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Summary: One of his BEST
Review: This by far up there with Sagan's best works. Those criticizing it, i.e. RPOTTER, don't have their heads screwed on properly, or aren't reading it at all.
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Summary: Carl Sagan at His Best
Review: I have read many, many books on science and this is easily the finest I have ever read. It truly is Carl Sagan at his best, and that is saying something.As a former high school Physics teacher, I know only too well how poorly the concept of scientific thought is taught in our schools today. If I were still teaching, this book would be required reading in my class.
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Summary: Little Science, Much Opinion
Review: Waste of time. Read Dean Radin's "The Conscious Universe" instead.
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Summary: Exellent look into the messy world of psyuedoscience
Review: Carl Sagan has written a exellent book on the world of paranormal activities and the way they should be viewed by science. It is the greatest peaice of non-fiction I have ever read.
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Summary: --Both Challenges and Incorporates "New Age" Thinking --
Review: World-renowned astronomer Carl Sagan-- who died of cancer not long ago-- has written a book which is both challenging and inspiring to anyone who has ever questioned "New Age" methods and findings, and perhaps especially to those who haven't. Yet his book is likely to be one which many in the New Age community would overlook, to their own peril. Sagan is relentlessly scientific, and simultaneously embraces with warmth the concept of spirituality. I find it both impressive and intriguing that his "defense" of science is both intensely inspiring and even lyrical. Sagan makes it clear that, far from intending to invalidate spiritual viewpoints, he sees science and spirituality as not only complimentary, but mutually reinforcing. Sagan himself notes that he has often been misunderstood. His disappointment that he can find no evidence to support the idea of extraterrestrial existence and other paranormal phenomena is palpable. He sincerely wants to believe that he could, say, communicate with his dead parents, whom he dearly misses. It's simply that he finds no evidence for this. On matters of the paranormal, Sagan might best be desribed as AGNOSTIC. He passionately advocates development of our openness as well as our skepticism, while always maintaining a sense of reverence and wonder. Part of Sagan's purpose is to debunk pseudoscience-- of which he includes much of New Age thinking --even as he deepens our appreciation of science. So why would anyone in the New Age community wish to read it, let alone deem it valuable, let alone crucial for the expansion of the New Age Movement? Because Sagan injects clear-headed thinking and a critical eye to many New Age claims. He enlightens us as to where New Age thinking corresponds to verifiable "external reality," and where it falls short. Perhaps even more importantly, he show us how the Scientific Method can be used to weigh the evidence, so that we are free to draw our own conclusions based on verifiable criteria. This can only strengthen our self-trust, our commitment, and our resolve to pursue our ideals along certain lines. It seems to me that the more New Age ideas can be validated in our own eyes as well as the eyes of the rest of the community, the more acceptance these ideas will gain. The New Age Movement comprises a broad spectrum, and advocates ideas promoting inner and outer peace; more humane social, political, and economic institutions; mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health and well-being; personal growth and wisdom; and of course more loving and fulfilling relationships. But New Age Believers, take heart! For an interesting contrast, try checking out Michael Talbot's THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE, which purports to scientifically explain the paranormal. The latter is another wonderful book and excellent counterpoint to Sagan's. Sagan's book is fascinating, informative, enlightening and thought-provoking. His book adds a valuable and possibly crucial contribution to our understanding and ability to evaluate certain Human Potential endeavors. Reading it could only be a boon for the New Age community.
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Summary: A Must Read for Enquiring Minds!
Review: Thus book is a good intro to the folly of human thinking and our need to create myths (from religion to UFO's). It will teach you to look at things with a more skeptical eye. written in style, it is a must read for anyone searching for deeper truths.
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Summary: Preaching to my Choir, But....
Review: This is one of the most enlightening nonfiction books I have ever read. As a practicing scientist, I frequently cringe in helpless disbelief at the follies that so many people are willing to believe, and I am continually amazed how little critical thinking is exhibited by my undergraduate and graduate students. I try not to think how much worse it is outside the academic world. Sagan's book is really preaching to the choir in my case, but it serves a useful purpose: it gives me examples and additional ammo to try to get through to people I am supposed to be educating. One of my favorite throw-away lines is the one about people defering to "the god of the gaps" (i.e., if you can't understand some aspects of the universe, simply bag it and defer to a higher authority. Intellectual laziness, in other words). I will recommend this book to as many people as I can.
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Summary: Sagan's brilliance shines bright...
Review: If you read only one book on skepticism or science, read this one. Sagan makes science exciting and makes a truly passionate case for skepticism. This is one non-fiction book that I read like a fiction one -- I can't put it down! Also recommend 'Billions and Billions' and 'Contact'
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Summary: One of the best books I have ever read.
Review: A recommended book for all of those that still have the ability to think logically and even more recommended for all of those that out of ignorance and fear are trying to start a new period of "dark ages" for mankind.
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Summary: A funny, skeptical look at the world's pseudosciences.
Review: This book opened my mind to science books. I couldn't put it down. This is a book for anyone who wants to challenge the modern day myths we hear every day and know the truth behind them. It is for anyone who is a skeptical thinker, or follows the scientific method, but even more valuable to the open minded but unskeptical. What makes this book so interesting is that it describes "pseudosciences" and beliefs that have no real grounds or evidence. It debunks several well known myths in solid, scientific reasoning and with Carl Sagan's laugh-out-loud sense of humor. These include a description of what Carl Sagan thinks of the existence of God, and the religion Christianity, down to crop circles, crystals, and mystical gurus. In cooperation with his wife, Ann Druyan, he also describes why education of the coming generation is crucial to America right now. Don't be daunted by formulas or scientific terms, Sagan makes all concepts in the book understandable to all, and instills in the reader a sense of duty and understanding about what the US and world need to do to make a good step forward in the coming generation. This book is great success for modern thinking and education. Even though not all of what Carl Sagan says is without dispute -- and this book is no exception -- I believe it is not to be missed by anyone who has time to read.
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