Rating: 
Summary: Read it years ago but remains unforgettable
Review: I would love to order this book to have it in my library again. I particularly remember the fascinating accounts of left and right brain functions as perceived by Sagan. The experiments done with people who had had left and right brains separated because of prolonged epileptic attacks were what first opened me up to further readings on this topic.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting material; a bit dated
Review: I would recommend this book to anyone. There are many insights, especially about the intelligence of animals (chimpanzees, dolphins). Sagan's theories about the brain's 3 centers of control are also appealing. Considering the concepts presented, the book was easy to read.My only reservation was the book's publication date. At over 20 years old, recent fossil discoveries and innovations such as PET scans of the brain are not covered.
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing
Review: I've always considered Sagan my favorite story teller. He tells both wonderful fictional tales (like Contact), and tales that while certainly grand enough to be fiction, are actually tales of nature and science. The Dragons of Eden is one such book. So large in its scope that one might think it would be disconnected and hard to follow, it in fact is the perfect balance of big picture and fascinating detail. If you're even mildly interested in evolution, biology, zoology, neuroscience, or the nature of what really makes us who we are, this book is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: Monsters of the Mind
Review: I've been comfortable with the concept of evolution, ever since I realised how it worked. My mother was horrified and called in the religious nazis to make me see the true light, but they couldn't save me! Carl Sagan is someone I've been watching and reading since the mid 70s, and I've come to respect his views, based on solid science, he has the ability to make me expand my thinking, and this book is no exception. The Dragons of Eden goes beyond the familiar terrain of high school evolution, the giraffe's neck, the development of fins and legs and hands and eyes. No this is ground-breakingly new, a journey into the evolution of what sits just behind my eyes - so different and yet so intimate that I couldn't put this book down. There is a LOT to think about here, and though it is a bit dated here in the 21st Century, years after Sagan himself died untimely, it is a seminal work, and one I love dearly. Highly recommended for all thinking creatures.
Rating: 
Summary: The Dragons of Eden: Life on Earth Explained?
Review: In The Dragons of Eden, author Carl Sagan depicts a world in which evolutionism reigns and earth's creatures develop in a mock "year" from single-celled organisms to the complex man prevalent today. First published in 1977, the information provided in the book, captioned "Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence," still remains an apparent encyclopedia for the scholar of man's development. Much of the book includes technological references, which, because of its age, are now obsolete; however, it still serves as a factual, thought-provoking reference with which one better comprehends the spawn of life on earth. As a seasoned scientist, Sagan's vast knowledge in the field of science is clear through a study of his books. Though he became famous through his work with NASA, his entire bibliographical record consists of topics about space, nuclear winters, extraterrestrial life, and the history of man specifically. The Dragons of Eden is just one example of his outstanding literary résumé. Similar authors like William Poundstone and Stephen Jay Gould are known for their study of the mathematical, philosophical, and historical aspects of science, but none come close to Sagan's highly regarded reputation and thorough knowledge of the entire scientific field. The genre of scientific novels appeal to a wide range of people, from scientists to lay men and women interested in the field. In spite of this, The Dragons of Eden seems to require a prior scientific knowledge if the reader intends on grasping some of the concepts addressed in the book. For instance, Sagan says, "the largest taxonomic divisions distinguish between plants and animals, or between those organisms with poorly developed nuclei in their cells (such as bacteria and blue-green algae) and those with very clearly demarcated and elaborately architectured nuclei (such as protozoa or people)." It is obvious that Sagan attempts to explain some of the material with the information inside the parentheses, but much of it is left unclear to the amateur reader. The scientific information Sagan proposes in this book far outweighs its literary aspect; it is more of an assemblage of experiments and scientific fact than appealing, interesting ideas that bring about fascinating new concepts. As a scientific novel, the book, by definition, should produce new and thought provoking philosophies. The majority of the book, though, only focuses on the factual side of the concept of evolution. Nevertheless, a few examples and analogies are creative and interesting, like chapter five's focus on the study of chimpanzees and their use of man-made language. Rather than "throwing" scientific fact at the reader, Sagan provides an unusual and fascinating study that better explains the material he presented. In Sagan's book, he scientifically develops the issue of evolution thoroughly and effectively without bringing in the contrasting viewpoint, creationism. Though the book concentrates on evolution, dispelling the opposing ideas of creation would have strengthened his argument and better convinced his reader to realize the true conception of man.
In order to appreciate and perceive the evolution of life on earth, Sagan's The Dragons of Eden is a perfect novel to examine. Every human being should have a great knowledge of his or her ancestry over the millions of years since homo sapiens evolved, and this book is a prime resource with which to do so. Though some scientific material may be foreign to the untrained reader, the book as a whole is a brilliant blueprint for the history of life.
Rating:
Summary: The Dragons of Eden: Life on Earth Explained?
Review: In The Dragons of Eden, author Carl Sagan depicts a world in which evolutionism reigns and earth's creatures develop in a mock "year" from single-celled organisms to the complex man prevalent today. First published in 1977, the information provided in the book, captioned "Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence," still remains an apparent encyclopedia for the scholar of man's development. Much of the book includes technological references, which, because of its age, are now obsolete; however, it still serves as a factual, thought-provoking reference with which one better comprehends the spawn of life on earth. As a seasoned scientist, Sagan's vast knowledge in the field of science is clear through a study of his books. Though he became famous through his work with NASA, his entire bibliographical record consists of topics about space, nuclear winters, extraterrestrial life, and the history of man specifically. The Dragons of Eden is just one example of his outstanding literary résumé. Similar authors like William Poundstone and Stephen Jay Gould are known for their study of the mathematical, philosophical, and historical aspects of science, but none come close to Sagan's highly regarded reputation and thorough knowledge of the entire scientific field. The genre of scientific novels appeal to a wide range of people, from scientists to lay men and women interested in the field. In spite of this, The Dragons of Eden seems to require a prior scientific knowledge if the reader intends on grasping some of the concepts addressed in the book. For instance, Sagan says, "the largest taxonomic divisions distinguish between plants and animals, or between those organisms with poorly developed nuclei in their cells (such as bacteria and blue-green algae) and those with very clearly demarcated and elaborately architectured nuclei (such as protozoa or people)." It is obvious that Sagan attempts to explain some of the material with the information inside the parentheses, but much of it is left unclear to the amateur reader. The scientific information Sagan proposes in this book far outweighs its literary aspect; it is more of an assemblage of experiments and scientific fact than appealing, interesting ideas that bring about fascinating new concepts. As a scientific novel, the book, by definition, should produce new and thought provoking philosophies. The majority of the book, though, only focuses on the factual side of the concept of evolution. Nevertheless, a few examples and analogies are creative and interesting, like chapter five's focus on the study of chimpanzees and their use of man-made language. Rather than "throwing" scientific fact at the reader, Sagan provides an unusual and fascinating study that better explains the material he presented. In Sagan's book, he scientifically develops the issue of evolution thoroughly and effectively without bringing in the contrasting viewpoint, creationism. Though the book concentrates on evolution, dispelling the opposing ideas of creation would have strengthened his argument and better convinced his reader to realize the true conception of man.
In order to appreciate and perceive the evolution of life on earth, Sagan's The Dragons of Eden is a perfect novel to examine. Every human being should have a great knowledge of his or her ancestry over the millions of years since homo sapiens evolved, and this book is a prime resource with which to do so. Though some scientific material may be foreign to the untrained reader, the book as a whole is a brilliant blueprint for the history of life.
Rating:
Summary: An intuitive and orignal work that should not be missed!
Review: Not only entertaining, Sagan's work is informative. His genius writing style makes scientific technical writing accessible to practically anyone. Sagan's theories on the evolution of human intellgence are thought provoking; he has answers to many questions that are, for the most part, untouched. Once again, Sagan's brilliant mind has given us insight on a topic that effects the human race more than anything else, intelligence
Rating:
Summary: includes endnote coverage of the cannabis smoker's mind...
Review: Now I definitely need to read more of Carl Sagan's books. This one is not very recent (he speaks of a new video game called "Pong"), but full of thought-provoking and interesting concepts concerning intelligence and evolution. I was pleasantly surprised to see that he had a chapter pertaining to dreamstates. ("Tales of Dim Eden") Also pertaining to Eden, he illustrates how the Genesis story of Man and his Fall can in some senses really be accurate, not (pseudo)scientifically (as in Creationism...obviously it is a book on evolution and phylogeny) but as a metaphor for several characteristics of the human races emerging onto the present scene of a civilisation stemmed from the frontal lobes. Which in the big picture has been very recent, to show this he condenses the life of the cosmos to a scale Cosmic Calendar of 365 days. Us Earthlings almost miss the New Year's party. Neurologically, the areas of the brain are explored and their respective functions as well as connections to mammallian and reptilian ancestors. (A triune model is used) Finally, he briefly touches on our search for extraterrestrial intelligence and, very appropriately to this setting, exposes the West's lack of appreciation for scientific knowledge the world which we inhabit and our irrational attraction to superstition and bogus claims of occult psuedo-science... something I just had to include somewhere in here.
Rating:
Summary: includes endnote coverage of the cannabis smoker's mind...
Review: Now I definitely need to read more of Carl Sagan's books. This one is not very recent (he speaks of a new video game called "Pong"), but full of thought-provoking and interesting concepts concerning intelligence and evolution. I was pleasantly surprised to see that he had a chapter pertaining to dreamstates. ("Tales of Dim Eden") Also pertaining to Eden, he illustrates how the Genesis story of Man and his Fall can in some senses really be accurate, not (pseudo)scientifically (as in Creationism...obviously it is a book on evolution and phylogeny) but as a metaphor for several characteristics of the human races emerging onto the present scene of a civilisation stemmed from the frontal lobes. Which in the big picture has been very recent, to show this he condenses the life of the cosmos to a scale Cosmic Calendar of 365 days. Us Earthlings almost miss the New Year's party. Neurologically, the areas of the brain are explored and their respective functions as well as connections to mammallian and reptilian ancestors. (A triune model is used) Finally, he briefly touches on our search for extraterrestrial intelligence and, very appropriately to this setting, exposes the West's lack of appreciation for scientific knowledge the world which we inhabit and our irrational attraction to superstition and bogus claims of occult psuedo-science... something I just had to include somewhere in here.
Rating:
Summary: Great, easily explained.
Review: Of the 4 books I've read from Sagan, this is the second best (just after Cosmos). Everything seems so logical at reading it. I'm a Catholic, a real believer in God and evolution. Why must everyone try to make a fight between science and Religion, while they can shake hands? If I was given a brain, it was for me to use it and take the most out of it, otherwise, I would be a geocentrist non-thinker. It's a shame we had lost a liberal thinker and scientist as Dr. Sagan, he must be on better life now.
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