Cosmos

A true classic

This book was written shortly after the ground-breaking documentary series of the same name also presented by the author. The book was published in 1981, which puts it in a time frame with two other ground-breaking popular science books: The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins and A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawkins. In no way can the book be considered dated. Indeed, it has a certain freshness, being written close to the great, pioneering space exploration mission of the Voyager and Pioneer probes which are discussed. The book could be described as a history of ideas, in particular the supreme achievement of humans, that of Science. Indeed, as far as we are currently aware, humans represent the first point at which the cosmos became aware of itself; a remarkable and humbling thought (although I hope there are other civilisations). Sagan is in no way dismissive of ideas about the cosmos arising from non-scientific approaches. In the very early days of humanity, these were brave attempts to understand the world. However, the message is very clear: the methods developed by science are the only way to understand the cosmos. Religion and the appeal to authority cannot provide adequate understanding. The origins of science in the pre-Socratic period and its tragic abandonment are described. The writing is crisp, clear and a pleasure to read. It is a unique combination of science, history and philosophy. I also recommend watching Sagan's documentary series and indeed the recently released new version of Cosmos presented by Neil deGrasse Tyson. To quote the first line of the first chapter: "The cosmos is all that ever is or ever was or ever will be."

Perfect!

Cosmos was described to me as "the atheist's Bible." Although it was very different from what I anticipated on that basis, this remains an accurate description of it. I expected the emphasis to be on atheism -- proofs against God, declamations against organized religion, and so on. Naturally there's a bit of this, though it's more directed at Platonism than at religion. Surprisingly, however, I would say that the emphasis is actually on "Bible", as Cosmos is not only itself a text that is written in something like religious ecstasy, but it situates itself amidst numerous religious traditions -- in particular creation myths, which it quotes extensively -- that most closely correspond with our current understanding of the universe. This is not to say that it is unscientific, but rather that it has all the devout fervour of a religious text, in awe of the universe, which even within the text is often equated with the God(s) of various religions. It is filled with absolutely tantalizing ideas, so many and so diverse that it's easy to rattle off a handful and barely scratch the surface: That the Socratics (especially Plato), with their dualism and its consequent effects on Christianity through Neo-Platonism, did untold damage to technological progress. That had the Ionians remained in power, we might already be an interstellar race. That physical affection as a child and sexual activity as a teenager massively deter violence in later life. That the human race will never travel to the stars as long as its population continues to grow. That wars have patterns like the weather that can be predicted on a global scale. That our brains contain evolutionary relics from our piscine, reptilian, and mammalian ancestors which are at best in an uneasy truce. That microorganisms surviving in extreme conditions on earth may make extraterrestrial life possible even within our solar system. All these ideas are tangents from the central focus of the book, which is a textual exploration of the cosmos. But to describe this as a book about astronomy is to ignore its gorgeous and thrilling literary aspects, the anthropological and historical heights to which it soars, and the inspiring thirst for knowledge that pervades it. It is a book about the distant past and the distant future of the human race; it is a rumination on our place in a vast (and vastly unknown) universe. It offers only a casual introduction to astrophysics, but it is a fascinating exposition of the universe from the mind of a man whose knowledge and curiosity are nonpareil. The only reason I subtract a star is because I felt that Sagan devotes too much of the work to rather dated Cold War fears. Not that the threat has been neutralized, but I personally have read enough about mutually assured destruction. My view is that paralysing fear about a nuclear winter downplays the resilience of the human race, is slightly contradictory if we're to take seriously his views on population control, and is ultimately irrelevant from a cosmic perspective. However, I imagine for most people this won't detract from Sagan's absorbing and even spellbinding collection of thoughts, and I highly recommend this book to anyone with curiosity about humanity's place in the universe.

This is an epic tale - exploring, understanding and describing the Universe in its entirety. This book is a delight to read, and it succeeds in making science lively and engaging. The book was first published in 1983, as a tie-in to the TV documentary series Carl Sagan's Cosmos [DVD] [1980 ]. Both book and series follow the same general structure - and both are concerned with illuminating the nature of the cosmos. Sagan writes majestically, explaining otherwise complex issues and problems in a manner that makes them far more easily comprehensible. Everything from the origins of the universe to the formation of galaxies, from the processes that build planets to the evolution of life, is discussed eloquently. Sagan describes the cosmos in an imaginative way, drawing-in the reader and retaining attention throughout. This is as far away as possible from a 'dry' scientific text ... instead it entices the reader's fascination and clearly shows the cosmos for what it truly is: awesome. This is the perfect book for anyone who's interested in finding out more about physics, cosmology, astronomy and astrobiology. It's a fantastic introductory book, and is suitable for both adults and older teenagers. I've read through it a few times, and it's my favourite 'science' book. I highly recommend it.

Every one concerned about the current and future human being’s survival needs to read!

I do bot like the cook cover is damde

You don't expect someone whose obvious forte is mathematics and science to be a fantastic writer to boot, but Carl Sagan writes beautifully indeed. I'll try to make this review as useful as possible. The subject matter varies between chapters, with some of them more scientifically dense (and therefore fascinating) and others are historically informative. Here is a basic topic of chapters (not in order): -A chapter putting into perspective how little we know and how many wondrous things there are yet to discover about our existence -A chapter on Venus, among other planets and bodies, within our solar system along with musings on why it is habitable or not -A chapter on Mars and everything it has meant to us and was discovered to be like -A chapter devoted to the very first scientific awakening of our race -A chapter that addresses the likelihood of communication with other intelligent life These are just a couple of the chapters. You'll learn about how, scientist by scientist, we amassed the information and knowledge we have to date, and the magnitude and elegance of each of their respective contributions. Carl will teach you about the laws of the universe that everything in it obeys You'll learn not just elementary facts about the planets in our solar system, but the "how" and "why" behind their characteristics and attributes. You will be brought to edge of human knowledge and made to look out into the vast wealth of information left to acquire. You will finish this book with a sense of profound curiosity, deep respect, tremendous awe, and quiet humility. Every chapter has a very nice structure to it, following the same basic template: Ask a question or pose a problem, explain, conclude with a look forward. He never leaves anything unfinished or any stone unturned, so you never get the sense of abrupt subject change. Each chapter is intended to be treated as individual, and so it can be likened to a sentence, ending definitively and conclusively with a period. The reviewer that said this is disorganized is being too obsessive and completely missing the point. The book itself is more of a collection of thought-provoking topics than it is some sort of fictional story meant to "flow". If this is what you are seeking, I suggest going back to fiction. It honestly makes the book easier to read the way Sagan structured it. If you are a religious person and are nervous that his atheism might somehow offend you, I assure you that he is never arrogant, confrontational, or mocking. He is simply a humanist, and is looking only to impart upon his audience a true understanding of how beautiful our existence and the science behind it is. Not only does he deliver facts, but he successfully enlightens you. I can honestly say this is the most profoundly educational book I have ever read. I have never learned so much in just one book. I feel not just more educated and knowledgeable, but wiser as a human. He only tries to dispel the hold that superstition has had and the darkness of ignorance that has haunted us throughout our history. He leaves you to believe whatever you want to believe, while making sure you never make the mistake of attributing truly scientific processes to magic. You may even find a better reason to feel spiritually in touch with our human identity and the meaning of life. That's all up to you how you interpret this, but this is beautiful education and enlightenment, not an offensive attack on anything or anyone. He is a beautiful writer and sometimes, I was blown away by the flow of his words. There were some sentences that were as musical and intricately beautiful as symphony. He is truly a loss to our race, both for his knowledge and his perspective. His is the hand that waves away the smoke, clearing that which is otherwise in plain sight for everyone to see. Do recommend. Would make it compulsory reading if I was a dictator.

A classic. A book that is worth having in paper for this price.

Kreukel in kaft