the www to find a copy/torrent of the play!
April 10, 2024
I grabbed this randomly as my college library was giving away old books and the cover looked cool. Sat on my shelf for a few months. Finally decided to try it out today thinking I would read a few pages before bed. No. I read the entire thing and had to keep stopping to just sit in my amazement of how good it is. My original review was just going to be OH MY GOD! or WOW WOW WOW which are both accurate. Everyone needs to read this asap.
July 11, 2017
Holds up pretty well, considering. Bumped up to 4-stars for the fantastic photographs of Lily Tomlin in the original Broadway production - truly added joy to the reading experience, and elevated the material to something closer to its performance form.
October 7, 2022
I did a monologue from this play for a speech contest in middle school (Agnus on the pay phone). I was trying to find the monologue online, since I didn’t remember most of it, but I gave up and got the book versions instead. Lots of very fun moments and things to think about.
October 19, 2022
A very funny book that makes you think. Written over 35 years ago, it has an out-dated new-agedness that goes on a bit too long. Still, it was disappointing to be reminded that many of the social issues covered here have yet to be solved. I'm looking forward to seeing this performed in 2022.
December 30, 2022
A witty play with pictures!! I really loved the various stories and the quirky idea that Trudy is helping space chums find the meaning of life. The last few pages of aha moments really made this a satisfying read to complete.
May 25, 2023
This is one woman play and I would love to watch it. It's an underwhelming read because it's meant to be heard. However, the book itself is very pretty and has some wonderful graphics! they quite helped me understand the transitions between characters that are more evident on stage.
March 1, 2024
I kept reading this in spurts at a busy time, so I think I read it backwards a couple times! Fascinating to see what felt current and what did not, and loved all the pictures. I get the feeling many of its concepts and components will surface in my reflections again and again.
March 23, 2018
I want to be Trudy when I grow up. No doubt about it.
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