Cosmos discussion

Cosmos for sure because I loved how he explained the universe; as a youngster I was very mesmerized by it. I read the book twice and watched the series twice as well

Thanks for sharing Lee. i thought no one would read this , Haha.

I loved Cosmos (and, really, all of his books), but right now my favorite is probably Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space because of the way it places us in space and challenges us to explore.

The Demon Haunted World deserves an honorable mention.

And don't forget his novel, Contact.

But the TV mini-series of Cosmos was, I think, a life changing experience for many people.

The Demon-Haunted World. I was into a lot of new-age stuff before I read it. I was assigned the 1st chapter in a class about science literacy, ended up reading the whole book, and it completely changed my world-view. I like Cosmos a lot too, especially because of the math it goes over that I didn't get a lot of time to understand throughout the t.v. series.

Janice wrote: "The Demon-Haunted World. I was into a lot of new-age stuff before I read it. I was assigned the 1st chapter in a class about science literacy, ended up reading the whole book, and it completely c..."
Spreading science literacy and strengthening people's 'baloney detectors' is what I'm sure Dr. Sagan intended when he wrote it. It is a wonderful legacy. I'm sure you're glad that teacher or professor or whatever assigned it.

Contact!

Probably a guide book for how commercially viable sci-fi book should be writter.

D.L. wrote: "Spreading science literacy and strengthening people's 'baloney detectors' is what I'm sure Dr. Sagan intended when he wrote it..."
I only wish I'd read it earlier b/c I spent so many years of my life believing in pseudoscience. It really should be required reading for high school science students. I wasn't born when Cosmos was first broadcast but it's been a joy catching up w/Sagan's writings.

Scott wrote: "It also re-lit my interest in science that I had as a child."

Great statement Scott. Why do you think we lose it as we grow older?

Love the book becuz Carl Sagan paints not only a picture of our Universe but of human curiosity.

Would it be too punny to say Broca's Brain blew my mind?

Gary wrote: "Would it be too punny to say Broca's Brain blew my mind?"

Nope...I think it's a perfect review.

Demon Haunted World is the first one I read and so, for me, it is the best. I enjoyed both Contact and Cosmos. If more Sagan books pop up in the used book store I like to visit, I'll be sure to snag them.

Cosmos and The Dragons of Eden -- I haven't seen anyone mention this book yet. The Dragons of Eden is about the evolution of human intelligence. Although this isn't Sagan's field he writes it so well and the way he integrates history and science made it such and interesting read for me. And, although it was written 1977 its really not that outdated.