Demon-Haunted World

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Summary: One Of His Best Books
Review: Carl Sagan is in top form writing about pseudoscience here, but I had to wonder about the distance he has evolved from views set forth in his 1960s books, especially on the subject of extraterrestrial visitation. I just read a book called COSMIC TEST TUBE which details the evolution of all ideas about the existence of other life in the Universe, and Sagan's views are described as having been much more open--at least in his early years--to the prospect that alien visitation occurred sometime in Earth's history. I'm sorry he didn't use this book as more of an opportunity to clue us in on how his perspective has shifted and why!

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Summary: terrible
Review: Science is mans arrogant way of saying that he knows everything about everything.

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Summary: Actual brilliant book
Review: I think Carl Sagan's book is brilliant and especially very actual. As one who lives in Israel, and see the overwhelming power of mystical trickery in politics, I thank Carl Sagan for giving me powerfool tools and insight to understand that mystics and religeon has nothing to offer, except ignorance, and can not replace science's rational way. This book should be tought in every educational facility. MUST READ.

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Summary: Fantastic
Review: Sagan shows that science is still the way and warns the society against its own mediocrity. Essential reading to say the least!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This book is really good. It debunks almost all the things that the credulous general population believes in. I really wish a christian would look at this book, the problem with most of them is that they are incapable of admitting that their religion has no leg to stand on. Seriously this book should be required reading for every high school/college student.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book.
Review: The reason why I like Carl Sagan's books is not only due to the fact that he has deep knowledge about the subjects I'm deeply interested in(astronomy and space), he is also one of the few scientists who can write so clearly, stylishly and inspiringly about science. Indeed, who is better qualified than him on such matters as UFO's, alien abductions, supernatural beliefs etc., for he was very much involved in the scientific investigations of such paranormal phenomena. Compared with the number of paranormal literature that exist worldwide, his book presents a refreshing counterbalance to all those spurious claims of the paranormal. However more importantly, his concern for mankind, the frailty of earth, his insights and knowledge on many aspects of life and the Universe, and the sheer breadth and depth of his interests is immediately apparent in this book. To quote Richard Dawkins,"... my candidate for planetary ambassacor can be none other than Carl Sagan himself. He is polymathic, witty, well read, and incapable of composing a dull sentence." I entirely agree. I strongly recommend everyone on earth to read this book.

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Summary: Thank You.
Review: This book should be required reading in every college and university. I would like to thank Dr. Sagan for everything he gave me through his books. I believe he still lives in the memories of all the people he ever touched with his works.

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Summary: Don't read this book if you're afraid of reality.
Review: Since psuedo-science and the belief in anything unusual seem to be making a return to our society, I wish this book could be required reading in our high schools. It never will be however, as the ideas in the book are too frightening for most.

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Summary: The most influential book I have read.
Review: This book should be required reading for every person on (or off) the planet.

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Summary: A Brilliant and Honest Look at Life, the Universe, and Us
Review: Sagan's book is nothing short of illuminating. His clear definition of the scientific method and how it works in science, politics, life and spirituality is powerful. Although many people believe that being a scientist is necessarily being a materialist and a "nihilist", Sagan illustrates why the scientific method leads to a more fulfilling life by not being a philosophy of truth, like religion and other branches of philosophy, but a word of caution...a disclamatory label that warns you: Humans can be wrong. Humans are often wrong. In important matters, we must learn to withhold our impulse to believe, until there is a standard we can use to separate the false from what could be right. Withholding belief until evidence is presented is not being an atheist, or a materialist, or a nihilist: it's a way to be fair to the many theories of the world and the universe, to keep a mind open without being gullible, and ultimately to be wise in the light of our propensity to be wrong. Sagan is incredibly successful when pointing at the wonders of the Universe that pass our filter of most-likely-fake wonders: the mechanisms of the natural world and the astronomical bodies, for instance, which can be a source of spirituality (which by itself has nothing to do with Alpha Chimpanzees in the Sky). In short, this is the best book I've ever read, and I intend to give it to all my friends and relatives.