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jenhurst's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this but I need someone to update it with the 2020 conspiracy theories. I’m also disappointed there was no Bigfoot/cryptic discussions.
frankenchrist's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
commander's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
This book is dated. The beginning of the book is enjoyable. The book starts to drag and gets repetitive when Sagan addresses parochial issues such as US education and politics. In part his approach inadvertently evidences his white male privilege. I scanned through the later chapters and gave up before finishing the final chapter.
kcrouth's review against another edition
5.0
Finishing this book leaves me with a profound sense of loss realizing that Dr. Sagan is no longer with us. His voice is needed more than ever today in all areas of our society and lives. He lends such great knowledge and especially wisdom to all the subjects covered in this book. Our world would be a better place if more people had access to this book. I heartily recommend it as required reading. Spend some time learning at the feet of a true master. He was a prophet to our world, and i'm grateful he has left some of his wisdom and knowledge behind to be taken to heart.
juliealmeida's review against another edition
4.0
This book is very inspiring! Carl Sagan tries to point out how much we allow superstitions, prejudices and so forth to influence our lives; how unprepared the majority of the population is to recognize authentic science...
He explains all this in details and with real life examples, which to me are fascinating!
One thing I learned from this book is that the human memory is not perfect and that with a little persuasion it is pretty simple to insert a false memory into someone's head!!!! Very eye opening!!!
One thing that put me off about the book is that Mr. Sagan has a sluggish way of explaining the topics and it tires me a little bit. But if you make it through, the conclusions are always fascinating.
I find myself meditating over each new topic and actually planning out in my head what I would say to Carl Sagan if I could on each subject.
Some quotes I liked, I tried finding them again in the book now, but couldn't so this is loosely transcribed from my humanly-feeble memory:
- Interviewer: "What do you really think about Alien Abduction? What is your gut feeling?"
- Sagan: "I try not to think with my gut." (he goes on saying how important it is to think with your brain but I don't remember the phrasing)
- Keeping an open mind is a virtue, but not so much that your brain falls out! (this quote, Sagan attributed to some space engineer whose name I don't remember.)
- Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
He explains all this in details and with real life examples, which to me are fascinating!
One thing I learned from this book is that the human memory is not perfect and that with a little persuasion it is pretty simple to insert a false memory into someone's head!!!! Very eye opening!!!
One thing that put me off about the book is that Mr. Sagan has a sluggish way of explaining the topics and it tires me a little bit. But if you make it through, the conclusions are always fascinating.
I find myself meditating over each new topic and actually planning out in my head what I would say to Carl Sagan if I could on each subject.
Some quotes I liked, I tried finding them again in the book now, but couldn't so this is loosely transcribed from my humanly-feeble memory:
- Interviewer: "What do you really think about Alien Abduction? What is your gut feeling?"
- Sagan: "I try not to think with my gut." (he goes on saying how important it is to think with your brain but I don't remember the phrasing)
- Keeping an open mind is a virtue, but not so much that your brain falls out! (this quote, Sagan attributed to some space engineer whose name I don't remember.)
- Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
deanopeez's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
jayrbradley's review against another edition
4.0
Following thoughts aside it was really nice to read about Sagan's role in creating the science center in Ithaca!
This book is a lot of things. It opens very strong with Sagan talking about the wonders of science and discovering things about the natural world and the necessity of scientific literacy for the population. However to build that point, he gets into a bit of a 'debunky' streak that gave me at times a smug new atheist vibe, but it was necessary for what he was trying to put together later on. Using witch hunts and other instances of falseness perpetuated by a lack of public understanding, he argues passionately for not only more scientists, but a greater understanding of science by all and the necessity of supporting scientific inquiry and public science literacy by the government in a manner beyond the defense or market necessities of R&D. He then wonderfully expands that into the need for skeptics and a scientific mindset for us to move past political woes of the time (still present and amplified even now) and hold government accountable.
In many ways Sagan illustrates not just the need for science to be able to escape market demands, but also the humanities, for they develop the culture and the politics that can lead the charge of educating and encouraging scientific inquiry. This does not deminish the challenges young academics may have getting a job, which he touches on briefly, but instead is an argument for a change in policy and mindset amongst all the people in the country for its own sake.
I know I will consider his message in my work as a journalist however that shapes out to be. Just because I or the scientist might see it and know what it means doesn't mean anyone else does, especially those who have been shaped by a school system that seems to have cut the corners of actual learning and developing an academic culture.
This book is a lot of things. It opens very strong with Sagan talking about the wonders of science and discovering things about the natural world and the necessity of scientific literacy for the population. However to build that point, he gets into a bit of a 'debunky' streak that gave me at times a smug new atheist vibe, but it was necessary for what he was trying to put together later on. Using witch hunts and other instances of falseness perpetuated by a lack of public understanding, he argues passionately for not only more scientists, but a greater understanding of science by all and the necessity of supporting scientific inquiry and public science literacy by the government in a manner beyond the defense or market necessities of R&D. He then wonderfully expands that into the need for skeptics and a scientific mindset for us to move past political woes of the time (still present and amplified even now) and hold government accountable.
In many ways Sagan illustrates not just the need for science to be able to escape market demands, but also the humanities, for they develop the culture and the politics that can lead the charge of educating and encouraging scientific inquiry. This does not deminish the challenges young academics may have getting a job, which he touches on briefly, but instead is an argument for a change in policy and mindset amongst all the people in the country for its own sake.
I know I will consider his message in my work as a journalist however that shapes out to be. Just because I or the scientist might see it and know what it means doesn't mean anyone else does, especially those who have been shaped by a school system that seems to have cut the corners of actual learning and developing an academic culture.