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A review by ghost_rider
Billions & Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium by Carl Sagan
5.0
“The world is so exquisite, with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there’s little good evidence. Far better, it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look Death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides.”
How is it possible to miss someone so badly who died before I was even born? I would give anything just to sit and talk with Carl for a few hours. Even though many of these essays are over 20 years old now, they are unfortunately still very relevant today. I can’t help but think that he would be disappointed, even saddened, at how things have turned out and how little progress we’ve made forward protecting the planet and our future. But, as he says, “When too much cynicism threatens to engulf us, it is buoying to remember how pervasive goodness is.” I try to remind myself of that.
His genuine curiosity and compassion shines through every word he writes. He perfectly balances rationality and urgency when it comes to the future of humans on Earth. His essay on abortion is one of the best that I’ve ever read, and I really think that anybody, whether they consider themselves pro-life or pro-choice or neither, would benefit from reading it. When he died, the world lost a great scientist and an even better person, but he lives on in the pages of his books. Of course I’ve never met him, but I almost feel as if I have, through his writing.
Finally, a quote from Carl himself which we should all remember, because no one could say it better than he could:
“We are rare and precious because we are alive, because we can think as well as we can. We are privileged to influence and perhaps control our future. I believe we have an obligation to fight for life on Earth - not just for ourselves, but for all those, humans and others, who came before us, and to whom we are beholden, and for all those who, if we are wise enough, will come after. There is no cause more urgent, no dedication more fitting than to protect the future of our species. No social convention, no political system, no economic hypothesis, no religious dogma is more important.”
How is it possible to miss someone so badly who died before I was even born? I would give anything just to sit and talk with Carl for a few hours. Even though many of these essays are over 20 years old now, they are unfortunately still very relevant today. I can’t help but think that he would be disappointed, even saddened, at how things have turned out and how little progress we’ve made forward protecting the planet and our future. But, as he says, “When too much cynicism threatens to engulf us, it is buoying to remember how pervasive goodness is.” I try to remind myself of that.
His genuine curiosity and compassion shines through every word he writes. He perfectly balances rationality and urgency when it comes to the future of humans on Earth. His essay on abortion is one of the best that I’ve ever read, and I really think that anybody, whether they consider themselves pro-life or pro-choice or neither, would benefit from reading it. When he died, the world lost a great scientist and an even better person, but he lives on in the pages of his books. Of course I’ve never met him, but I almost feel as if I have, through his writing.
Finally, a quote from Carl himself which we should all remember, because no one could say it better than he could:
“We are rare and precious because we are alive, because we can think as well as we can. We are privileged to influence and perhaps control our future. I believe we have an obligation to fight for life on Earth - not just for ourselves, but for all those, humans and others, who came before us, and to whom we are beholden, and for all those who, if we are wise enough, will come after. There is no cause more urgent, no dedication more fitting than to protect the future of our species. No social convention, no political system, no economic hypothesis, no religious dogma is more important.”