Publication Date:February 25, 1997 Shipping:Eligible for Super Saver Shipping Availability:Usually ships in 24 hours
Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review 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.
Product 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."
Best definition of Science I've readNovember 23, 2008 If you want to know what science is and what it's good for, this is the book to read. A clear and compelling description of how things are discovered, and how to tell true understanding from myth and mystery. It also draws the line between productive skepticism, and useless inquisition. I don't bother to review many books, but this one is still well worth promoting.
Sagan is one of the greatest of AmericansNovember 10, 2008 Carl Sagan's love for science and for rational thought, expressed in this work and in many others is downright infectious. Critical thinking is one of mankind's greatest assets and this work should be required reading for every English speaking person who wants to understand the world not as an unconnected series of mystical events, but rather as a part of an understandable, rational universe.
Don't believe Fundamentalist Propaganda!November 3, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Reading Sagan's book made me realize the loss I'd suffered in not exploring it sooner. When I was a fundamental Christian (for far too long), Sagan was called "Carl SATAN" in our churches and we were gleefully told from the pulpit how he's writhing in Hell right now. Of course, this is nonsense; may rest in peace while the treasure of reason he left endure the test of time.
When one actually reads the book, you find that Sagan has respect and understanding for religious beliefs...he simply lets the facts fall where they may and that makes fervent believers uneasy. One must ask himself why the truth would not be welcome in a belief system? Sagan, as the book title declares, merely uses sound thinking to illuminate ignorance, but he does not do it from a "high and mighty" viewpoint. Science has made mistakes as well, and he readily confesses this. But science improves with time while religion, and other mystic beliefs such as astrology, are hopelessly locked in the past.
The most liberating principle I take away from the read is that science, indeed, is not "God". It is a METHOD for determining truth and learning from the discovery process. He actually acknowledges how wonderful Heaven would be and that it may in fact exist...only that it's not provable and given observation, the odds of it are very low.
Sagan also touches upon other odd beliefs such as psychics, etc. as example of surrendering to illogical thought processes. This is a great tutorial on rational thinking and I strongly encourage everyone from teens on up to read it!
Bland and uninspiringOctober 18, 2008 2 out of 4 found this review helpful
If you're already a hardened skeptic, skip this book. The book briefly touches on a number of topics that tend to suck in gullible people (e.g. aliens, crop circles), but is unlikely to provide any new material to anyone even minimally acquainted with the subjects.
Who is this book aimed at? As far as preaching to the choir, it's hopelessly boring and stale. Hoping to convert new people to the ideals of skepticism? Hardly. Even from that perspective, it's not terribly interesting or involving - there's no sense of great revelation here. Besides, are the people that *need* to be reading this book actually going to buy and read it? No.
I wasted my money.
Skepticism as a tool to protect our freedomsOctober 17, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
What is the biggest danger facing our society today? Here, Sagan presents a compelling argument that it is our failure to teach a proper appreciation for the scientific mindset, which combines a sense of curiosity and wonder with a strong dose of skepticism. Sagan attacks the credulity of our media in presenting a wide range of pseudo-sciences as having equal merit with the physical sciences, and argues that our schools are stripping our students of their love of learning and leaving them without the tools they need to properly evaluate problems they will face in life.
There is so much in this book that is interesting, but I found myself most drawn to Sagan's arguments that combination of curiosity and skepticism that define the mindset of a scientist are also important in maintaining a free society. Without these traits, people are likely to blindly follow any leader that tells them what they want to hear, surrendering freedoms along the way. It is only by carefully and skeptically evaluating what our leaders tell us that we can ensure that we protect ourselves from this trap.
This is a truly impressive book, one that should be read by everyone, especially those who don't appreciate the value of skepticism.
