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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Important book still, and especially in 2025.
This review contains rather a lot of meandering, and not a whole lot of reviewing, so read at your own peril.
One of the most terrifying experiences of my life happened about ten years ago when I was about sixteen years old. I had been up late, reading some book or another, and was just on the edge of sleep, when suddenly I jolted awake. Things were... strange. The room was covered in a silvery glow, and there was a loud buzzing noise. And whispers, so many whispers, just on the edge of my hearing. And I wasn't alone anymore - there were two figures there, conferring in the middle of the room. People sized, dressed in grey robes. There was a sense of dread, and terror.
Naturally, I did the only thing reasonable in the circumstances, and panicked. Unfortunately, I couldn't move. Not a finger, not a toe, nothing but my eyes. I don't know how long it was, but as one of the figures approached, leaning over me with a menacing laugh, I managed to move a finger. Not by much, but it was enough - suddenly I was sitting up, ready to flee, only to find myself alone, in my dark, quiet room, with my dog asleep outside my door as if nothing had happened.
To say I was confused would be an understatement. I didn't believe in ghosts or gods or demons or UFO visitors. But whatever it was that had visited me seemed to have left no physical trace. So either it was some kind of demon-alien thing, or I was going crazy. Probably the latter. But then, (and now we're getting to the point), science came to the rescue!
I did some research, and discovered that what I had experienced was a classic episode of sleep paralysis, which is a common sleeping disorder. I had never heard of it before. But there it was. Mystery solved. No demons, no ghosts, and no crazy. And while that wasn't my last experience with sleep paralysis, the terror was gone, and it's now just an occasional annoyance.
But the experience made me understand that not everyone claiming encounters with gods or demons or aliens was crazy or self-deluded. Some no doubt had experienced a very similar thing to me, and if it seems real... then surely it is.
The sleep paralysis/alien question is just one of the issues that Carl Sagan addresses in this book. There's plenty of science, plenty of philosophy, plenty of inspiration. The chapter on logical fallacies is brilliant.
But the reason I like this book so much, well it's in the title. The book delivers a spirited (excuse the pun) defence of science and reason, and demonstrates how it is possible to both think scientifically and yet still be overcome with wonder at the beauty of the universe and its "billions and billions of stars" (and platypuses).
One of the most terrifying experiences of my life happened about ten years ago when I was about sixteen years old. I had been up late, reading some book or another, and was just on the edge of sleep, when suddenly I jolted awake. Things were... strange. The room was covered in a silvery glow, and there was a loud buzzing noise. And whispers, so many whispers, just on the edge of my hearing. And I wasn't alone anymore - there were two figures there, conferring in the middle of the room. People sized, dressed in grey robes. There was a sense of dread, and terror.
Naturally, I did the only thing reasonable in the circumstances, and panicked. Unfortunately, I couldn't move. Not a finger, not a toe, nothing but my eyes. I don't know how long it was, but as one of the figures approached, leaning over me with a menacing laugh, I managed to move a finger. Not by much, but it was enough - suddenly I was sitting up, ready to flee, only to find myself alone, in my dark, quiet room, with my dog asleep outside my door as if nothing had happened.
To say I was confused would be an understatement. I didn't believe in ghosts or gods or demons or UFO visitors. But whatever it was that had visited me seemed to have left no physical trace. So either it was some kind of demon-alien thing, or I was going crazy. Probably the latter. But then, (and now we're getting to the point), science came to the rescue!
I did some research, and discovered that what I had experienced was a classic episode of sleep paralysis, which is a common sleeping disorder. I had never heard of it before. But there it was. Mystery solved. No demons, no ghosts, and no crazy. And while that wasn't my last experience with sleep paralysis, the terror was gone, and it's now just an occasional annoyance.
But the experience made me understand that not everyone claiming encounters with gods or demons or aliens was crazy or self-deluded. Some no doubt had experienced a very similar thing to me, and if it seems real... then surely it is.
The sleep paralysis/alien question is just one of the issues that Carl Sagan addresses in this book. There's plenty of science, plenty of philosophy, plenty of inspiration. The chapter on logical fallacies is brilliant.
But the reason I like this book so much, well it's in the title. The book delivers a spirited (excuse the pun) defence of science and reason, and demonstrates how it is possible to both think scientifically and yet still be overcome with wonder at the beauty of the universe and its "billions and billions of stars" (and platypuses).
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
slow-paced
It was an odd approach for Sagan’s main point, riddle with various rants against pseudoscience but equally filled with wonderful insights. I enjoyed it overall, but it comes across bloated, making it inaccessible to some. I loved his primary point (improve scientific literacy for all) and plan to hold onto the book for reference.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
Scientists, communicators, and advocates need to read this. Understand the importance of your work.
As a science communicator myself, looking to be an even greater advocate, I was surprised by just how much of Sagan's philosophy matched with mine. An incredible work. This will likely be a guiding text for me in the coming years.
As a science communicator myself, looking to be an even greater advocate, I was surprised by just how much of Sagan's philosophy matched with mine. An incredible work. This will likely be a guiding text for me in the coming years.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Book is as old as me and has only become more relevant and more pressing with each passing year of my life. The only question is what to do with my time left?