Cosmos

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780345331359
• Stipulation: NEW
• Notes: Mark New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Description

The best-selling science book ever published in the English language, COSMOS is a magnificent overview of the past, present, and future of science. Brilliant and provocative, it traces today's knowledge and scientific methods to their historical roots, blending science and philosophy in a wholly energetic and irresistible way.

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Cosmos was the first science TV blockbuster, and Carl Sagan was its (human) star. By the time of Sagan's death in 1996, the series had been seen by half a billion people; Sagan was perhaps the best-known scientist on the planet. Explaining how the series came about, Sagan recalled:

I was positive from my own experience that an enormous global interest exists in the exploration of the planets and in many kindred scientific topics--the origin of life, the Earth, and the Cosmos, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, our connection with the universe. And I was certain that this interest could be excited through that most powerful communications medium, television.

Sagan's own interest and enthusiasm for the universe were so vivid and infectious, his screen presence so engaging, that viewers and readers couldn't help but be caught up in his vision. From stars in their "billions and billions" to the amino acids in the primordial ocean, Sagan communicated a feeling for science as a process of discovery. Inevitably, some of the science in Cosmos has been outdated in the years since 1980--but Sagan's sense of wonder is ageless. --Mary Ellen Curtin

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Customer Reviews

An Intrinsic View Into the Cosmos
What a book cosmos is! Based on the hit 13 part series "Cosmos", shown on PBS, Cosmos allows the reader to venture into the distant cosmos through profound writing and concise points. Carl Sagan, writes on various subjects regading the cosmos, covering the history of it in a simple manner. The books containts inherent images that enables a visual representation of what is being said. A helpful medium indeed. In one sense, the book is virtually identical to the series in text, but due to limitations on television, Sagan is able to cover much more information by which he was unable to cover on the Television series. Sagan not only speaks soley of the cosmos as the title suggests, but much more including genetics,evolution and neuroscience. Sagan is able to write on these subjects distinct from his prime field of study in an ingenious manner still. Cosmos generates a basic understanding of the vast ambiguious universe by which we inhibit. Due to this book being written during the cold war, Sagan devotes a whole chapter to the threat of nuclear war, and the hazardous implications to our Earth. A plausible point that many neglect. A great read!

2010-03-12 (FL) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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The Sage of NOW & the future
Carl Sagan was (sadly not an IS) the prime conveyor of knowledge of our Universe..
His ability to convey to the common man how "Things worked" has never been surpassed. Simply put... He had his own way of sharing this knowledge, that will never be surpassed by anyone.... His imprint is here in this "COSMOS"... and there isn't any more definitive book or other wise that is available to the average man, that will suffice...

2009-10-23 | Desert Fox (Yucca Valley Calif. USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Mind Opening
Excellent book, well written and captivating. Takes you on a journey from the beginning of time to the possible future and explains concepts in new ways unlike every before. You feel strange and uncomfortable in your own skin afterwards, alien. You realize that in this world there is only scientific truth.

2009-08-29 (Nashua, NH) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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My mom made me watch it & i loved it!
Seriously. I was born shortly before this was made. Good grief. I think like so many reviewers, they grew up with Sagan books and tapes, thus always in the back of my mind there was something from him around the table. Watching and reading Sagan is very peaceful and it feels like growing up again. The star stuff is cool, but there are lots of programs far better than this out there. Sagan though is Sagan. Can't think of another Astronomer I like better. That Zeth Showstack (SETI) guy is cool though.

2009-06-05 (CA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Wonderful Book
Carl Sagan's works inspired me as a child and in many ways and lead me down a path to become a teacher. There are other books that are more up-to-date than this, however, there is a bit of Sagan magic in this one that still shines. I love sharing this book with my young students.

2009-05-20 (OR) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God

Description

Carl Sagan’s prophetic vision of the tragic resurgence of fundamentalism and the hope-filled potential of the next great development in human spirituality

The late great astronomer and astrophysicist describes his personal search to understand the nature of the sacred in the vastness of the cosmos. Exhibiting a breadth of intellect nothing short of astounding, Sagan presents his views on a wide range of topics, including the likelihood of intelligent life on other planets, creationism and so-called intelligent design, and a new concept of science as “informed worship.” Originally presented at the centennial celebration of the famous Gifford Lectures in Scotland in 1985 but never published, this book offers a unique encounter with one of the most remarkable minds of the twentieth century.

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Customer Reviews

Carl Sagan dazzles me again
Carl Sagan's Varieities of Scietific experience dazzles me once again with his nack for writing and explaining things so well. He has a well formulated idea of G-d that seems irrefutable. He also brings up many interesting thoughts on the nature of religion and the human condition. Overall, another fantastic book by Sagan.

2010-02-26 | manly man (Indianapolis, IN USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Never fear! God's still here!
A very interesting book. Fear not believers in God, nothing in Dr. Sagans book negates the possibility of a God of Biblical interpretation! Nothing factual in any field of science does either, for that matter. I appreciate Sagan's respectful aproach, for instance, his respect for those (not me) who do believe even in the "Shroud of Turin" though there is a tinge of sarcasm. It was his reputation for respecting others (as oposed to the likes of Dawkins,,, ect) that won me over to reading his book. He claims to believe in Spanoza and Einstein's interpretation of God which certainly isn't anything like the God of the Bible. I'm quite on parr with Sagan as far as his viewpoints on most religion, the traditions and superstition, and especially agree, for the most part with him on cosmology, UFO's, alien sightings and such. But that's about where it ends. Sagan is great for cosmology which is his 'forte', but as a psycologist, he 'explains' why humans do certain things as lingering effects of evolutuion (almost sounds like past-life, reincarnation), while those who are specifically trained psycologists rely on present life experiences or childhood upbringing to explain why people do what they do. It's not my place to say who is right or wrong. My safest and still truthful answer would be; there is typicaly more than one reason for one's disposition and therefore may be even more than just what Sagan alone says.

Some hastily made statements especially of the Bible; He says "the Bible is quite clear about the earth being flat", but understandingly has no citations since it doesn't really say so anywhere (the Bible never says the earth is the center of the universe or is 6000 years old either, by the way). To the contrary the Bible says the earth is round. (Job 26:7 and Isaiah 40:22). He also discredits Jesus for inspiring the "Golden Rule" saying Rabbi Hillel and Buddha said it first. Hillel was just slightly after Jesus' years and his words were "What is hateful to thee do not to anyone else". Buddha was the same jyst, in the negative..don't do the bad that you wouldn't want done to you. Jesus original statement was to the positive.."DO unto others as you would want them to do to you". Possitive action as oposed to not doing the negative. Sorry Dr. Sagan. He glosses other religious issues just the same. He also complains the Bible says nothing uniquely scientific like "The sun is a star" or "A body in motion tends to stay in motion" or "This is an electric field, this is a magnetic field" thus "therefore deduce the existance of God". As I mentioned the Bible does speak about the earth being round. I suspect if such phrases Sagan wished to see were really in the Bible, they would be typically explained off one way or another as misinterpreted, or the original writings never said that, or spurious as in the case of Josephus' mentioning of Jesus (as Sagan highlights). The Bible never mentions the pyramids, Zeus, Hercules and many things. The Bible's focus is on the promised Messiah, in which it covers very amply.

Dr Sagan basically expects God to be what he thinks God should be (creating God in Sagan's image?) But since God isn't what Sagan thinks He should be, He can't be real; not an unusual way of atheistic thinking. He suprisingly does touch on the LAW of Thermodynamics; "it's by no means clear" (especially as clear as its oposing THEORY of evolution?) He's heavy on expresions such as "almost surely", almost certainly", "perfectly possible", "perfectly plausible", "We have an alternative explanation that seems to work pretty well."

On Newton..."He believed God established the intitial conditions for the planets....And Newton, who was extraordinarily perceptive in so many areas, was clearly not here." Right, Dr. Sagan.

He many times retricts and limits possibilities to two or so when there are obvioulsy many more options, including the possibility - God. Yes Dr. Sagan offers explanations on many things demonstrating if man can understand it, so could God. This book actually endorses my belief in God (not that I needed it). I believe his series "Cosmos" is one of the best things that ever hit television. He's done a lot in the life sadly cut short. Mostly his respect was/is an example for many to follow undisputably!

P.S. Lots of room in the margin for comments! That's why I still buy books!

2010-01-30 (Easton, Pa USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Sagan is engaging and illuminating
Book report: The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God, by Carl Sagan

In The Republic, Plato proposes government by philosopher-kings, benevolent and wise dictators who would rule justly and fairly. I would have nominated Carl Sagan to be a philosopher-king. He wasn't just a smart guy in his own field (planetary astronomy and exobiology). He was erudite in a number of fields, an expert teacher and popularizer of science, and had what I consider wisdom. He also seemed to appreciate people and the human condition. In my experience, this is unusual in scientists. Sagan also had a characteristic and vivid style both in speech and in writing that makes all his books entertaining and illuminating to read.

This particular book is the edited transcript of the Gifford Lectures in Natural Theology ([...]) that Sagan delivered in 1985 (the same year he wrote Contact, one of my favorite books and movies). The Gifford Lectures were endowed by a Lord Gifford in Scotland in 1887 to address "natural theology," that is, the study of God based on reason and ordinary human experience, with no reference to sacred writings ([...]). Selection to deliver the Gifford Lectures is a signal honor, and the list of lecturers is a Who's Who of modern scientists, philosophers, and theologians, including Paul Tillich, Hannah Arendt, Freeman Dyson, William James, Henri Bergson, Arthur Eddington, Alfred North Whitehead, John Dewey, Albert Schweitzer, Reinhold Niebuhr, Niels Bohr, Arnold Toynbee, Iris Murdoch, J. B. S. Haldane, Richard Dawkins, Werner Heisenberg, Roger Penrose, and Martin Rees. The title of the book is, of course, a play on William James's own famous book, The Varieties of Religious Experience.

In his lectures, Sagan explored themes and aspects of God from the viewpoint of science and the rational. Although he disclaimed the label of atheist, Sagan was extremely doubtful, stating elsewhere that "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence". However, Sagan is a congenial and even courtly host who is always respectful to those who do believe in God. This is in marked contrast to others (cough, Dawkins, cough) who regard believers as, at best, dangerous and delusional morons.

One of the delights of this book is how Sagan brings his own field to bear on the topic. For example, in the very first lecture he wonders: given the now-known immensity of the universe, with all the billions upon billions of stars and planets, why would God single out the Earth for special treatment? He invites us to expand whatever our theology is to encompass the entire universe.

In reading this book, his words are more than just printed on the page. We can hear him speaking them in his well-known voice. In fact, he seems to be inviting a dialog. Many times I found myself agreeing with him totally or appreciating a particularly telling expression of an idea. At other times, I felt like saying, "Come on, Carl, you don't really believe that." There are many parts that are very funny, such as his recounting - and demolishing - the main "logical" arguments for the existence of God. He's extremely witty about the guy-with-a-white-beard-in-the-sky vision of God that many people conjure up.

I learned a lot from his research. For example, he points out that belief in God can depend on how you define God. For example, Spinoza and Einstein imagined God as the sum total of all the rules that govern the universe. As long as you believe in the laws of physics (or, at least, that there *are* laws of physics), you believe in God. From this point of view, no one is an atheist. However, this is not the kind of God one would pray to, and differs from most people's conception of God. Everyone has a God they don't believe in.

He brings up plenty of ideas I find myself countering:
* As science advances, the need for God to explain things diminishes.
* Religion exists to pacify people and make them obey authority. "How rare it is that religions take the lead in confronting civilian authorities when monstrous injustice is being done."
* The religious experience may have a molecular basis in brain chemistry, the evolutionary purpose of which would be to pacify people and have them obey authority.
I find these ideas exciting. Good teacher that he is, he gets people to think.

One thing that I found most astonishing is that it doesn't occur to this consummate scientist to perform the experiment and report on his results. What could be simpler than to pray even a blisteringly satirical prayer for a month or two and see what happens?

However, I found his discussion about the possibilities of extraterrestrial life, and its impact on theology, to be fascinating. I think that here he has made a unique contribution to the discussion. The idea is this: If there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, then clearly our vision of God is far too narrow. To mention only one aspect, if there is such intelligent life elsewhere, would they also have their own version of Buddha, Moses, Jesus, or Mohammed? (Ray Bradbury actually wrote a short story on this topic.) If they don't, why did this happen only on Earth? On the other hand, if it turns out that there is no intelligent life anywhere else, then the Earth really is of supreme importance in the scheme of things. It's an amazing fact that future discoveries regarding extraterrestrial life will have immediate implications for theology.

If you have any interest at all in these kinds of topics, you'll find this book illuminating and entertaining. It's a pity that Sagan didn't live to see this published. It's a tribute to his wisdom and his wit.

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2010-01-22 (Norwood, MA USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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a fascinating tour of space, time, and our quest for understanding
Reading this book, with its high quality images, I felt like I was attending the lectures. His ideas are so well stated, so eloquent, that it's hard to believe that these words were delivered in a lecture setting.

Sagan presents a breathtaking vision of the universe.

A thoroughly enjoyable and fascinating read. Well explained and accessible.

2010-01-04 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Rediscovering a Brilliant Mind
20 years after his death, Carl Sagan published his latest book. Varieties of Scientific Experience is a series of lectures in which Sagan gave his views on the existence of god and the meaning of life. Sagan's views are mostly in line with those of the New Atheists (Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, Dennett), but his scientific background gives him a unique and valuable perspective. The first lecture begins with Sagan describing how small the earth is in comparison to the rest of the universe, and how small a role humans have played, even in the history of the earth. He then asks: Does it make sense that an all-powerful and all knowing god created the universe as a home for us? Are we really the center of the universe?

Despite his background as a scientist, Sagan has a wonderful way with words. These lectures are very readable, and it is hard not to come away both liking and respecting Sagan. He may have been gone for over 20 years now, but Carl Sagan is still a valuable voice with a great deal to teach us.

2009-12-30 (Los Angeles) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

Product Details

• Notes: Mark New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Proviso: NEW
• ISBN13: 9780345409461

Description

"A glorious book . . . A spirited defense of science . . . From the first page to the last, this book is a manifesto for clear thought."

 *Los Angeles Times

"POWERFUL . . . A stirring defense of informed rationality. . . Rich in surprising information and beautiful writing."

 *The Washington Post Book World

How can we make intelligent decisions about our increasingly technology-driven lives if we don't understand the difference between the myths of pseudoscience and the testable hypotheses of science? Pulitzer Prize-winning author and distinguished astronomer Carl Sagan argues that scientific thinking is critical not only to the pursuit of truth but to the very well-being of our democratic institutions.

Casting a wide net through history and culture, Sagan examines and authoritatively debunks such celebrated fallacies of the past as witchcraft, faith healing, demons, and UFOs. And yet, disturbingly, in today's so-called information age, pseudoscience is burgeoning with stories of alien abduction, channeling past lives, and communal hallucinations commanding growing attention and respect. As Sagan demonstrates with lucid eloquence, the siren song of unreason is not just a cultural wrong turn but a dangerous plunge into darkness that threatens our most basic freedoms.

"COMPELLING."

 *USA Today

"A clear vision of what good science means and why it makes a difference. . . . A testimonial to the power of science and a warning of the dangers of unrestrained credulity."

 *The Sciences

"PASSIONATE."

 *San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle

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Carl Sagan muses on the current state of scientific thought, which offers him marvelous opportunities to entertain us with his own childhood experiences, the newspaper morgues, UFO stories, and the assorted flotsam and jetsam of pseudoscience. Along the way he debunks alien abduction, faith-healing, and channeling; refutes the arguments that science destroys spirituality, and provides a "baloney detection kit" for thinking through political, social, religious, and other issues.

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Customer Reviews

Be a Candle, Cast out Demons
With over 400 reviews already written for this book, I could not think of any new or clever commentary to add. So, I'll provide a small tidbit from the book to illustrate the research, content, and tone that Sagan offers the reader in abundance.

"The chronicle of those who were consumed by fire [burned alive for witchcraft] in the single German city of Wurzburg in the single year 1598 penetrates the statistics and lets us confront a little of the human reality: ...old Mrs. Kanzler; the tailor's fat wife; the woman cook of Mr. Mengerdorf; a stranger; a strange woman; Baunach, a senator, the fattest citizen in Wurtzburg; the old smith of the court; an old woman; a little girl, nine or ten years old; a younger girl, her little sister; the mother of the two little aforementioned girls; Liebler's daughter; Goebel's child, the most beautiful girl in Wurtzburg; a student who knew many languages; two boys from the Minster, each twelve year old; Stepper's little daughter; the woman who kept the bridge gate; an old woman; the little son of the town council bailiff; the wife of Knertz; the butcher; the infant daughter of Dr. Schultz; a blind girl..." (pages 121 and 122)

Looking at Sagan's list of references for this particular chapter, I'd say he probably pulled this from "Europe's Inner Demons" by Norman Cohn. In any case, the vendettas, perversions, sadism, and suffering associated with those tortuous trials and painful executions is almost beyond comprehension. Wikipedia tells me that the Jews of Wurzburg were massacred in 1147 and again in 1298. During Nazi rule, nearly all of the Jews and Gypsies in Wurzburg were killed. British bombers subsequently destroyed 90% of the city in March of 1945. Wurzburg was rebuilt and, judging by photos on the web, looks beautiful today. I digress, but that's one fringe benefit of a good book... it sets you off on interesting and educational tangents.

The world is still an demon-haunted place for many people. I see little hope of that changing anytime soon. But please be a candle whenever you can. Be careful with anything that even vaguely resembles blind faith, includes a pinch of hocus pocus, or smells funny. Squash malicious gossip, exclusionary tactics, inflammatory rhetoric, and irrational nonsense. Alleviate pain and suffering. Encourage cooperation, engage in spirited but civil debate, and teach your children well. A peaceful prosperous world with enlightened civilizations and liberal democratic governments is our goal here. We stand on the shoulders of giants. Sagan is one of them.

2010-03-08 (Katy, Texas, USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Reality vs. superstition
Sagan points out that the real and science-based world is much more awe-inspiring than the world according to a) holy books written by ignorant people who thought the Earth was flat and b) modern-day advocates of the paranormal and pseudo-science. There's no reason to be afraid of reality. There is something on every page that expands your horizons.

2010-03-03 (Finland) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Gene's Review
A good book to debunk superstition and blind faith without evidence, with typical Sagan wit and humor thrown in.

2010-03-03 (Thousand Oaks, CA USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Agreement
I completely agree with "MyUncleStu". And, although I'm now a lawyer, I was a Philosophy major as an undergrad. We're not all as dense as he alludes in passing. I chose that discipline because I wanted to "know", not just believe. Carl Sagan has always helped me to do that. He is special among those few we might read to sharpen our perspectives on faux science/religion/superstition. Do yourself a huge favor: read him!

2010-03-01 | Tom Hefferon (Schenectady, NY) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Sagan's Last Stand
Sagan's book is one of the classic entries in science and skeptical writing.

I was surprised to find there was such an enormous focus in this book on UFOs and the pseudoscience of alien visitation and abduction. There were more pseudoscientific topics covered, but I would say at least half of the book is devoted to this one topic, though there are technically several aspects to the delusions involved. Even the part about witches and the persecution of supposed witches in the Middle Ages is detailed in order to delineate the correlation between the thought processes of both phenomena.

He spends several chapters talking about scientific methodology, and as one would expect from Sagan, the wonder experienced by taking the scientific view of the universe.

In the last couple of chapters he discusses some things that have disgusted me for a very long time, and I was happy to see someone else with such a reputation delve into them. These are issues dealing with the educational system in the U.S. lagging behind other systems in developed countries, as well as the dumbing-down of culture in general. People not only don't care about intellectual things, but actually consider such things to be undesirable and discourage each other from taking an interest in knowledge and critical thinking. This is a depressing trend that may cause the downfall of our nation if not reversed.

Reading this book is a must for those that hold a scientific, skeptical worldview.

2010-02-21 (U.S.) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Billions & Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780345379184
• Prepare: NEW
• Notes: Label New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Description

In the final book of his astonishing career, Carl Sagan brilliantly examines the burning questions of our lives, our world, and the universe around us. These luminous, entertaining essays travel both the vastness of the cosmos and the intimacy of the human mind, posing such fascinating questions as how did the universe originate and how will it end, and how can we meld science and compassion to meet the challenges of the coming century? Here, too, is a rare, private glimpse of Sagan's thoughts about love, death, and God as he struggled with fatal disease. Ever forward-looking and vibrant with the sparkle of his unquenchable curiosity, Billions & Billions is a testament to one of the great scientific minds of our day.

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Customer Reviews

A compassionate humanist laid to rest
A collection of short essays by one of the most famous promoters of the public understanding of science. It is difficult to review a book like this due to the wide-ranging content. The author discusses everything from the war-like nature of sports, to abortion and environmental protection. His discussion of the ozone layer and global warming are some of the most lucid words written about these environmental issues. Carl Sagan was always a man who cared deeply about humanity and as a result of his compassion, he worried deeply about our future. His 'cosmic perspective' allowed him to weed out meaningless religious, ethnic and ideological boundaries and focus on real dangers such as our tendency for violence, our mind-boggling dissemination of nuclear weapons and our global modifications to the climate. Sadly, this book was written over ten years ago and it feels like we haven't come any closer to shedding our baggage and confronting our real problems as a species. The final piece delves in to the author's battle with cancer and details his final days. I recommend the book, if only for these final passages.

2010-01-04 | cassdog (Gainesville, Fl USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Read it
This book should be read by anyone, who is interested in one or more of the subjects discussed in it. It is also a good introduction to science and the scientific line of thought in general.

2009-08-01 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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One Star in the Universe
Billions and billions of stars in the universe but only one for this book. Why? Because Carl Sagan was totally ignorant of the subatomic world and the possibility of multiverses. He saw only one star in the sky, and its name was Sagan. He was a sophist who appealed mainly to a pop culture that looked for easy-to-digest science in support of its secular morality.

2009-05-13 | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 1

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Parting Thoughts
Of all the wonderful works of Carl Sagan, this one holds a unique place - recounting his final thoughts in the Autumn of his life. As always, the subjects are thought provoking, entertaining, and enlightening. Here is highly recommended reading for the independent thinker, philosopher, and science enthusiast. If you're a Sagan fan, add this to your "must read" list.

2009-02-22 (Monroe, CT United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Billions and Billions is a Good Read
This is a great book, for learning a little more as to the insight of the brilliant scientist that Carl Sagan was. Billions and Billions will not let you down. Unless you're hoping there will be a positive mention of his search for God, you won't be let down. I am a Christian, but I still wanted to read this book, to get an idea of his ideas, his rationale, and the science behind it. This doesn't tell you everything and by no means is it an autobiography, however it is a good read. If you know what you're looking for/looking at, you won't be let down.

And interesting to those of a similar "inquisitive" state of mind. I had to give it 3 stars because even though the man was a brilliant scientist, he could not find blatant consistency in his search through the cosmo's of God's existence. I would think that a smart man would know better, after so much examination of the minute and astounding parts of our lives, and that which mankind only barely understands. There are fingerprints that have been left all over the universe. Billions and Billions is a interesting read. If you are religious, you can still read this book, and walk away not feeling bad about it. Insight is insight. This book is nothing less than a good read and very "insightful."

2008-12-23 | "I am; I was" -A.I. (CA) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 3

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Conversations with Carl Sagan (Literary Conversations)

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9781578067367
• Notes:
• Fitness: USED - VERY GOOD

Description

Though a well-regarded physicist Carl Sagan (1934-1996) is best-known as a writer of popular nonfiction and science fiction and as the host of the PBS series Cosmos. Through his writings and spoken commentary, he worked to popularize interests in astronomy, the universe, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. From the beginning of his public career, when he co-wrote Intelligent Life in the Universe to the very end as he worked on the 1997 film adaptation of his novel Contact, these subjects absorbed him.

This interest in space was rooted in his understanding of the smallness and vulnerability of humanity measured against the immense size and power of the universe. This profound philosophical humility, mixed with personal exuberance, comes through in Conversations with Carl Sagan. In interviews and profiles, Sagan discusses with verve a wide variety of topics--the environment, nuclear disarmament, religion, politics, extraterrestrial life, astronomy, physics, robotics. Whether he is discussing his science fiction or his well-researched nonfiction works, his voice embraces reason and skepticism.

This volume shows how Sagan, a lifelong skeptic, refined his views and expressed amazement that Earth, for all his belief in extraterrestrial life, encompasses everything about which he cared.

Tom Head of Jackson, Mississippi, is a writer and poet whose work includes Women and Families (Voices from the Civil War), Possessions and Exorcisms (Fact or Fiction?), and 1966 (The Turbulent 60s).

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Customer Reviews

Fine Book
Some insight to one of the greatest minds of our generation. His ability to communicate complicated ideas into ones that even I could understand was an amazing gift that he developed. In this age of ghosts and UFO sightings with Big Foot at the controls shows how much his presense will be missed. Very easy read and most enjoyable.

2009-10-30 | Walker (Oklahoma City) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Conversations with Carl Sagan
This is an outstanding read for anyone who is interested in the big picture. Mr. Sagan is a master of revealing man's folly and stresses the importance of critical thinking skills in todays policy decision making. Science and the scientific method as "the" way to understand the world, could not be made any more clear. We have authority in our leadership, but we do not have experts or professionals. Authority has been wrong in the past and it will be wrong again. Without a self corresting "standard" to which conclusions can be drawn (the scientific method), Dr. Sagan, through his many interviews, eloquently reveals the dangers of errant thinking. Carl Sagans perspective on life is needed now more than ever. This is a must read for any responsible forward thinking individual.

2009-06-26 (Cleveland, Ohio.) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Vintage Carl Sagan
I was 'forced' to watch Cosmos in my high school physics class back in 1986. Man, that was probably the best part of high school (except for my time on the debate team). I wish I was more like Mr. Sagan--passionate, articulate, smart and just an all-around swell guy.

I've read just about everything by Mr. Sagan--Broca's Brain, Billions and Billions, etc. So, I found all of the interviews in this book to cover almost everything he has done except in a brief, superficial way.

And I should have expected this. An interview for radio, TV or a magazine is obviously going to be much shorter than anything written by Mr. Sagan.

When Ira Flatow of NPR fame took questions from the audience, the result was predictable. Some lame questions and some softballs. But Mr. Sagan answered the questions with aplomb.

The really early interviews were the most interesting. Knowing the fame he achieved later in life, it was fascinating, almost exciting, to read his interviews when he was a "run of the mill" astrophysicist.

I can't really recommend this for anyone who has read a lot of his work. The interview are simply too "airy". However, if you've seen just Cosmos or read one or two books, then you'll probably find this quite a good read.

2008-07-31 (Healdsburg, CA United States) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 4

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Good collection
Book was a good collection of interviews, even though some weren't strictly interviews - but articles containing snippets of Carl Sagan quotes.

2008-04-09 | -e^ipi=1 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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It is 4 stars for the midia...
... Not to Sagan. He is, as always brilliant and enthusiastic about science and our place in the cosmos, but the midia... well, the first observation on almost every article is about "his looks", for me, it is emblematic of the image obsession of the general midia: first the appearance, then the caracther. Most of the time, in the interviews, you almost can see the interviewer hardly listening to Prof. Sagan, as if looking at the clock and sometimes (lots of times) cuting his speak short, it is announcers time!
But you can't help getting a glimpse of this great man, shinning through the midiatic maze, if it is your first reading on Carl Sagan, buy others, this is it, just a glimpse, he is worth every word.

2007-05-12 | skeptic to the bone | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 4

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Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space

Product Details

• Notes: Tag New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• ISBN13: 9780345376596
• Requirement: NEW

Description

"FASCINATING . . . MEMORABLE . . . REVEALING . . . PERHAPS THE BEST OF CARL SAGAN'S BOOKS."
--The Washington Post Book World (front page review)

In Cosmos, the late astronomer Carl Sagan cast his gaze over the magnificent mystery of the Universe and made it accessible to millions of people around the world. Now in this stunning sequel, Carl Sagan completes his revolutionary journey through space and time.

Future generations will look back on our epoch as the time when the human race finally broke into a radically new frontier--space. In Pale Blue Dot Sagan traces the spellbinding history of our launch into the cosmos and assesses the future that looms before us as we move out into our own solar system and on to distant galaxies beyond. The exploration and eventual settlement of other worlds is neither a fantasy nor luxury, insists Sagan, but rather a necessary condition for the survival of the human race.

"TAKES READERS FAR BEYOND Cosmos . . . Sagan sees humanity's future in the stars."
--Chicago Tribune

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Customer Reviews

An amazing book-Pictures essential
As a high-school student, I have a unique viewpoint on life, literature, and science. This book was very inspirational to me, and I enjoyed reading it. Sagan got off on some very good points, although he went off on a tangent occasionally. One of the best features was the informative pictures and graphs, which were beautiful and awe-inspiring even when they were non-informative, so the best editions to buy are the hardcover or first-edition soft-cover editions, as later soft-cover editions are missing the pictures. This book was a very refreshing look at space.
One of the first things that caught my eye in this book was the picture that precedes Chapter 1. It shows the Milky Way from the vantage point of an observer outside of it. The most striking aspect of this picture, though, is a small box, enclosing what seems to be blackness, but if the reader looks closer, includes a tiny pinprick of light, just big enough to be noticed. That is our solar system. Earth is many orders of magnitude smaller, even less than a large molecule. Humans are just larger than the protons. That view puts us in perspective. We are a miniscule part of a miniscule part of the Milky Way, which is a miniscule part of the whole universe. That really makes it seem odd that this whole universe was made for us, tiny living specks in this giant universe.
Later in the book, they state the different follies that men have thought to be true, but science has proved wrong. The book looks at: "The Earth is at the center of the universe", "The Sun is at the center, so we are almost at the center", "The Milky Way is the only galaxy", "the Milky Way is the center of the universe", "No other sun has planets", "We have existed since the beginning", "There's something special about our motion", and even biological ones get thrown in: "We are different from the other animals". All of these notions are calmly discussed, and what we know now is stated. We aren't special, but at least we are here.
This book was an invigorating read, and I would recommend it to anyone that likes science or astronomy, or is just interested in reading about our world.

2010-02-18 (USA) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Carl Sagan is a hero!
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book when he talks about religions and supernatural claims and how they inhibit our species to progress. Reading Carl Sagan's books feels like coming up for air for the first time in a long time. The only issue I would postulate would be that it was written in 96', so it's a tad bit out of date. For example, the number of moons described that orbit Jupiter and Saturn is out of date and a few more other notions, but the majority of the book is still relivant.

2009-11-27 | andrewsarchus (Canada) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Consistantly Inspiring, Refreshingly Concise
Dr. Sagan's vision of humanities forward progress into unexplored frontiers, is a fascinating, and wholly inspiring read. As was always true in his life, Dr. Sagan does not shy away from questions without definite answers, and refuses to submit to pessimism. This book is an inspiring read about the next hurdle to human civilization, and how we may already posses the ability to overcome it. Pale Blue Dot is the quintessential reminder, that by embracing the best of our human nature, we may not only set foot in worlds outside our own, but repair the one that we to this very day, still call home.

I purchased this book, after stumbling across a clip of the Cosmos television series online. I had no idea that after reading his books, I would come away so inspired, and so curious.

2009-03-29 (Atlanta, Georgia) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Vimeo Video
I am not sure if anyone uses Vimeo but there is a really great video that excerpts from Pale Blue Dot. It moved me to go photograph nature and its wonders. Go check it out!


http://vimeo.com/2822787

2009-02-24 | canon101 (none of your business, USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Book Review Pale Blue Dot
Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan is an incredible book that explores mankinds options for sustaining the human species in the future. When NASA's
deep space vehicle Voyager was about to leave our solar system, Sagan
suggested for the last command to turn its camera around and take a picture. That famous photo shows our tiny blue speck in the cosmos as
a fragle planet that mankind will ultimately have to leave to survive.

2009-02-19 (Endicott, NY) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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