A prescient warning of a future we now inhabit, where fake news stories and Internet conspiracy theories play to a disaffected American populace
“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
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 …
A prescient warning of a future we now inhabit, where fake news stories and Internet conspiracy theories play to a disaffected American populace
“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
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.
Review of 'The Demon-Haunted World' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I can hear Sagan's voice when I read this
This book is an education in scientific and skeptical thinking. It clears away many misconceptions one might have and even challenges ideas when you thought you agreed.
I can hear Sagan's voice when I read this
This book is an education in scientific and skeptical thinking. It clears away many misconceptions one might have and even challenges ideas when you thought you agreed.
Review of 'The Demon-Haunted World; Science As A Candle In The Dark' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
As I began reading this book, I realized that a lot of the issues in this book are similar to the issues the current group of presidential hopefuls are debating. Unfortunately, everything that Sagan says is wrong with politicians happens to be occurring.
This was a great book, and makes me want to continue to hone my skeptical skills as those will always be something required. Way too often we are told to believe, but then are not given the substance of those beliefs. I'm not a person to continue to blindly believe anyone, or anything now, without critically looking at what I'm being asked to believe. I can belatedly thank Carl Sagan for this, and I do thank his wife Ann Druyan.
This was just an awesome book, and should be required reading for anyone entering High School. Unfortunately, most politicians would find that abhorrent, as they require blind …
As I began reading this book, I realized that a lot of the issues in this book are similar to the issues the current group of presidential hopefuls are debating. Unfortunately, everything that Sagan says is wrong with politicians happens to be occurring.
This was a great book, and makes me want to continue to hone my skeptical skills as those will always be something required. Way too often we are told to believe, but then are not given the substance of those beliefs. I'm not a person to continue to blindly believe anyone, or anything now, without critically looking at what I'm being asked to believe. I can belatedly thank Carl Sagan for this, and I do thank his wife Ann Druyan.
This was just an awesome book, and should be required reading for anyone entering High School. Unfortunately, most politicians would find that abhorrent, as they require blind faith in the ideas that they are putting forth.
