Rating: 
Summary: Think About It
Review: The ideas Sagan presents are enlightening and (as always) well-written. I especially enjoyed the parts where he convincingly argued against the charge that science somehow lessens beauty or wonder in life.... who said ignorance was wonderful? Sagan also comes right out and says that scientists can and have been wrong about ideas, fessing up to several mistakes he's made. If you can adequately prove or disprove something, science will acknowledge your ideas as correct. How many new-agers, "psychics" or religious fundamentalists can claim to be so open-minded? You may not agree with everything Sagan says (one reviewer disliked his politics; I noted with bemusement that Sagan bemoaned the lack of positively portrayed scientists on tv - yet he wasn't a big fan of Star Trek) but most of what he says cannot be ignored.
Rating: 
Summary: Who Are You Talking to, Dr. Sagan?
Review: This is Dr. Sagan's manifesto against scientific ignorance. The primary target seems to be the kind of person who believes, for instance, that a cross-shaped crack in the sidewalk can be a sign from Heaven.But that kind of person would never pick up a book like this. So, who is Dr. Sagan writing this book for? The average, intelligent non-scientist citizen? But then, why does he spend roundly half the book debunking "pseudoscience" like alien abduction, false memory syndrome, and even witch burning? Surely the average well-read citizen doesn't believe in those things, either. There have been no witch burnings, I believe, in the U.S. for quite some time. And, as an average reader, I have to say I found this book boring and frustrating to read. Dr. Sagan confuses scientific learning with common sense. He belabors matters of simple logic to a point far beyond boredom, and then skips over the issues and questions that would, I think, spring to the mind of most of his audience. It's telling that Dr. Sagan starts this book out with an anecdote about his standing up to a bully at an early age. "Sometimes it was good to fight back," he concludes. The bully, we come to understand, are we, the scientifically illiterate. This book definitely has a "Them vs. Us" slant which I found unnecessary and a little paranoid. Not to mention the frequent, gratuitous injections of anti-religious fervor. In many places you see Sagan, bizarrely, struggling to offer science as a replacement for religion and superstition. He refers to the scientist's role as "prophetic." He calls the sum total of human endeavor to understand, scientifically speaking, the universe as a sort of "meta-mind" development. He says "spiritual" doesn't necessarily have to do with God. But surely it would be dangerous to make a religion out of science? Sagan doesn't go into this, though, or show any signs of having thought the issue out. Dr. Sagan seems to have written this book more to satisfy his own emotional needs than anything else. As such, I would recommend it only to people who already agree with him and would derive satisfaction from a rather muddled summation of the same old, same old.
Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately, WAY over many heads
Review: Do you feel the world around you is lopsided and gullible beyond understanding? This book will show you, to your dismay, why. Warning: this book, for instance, will unfortunately answer your questions as to why kids bring guns and shoot each other at school. If you don't get it at the end of the book, know this: the book was exactly about you.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for our time
Review: As a person who studied the sciences, I have ensured that I recommend this book to as many people as possible. There are far too many books available on new age, voodoo based "solutions to all our questions", and the scientific community needs to let the man in the street know what we know. The academic world is far too secretive, and people look for answers to everyday questions. If we do not advertise our discoveries, people will look to aliens and tarrot cards for their answers.
Rating:
Summary: Required reading for everybody
Review: A much needed dose of reality and reason to fight against superstition, stupidity and gullibility. Lets hope we continue to maintain the candle of science burning in order to avoid living in the darkness. The last paragraph summarizes the general theme of the whole book and should be memorized and lived by. AC.CHB
Rating:
Summary: Sagan took the road less travelled......
Review: One word: OUTSTANDING. I read this book over two nights, couldn't put it down, and afterwards was eagerly searching for more of the same. Science at it's best-accurate, timely, well-argued, emotionally and mentally invigorating, spiritually uplifting; and filled with boundless enthusiasm and hope. Like the author, Carl Sagan himself. This book describes the 'scientific journey'. Alternately curious, cautious, inquiring, uplifting, compassionate, humane, warning, discovering and fulfilling. Topics include UFOs, alien abductions, witches, religion-both good and bad, Roswell, frauds, scientific genuises, skeptical thinking, wishful thinking, deceptive thinking, balanced thinking, belief, superstition, astrology, ESP, myth, and the like; and the role and place of science and scientific inquiry in all of this. For those who think science "destroys" spirituality-does not scientific inquiry with its' abundant curiosity and courageous endeavour accurately describe a spiritual journey to find the truth? Sagan contends, with great clarity and enthusiasm, that it assuredly does. It's just that this scientific journey is not an easy one, neither for the individual, nor humanity, by any means. But when has the attempt to find "truth" and "light" in this complex world of ours, ever been easy? Sagan argues that science and the scientific method is a noble and enlightening endeavour, an unquenchable candle, lit by the human yearning for truth, and able to steer humanity towards truth and goodwill in a world of mists, shadowy truths, and darkness. For those who wish to open their minds to science and what it has to say about much that goes in this beautiful, yet sometimes dark world of ours, this is the book for you. This great book (Sagan's last) is a fitting testament to a great man of science. Sagan, who passed away recently, was one of the great communicators of science, and this book is considered by many to be his best. Reading it was something I'll always cherish.
Rating:
Summary: Keep this Book On Hand as a Valuable Reference
Review: As entertaining as it is thought provoking, 'The Demon Haunted World' will repay careful attention. I have read this book over and over again, and each time I am forced to examine my world view and what it's based on. In a world full of, 'The National Enquirer' and 'Jerry Springer' this book stands out. Without becoming disrespectful (which is more than can be said for his detractors), Sagan calmly and rationally discusses topics like UFO abuctees, crop circles and religion. The chapter entitled, 'The Fine Art of Baloney Detection' should be a handout in every school in the country as a blue print for clear thought. Sagan will be remembered for 'Cosmos' but to me this book will always be his masterpiece.
Rating: 
Summary: Great..except for the politics.
Review: I first read Cosmos when I was a teenager and in retrospect I would have to say that Mr. Sagan influenced the way I see the world perhaps more than any other individual. This book does a wonderful job of highlighting the importance of skeptical thinking and I would highly recommend it to everyone. My only criticism is why, after setting up the case for viewing the world from a empirical, scientific vantage point, would he then inject (near the end of the book) so many unscientific, subjective political views? At one point he even admits that politics is not a science. (So the reader knows where I'm coming from--I tend to be fiscally conservative and socially liberal). My point is that many people who, in my opinion, need this book the most will reject it in total because of these political views. But my admiration for this book far outweighs my criticism. Whatever your predispositions my advice would still be to buy it!
Rating:
Summary: A good book by a venerable man
Review: This is one of Sagan's better books. He scrutinizes the appalling decadence that exists in our time insofar as reason is concerned. There are others who have written reviews of this book who have complained that there is more to life than reason. I would agree, and I think Sagan would, too. I think the point Sagan was trying to make is that this is no reason to ABANDON reason. As the great Princeton philosopher Walter Kaufmann once said (paraphrased), "He who turns his back on reason is like the man who gouges out his eyes because he cannot see everything." That, I think, is the gist of this book. Sagan does, however, underestimate the value of philosophy. As with many scientists, Sagan seems to have an inherent condescension towards the discipline. Sagan of all people should know that all branches of science grew out of philosophy. Aristotle was one of the first biologists & physicists the world has ever seen. Although he was wrong about a great many things, he contributed a great deal to future human thought. It would seem that philosophy deserves more respect & credit than Sagan is willing to grant it. Sagan also overstates his thesis of science being a "totally objective" enterprise. Any philosopher of science knows all to well just how often alterior motives, metaphysical pre-suppositions, politics and $$$ have played too large a part in the pursuit of science. Those who are unacquainted with this history are encouraged to read books by Freeman Dyson, Thomas Kuhn and Paul Feyerabend. Even Albert Einstein, perhaps the greatest scientist of this century, was hardly immune from this. The most famous example, of course, was his arbritary insertion of the "cosmological constant" variable that would preserve a static, unchanging universe. One need only read any of Richard Dawkin's books to see that gerrymandering in science is alive & well to this day.....and probably always will be. Granted, the ideal, utopian world of science would be one that is entirely objective & logical. I'm sure that Sagan did his best to help us towards that goal during his sojourn on this planet. However, to believe that we have come within a thousand light years of that goal would be nothing short of hubris. But, I don't want to end this critique on a negative note. This is a great book for scientists, philosophers of science as well as all others who have so much as a passing curiousity in man's intellectual endeavor. If I may add, people who enjoy Sagan's books will also (I believe) enjoy the books of the Yale biophysicist Harold J Morowitz (also available at Amazon.com). He and Sagan have similar styles and share a childlike wonder of the cosmos.
Rating:
Summary: Sagan's Best Work
Review: I haven't read all of Sagan's books but out of the ones I have read, this is the one I enjoyed the most. As in his other works, Sagan comes off sounding more like a friend telling a story than an intellectual teaching science. In a very concise manner he deals with many of the nonsensical beliefs that permeate our society, such as alien abductions, the so-called face on Mars, demonology, etc. He even spends a whole chapter using the fantastic invisible dragon analogy which basically states that although you may not be able to disprove my claim that there is an invisible dragon in my garage, this does not prove that it does exist. This is a principle that should be taught in every school in America. Not being able to disprove something, whether it be the existence of Superman, Santa Claus or any one of numerous gods, does not prove that they do indeed exist. What comes through most in this book is Sagan's wonder of nature and cosmology, and his desire that the scientific method be applied to all subjects so that truth may come forward and so that ancient myths and fairy tales can be dispelled. As is evidenced by other reviews on this page, this book will cause some people great discomfort as they find their childhood beliefs obliterated with such clear and concise reasoning. Although it's interesting that Sagan's character gets criticized more so than his actual work, it's not unusual to see such knee jerk reactions occur. I'm often baffled to find that those who attack Sagan on a personal level are the same people who hold murderers like Moses, King David, and the prophet Elisha in high regard.
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