"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
Annotation:
In the last book he completed before his death, Carl Sagan, the most popular scientist since Albert Einstein, takes on "pseudo-science" in this scathing indictment of paranormal phenomenon and superstition, which he sees as signs of an onset of global ignorance. Sagan cogently examines a variety of supposedly supernatural phenomenon, including UFOs, ghosts, psychics, astrology, crop circles, religious apparitions, Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster, and he finds that there is no evidence in support of any of them, other than the surprisingly similar stories of people who have every reason to lie. For Sagan, these hoaxes are far from harmless; as people continue to embrace the verity of such scientific travesties, they move away from the glory and wonder of real science, which is supported by the ubiquity of our perceptions. Sagan completes his utterly convincing defense of science with a "baloney detection kit," which consists of a list of questions which can be used to measure the worth of any claim or theory.
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Author Bio| Carl Sagan | | After studying at the University of Chicago (which he entered at the age of 16) and Berkeley, Sagan taught at Harvard and then Cornell University, where he was a professor of astronomy and space science and director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies. He remained at Cornell until his death. Sagan was interested in the physics and chemistry of planetary atmospheres and surfaces, along with the origins of life on earth and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. At the height of his popularity, Sagan was perhaps the world's most identifiable member of the scientific community through his books and popular TV series "Cosmos". He won a great number of honors in his lifetime, including the Nobel Prize. His book "Contact" was made into a film starring Jodie Foster. Sagan died in 1996, but his legacy remains very much alive, as a number of people who studied with him have continued to conduct research and create technology for exploring the solar system for signs of extraterrestrial life. Additionally, the Planetary Society, which Sagan co-founded, continues to publish a newsletter on space exploration, and many science writers cite Sagan as playing an instrumental role in their interest and success in writing about scientific matters. |
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