The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
Jul 2011 · Ballantine Books
4.8star
207 reviewsreport
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480
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About this ebook
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the renowned astronomer and author of Cosmos comes a “powerful [and] stirring defense of informed rationality” (The Washington Post Book World) in a world where fake news stories and Internet conspiracy theories play to a disaffected American populace.
LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE WINNER • “Glorious . . . 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, New Age thinking, and fundamentalist zealotry and the testable hypotheses of science?
Casting a wide net through history and culture, 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. He examines and authoritatively debunks such celebrated fallacies as witchcraft, faith healings, 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.
LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE WINNER • “Glorious . . . 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, New Age thinking, and fundamentalist zealotry and the testable hypotheses of science?
Casting a wide net through history and culture, 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. He examines and authoritatively debunks such celebrated fallacies as witchcraft, faith healings, 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.
Ratings and reviews
4.8
207 reviews
Jesse Hewitt
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June 24, 2019
it was a good read, i like his thoughts on democracy and what the future should look like. my biggest problem with this book isn't what it says or how it reads. The problem is the people that need to read it won't, and the people who do read it probably already feel the same way. hopefully it adds to better arguments for the way forward.
10 people found this review helpful
Joel Porcaro
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April 29, 2014
Going into this book, my expectations were quite high with this being the third work of Sagan I have read. Right away he has this ability to pull you in and explain essentially how he thinks and his opinions of the world. There are many beautiful, quotable lines right from the beginning that makes the rest of the reading very attractive. The focus then shifts about three chapters in as Sagan begins to go quite in depth about the many ages of skepticism that encumber our past (and even present), explaining the history of witchcraft and UFO hoaxes. This idea of skepticism is drilled into the readers mind as he so eloquently elaborates the causes and consequences of a non-skeptical society. As the book nears its end, our beloved Carl dives into various relating but separate topics such as education, Maxwell along with other famous scientists, and 'politics' (really more of the philosophies behind his ideals in politics). Sagan (and Druyan at his point) then leaves you with the familiarly beautifully written closer as in all of his works: optimistic and resolute but humble of the knowledge of our fallacies. 10/10 no doubt. A must read!
15 people found this review helpful
Curtis Glowacki
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July 22, 2018
This was the second of his books that I have read and I can't begin to
describe it's powerful overlay on issues that unfortunately still plague us
today. We are living in a world where ignorance is tearing the fabric of
society apart. I like to think the Middle Ages are in the past but
sometimes I feel like we're still in them. I've found myself reading this
book many times. It seems it's more relevant today than when it was first
published. We live in a world where our civilization has made great strides
in many fields that not only increased our understanding of the universe
which we live, but ourselves as well. I hope people who read this book
appreciate it's message. There is hope. People like the late Carl Sagan do
help make a difference in this otherwise chaotic world in which we live.
1 person found this review helpful
About the author
Carl Sagan served as the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences and Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell University. He played a leading role in the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo spacecraft expeditions, for which he received the NASA Medals for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and (twice) for Distinguished Public Service.
His Emmy- and Peabody–winning television series, Cosmos, became the most widely watched series in the history of American public television. The accompanying book, also called Cosmos, is one of the bestselling science books ever published in the English language. Dr. Sagan received the Pulitzer Prize, the Oersted Medal, and many other awards—including twenty honorary degrees from American colleges and universities—for his contributions to science, literature, education, and the preservation of the environment. In their posthumous award to Dr. Sagan of their highest honor, the National Science Foundation declared that his “research transformed planetary science . . . his gifts to mankind were infinite." Dr. Sagan died on December 20, 1996.
His Emmy- and Peabody–winning television series, Cosmos, became the most widely watched series in the history of American public television. The accompanying book, also called Cosmos, is one of the bestselling science books ever published in the English language. Dr. Sagan received the Pulitzer Prize, the Oersted Medal, and many other awards—including twenty honorary degrees from American colleges and universities—for his contributions to science, literature, education, and the preservation of the environment. In their posthumous award to Dr. Sagan of their highest honor, the National Science Foundation declared that his “research transformed planetary science . . . his gifts to mankind were infinite." Dr. Sagan died on December 20, 1996.
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