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372 reviews for:
For Small Creatures Such as We: Rituals for Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World
Sasha Sagan
4.12 AVERAGE
372 reviews for:
For Small Creatures Such as We: Rituals for Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World
Sasha Sagan
4.12 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
I loved reading about the rituals and worldview that Sasha Sagan was raised with, through her parents, scientists Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan. For people who are secular, especially people who might be considering how to pass on meaning and ritual to their children without the hang-ups of religion, this is a good book for you.
It's difficult to live in the shadow of someone as renowned as Carl Sagan. Sasha writes this book as a tribute to her illustrious parents, mentioning often how she precious her childhood and upbringing is to her. She clearly thinks highly of her parents and the tremendous amount they accomplished together.
Each chapter of this book focuses on a ritual that everyone does, not specifically spiritual or secular. The author includes stories from her own upbringing as well as traditions from around the world that honor these transitions and experiences in their own way. Sagan captures how people who appear to have vastly different belief systems are actually very similar in the things they celebrate and cherish.
The message conveyed in this book is that every small thing that we do can be sacred and special, no matter what religion we may or may not conform to.
Each chapter of this book focuses on a ritual that everyone does, not specifically spiritual or secular. The author includes stories from her own upbringing as well as traditions from around the world that honor these transitions and experiences in their own way. Sagan captures how people who appear to have vastly different belief systems are actually very similar in the things they celebrate and cherish.
The message conveyed in this book is that every small thing that we do can be sacred and special, no matter what religion we may or may not conform to.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
"Being alive...[is] profoundly beautiful and staggeringly unlikely...For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love."
I've never read a book that so accurately depicts and reflects my own relationship with spirituality and our cosmic insignificance. That attitude is so often one that is portrayed as a sad, small and scared position. But to me, and to Sagan, there is beauty and miracle in the vastness of our universe, and the luck that allows us to be alive. She says "our vast universe provides us with enough profound and beautiful truths to live a spiritually meaningful life."
Life as a non-religious person can sometimes mean that finding specific rituals and bids for connection with community is difficult. Sagan suggests in this book ways to find daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and seasonal celebrations, as well as ways to mark births, deaths, and marriage. These ideas resonated with me deeply and encourage me to find those things for myself and my loved ones.
Sagan says "I don't think that faith is a requirement to see a world full of provable miracles and profound meaning," and I agree with her.
I quoted part of her wtiting at my grandparents' memorial service when I spoke, because I think my athiest grandfather would have loved Sagan's view of the world.
I plan to return to this book and find solace in Sagan's words.
I've never read a book that so accurately depicts and reflects my own relationship with spirituality and our cosmic insignificance. That attitude is so often one that is portrayed as a sad, small and scared position. But to me, and to Sagan, there is beauty and miracle in the vastness of our universe, and the luck that allows us to be alive. She says "our vast universe provides us with enough profound and beautiful truths to live a spiritually meaningful life."
Life as a non-religious person can sometimes mean that finding specific rituals and bids for connection with community is difficult. Sagan suggests in this book ways to find daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and seasonal celebrations, as well as ways to mark births, deaths, and marriage. These ideas resonated with me deeply and encourage me to find those things for myself and my loved ones.
Sagan says "I don't think that faith is a requirement to see a world full of provable miracles and profound meaning," and I agree with her.
I quoted part of her wtiting at my grandparents' memorial service when I spoke, because I think my athiest grandfather would have loved Sagan's view of the world.
I plan to return to this book and find solace in Sagan's words.
When you are secular minded, sometimes it seems like some celebrations aren't meant for you or that you cannot participate in them. Sasha Sagan beautifully illustrates how she pays respect to her ancestors while respecting her own beliefs. This book is helpful in inspiring those without a belief system to create their own celebrations while also respecting where they came from.
In many ways I feel a kindred spirit in Sasha because she speaks so poetically and in awe of everything, she has a spark for life and creation, she thinks logically about things, but she also has a very feeling personality.
In many ways I feel a kindred spirit in Sasha because she speaks so poetically and in awe of everything, she has a spark for life and creation, she thinks logically about things, but she also has a very feeling personality.
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I enjoyed this exploration of the importance of rituals to mark time and major life transitions for humans. The memoir elements, recounting the author's upbringing by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan with scientific curiosity and without religious superstition, were especially engaging. As a Gen X child of scientists, I grew up on Carl Sagan's Cosmos!
But as the author moves away from her childhood with her famous parents and more into her own adult life, it grew less interesting and more like breezy women's lifestyle magazine pieces (and indeed several of the chapters were originally written for periodicals). I was looking for more insight on forging non-religious rituals and traditions for myself and my family, and "relatable" stories about relationships and dinner parties with girlfriends weren't what I was looking for.
But as the author moves away from her childhood with her famous parents and more into her own adult life, it grew less interesting and more like breezy women's lifestyle magazine pieces (and indeed several of the chapters were originally written for periodicals). I was looking for more insight on forging non-religious rituals and traditions for myself and my family, and "relatable" stories about relationships and dinner parties with girlfriends weren't what I was looking for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent