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The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark |  | Authors: Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Category: Book
List Price: $17.00
Buy Used: $4.09
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Seller: felixfiks
Rating:  432 reviews
Sales Rank: 2763
Media: Paperback
Pages: 480
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.4 x 1
ISBN: 0345409469
Dewey Decimal Number: 001.9
EAN: 9780345409461
Publication Date: February 25, 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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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." *The Sciences "PASSIONATE." *San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 432
 Sagan Book Review July 29, 2010
Sydney Aliff (West Virginia, USA)
I personally am not a big fan of this book. I do not agree with a lot of the points that Sagan tries to make, and I find some of the chapters completely irrelevant and interesting. The purpose I had in purchasing this book was for a class that I will be taking this upcoming fall. I do, however, respect what Sagan has to say, and it has done well in exposing me to very different ways of thinking from my own.
 Skepticism 101 July 24, 2010
Mugen (WSU; Pullman, WA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The best book to get into true scientific skepticism. Also listen to Skeptics' Guide to the Universe Podcast!
 No Such Thing As A Dumb Question July 2, 2010
Rico
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I realize there are already a lot of reviews for the book, but I will add my opinion to the mix.I first heard of Carl Sagan when I watched his Cosmos television series.Sagan has a unique way of sharing science with us regular folks and even children. So, I was very interested to read this book that covers a lot more material and takes on subjects such as UFO's and Religion.
I found the book to be quite easy to understand and found myself agreeing with most of Sagan's questions and points. His arguments regarding many subjects seem like great questions that nobody ever answers to his satisfaction or mine for that matter. While many have pointed out that Sagan seems to be very aggressive in regards to ufologists and alien abductions, I think it is because it's something most people are familiar with in our culture. Many of his points in this area are quite valid and something I had never though of before. He devotes much of the book to the idea that we should all be critical thinkers, not only of government and religion, but even of science itself. Sagan explains how science can usually police itself due to it's very nature. I found this point of view to be refreshing, not only for adults but also for children to learn how to be a critical thinker. While the book is a decade old now, the points are still valid, and the part about education seems to have only gotten worse.
If you are skeptic of anything, I think you will find the book and Sagan's opinions enjoyable.
Even if you disagree with him on some things, the information and techniques he describes apply to everything.
One of the best books I have ever read May 22, 2010
J. Mehof (USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I found this an enlightening book that was incredibly enjoyable to read. Carl Sagan is a master of prose and he makes each and every sentence worth reading. I was already a skeptical person before reading this book, but Sagan makes a compelling argument of why everyone should be skeptical and eludes to the possible severely detrimental societal outcomes if we lack adequate skepticism and education. Or to take some of his wise quotes; "the cost of education is trivial compared to the cost of ignorance" and "skepticism is an essential prerequisite for responsible citizenship". Sagan even kindly provides a mental toolkit to help you be skeptical, or as he calls it the "baloney detection kit" (summarized here: [...]).
Dr. Sagan tackles many pseudosciences, including aliens and UFOs, meanwhile he himself founded The Planetary Society, which among other things, focuses on the search for extraterrestrial life. This is just one example of where he is skeptical, yet maintains an open mind. "Keep an open mind, but not so much that your Brains fall out" -James Berg.
Carl Sagan is truly 'the' master of combining skepticism and wonder. If you have not watched the Cosmos series from PBS, I strongly recommend that as well (available on dvd Cosmos: Carl Sagan (7 DVD Set)or you can watch for free online at [...]).
Carl Sagan at his best. April 17, 2010
Bryan S. Sullins
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Fantastic book if you are looking to gain a deeper understanding of the value of science and skepticism in this world.
So much so that it could be disappointing to the non-skeptic. Believe in ghosts? An afterlife? Alien abductions? This book will help you break those superstitions.
This book really is a Candle in the Dark, with all the conspiracy theories and such flying around these days.
The only small criticism I have is about Sagan's predilection for talking about Alien Abductions and UFO's. Half of the book was a debunking of this topic, which is fine, but by the middle of the book you're like "OK! Sagan . . . We get it . . . Alien abductions are hogwash. GOTCHA!"
Showing reviews 1-5 of 432
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