The Cult of Alien Gods by Jason Colavito

Colavito's thesis is that the belief in aliens visiting Earth was influenced by the works of H. P Lovecraft.

This blurb says it all: "Nearly half of all Americans believe in the existence of extraterrestrials. Shocking new evidence proves that the entire genre of ancient astronaut books is based upon fictional horror stories, whose author once wrote that he never wished to mislead anyone.

"Jason Colavito traces the origins of the belief in ancient extraterrestrial visitors to the work of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft (1890–1937). This amazing tale takes the reader through fifty years of pop culture and pseudoscience highlighting such influential figures and developments as Erich von Däniken (Chariots of the Gods), Graham Hancock (Fingerprints of the Gods), Zecharia Sitchin (Twelfth Planet), and the Raelian Revolution."

Everyone should also read his outstanding article!