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The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

"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

  more

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ProductReviews92/100 (100 Reviews)

Recent Reviews

5/5
From: Amazon
Posted: Aug-23-2009
A work of staggering genius!!

This is the best science book I have ever read. The book paints a vivid picture of the American public's general lack of understanding of science, and describes with urgency the potential consequences that could be waiting around the...

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5/5
From: Amazon
Posted: Aug-14-2009
Critical Thinking

This book should be required reading for every High School Senior!! More than ever, we need to be rational thinkers. We are headed back to the Dark Ages unless we heed Sagan's message!!

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5/5
From: Amazon
Posted: Aug-11-2009
Excellent!

I don't feel I can add anything that hasn't already been said in the other 409 reviews (at the time I'm writing this), but I just wanted to throw my 2 cents out there to say this was a great, informative, read in typical Carl Sagan...

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4/5
From: Amazon
Posted: Jul-12-2009
Dogmatically building a case for science as the foundation of modern reason

I enjoy reading Sagan precisely because he's a lucid and interesting writer who clearly has little use for religious thought. I also believe that as a person of faith in general, and as a follower of Judeo-Christianity in particular,...

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Selected Reviews

5/5
From: Amazon
Posted: Aug-23-2009
A work of staggering genius!!

This is the best science book I have ever read. The book paints a vivid picture of the American public's general lack of understanding of science, and describes with urgency the potential consequences that could be waiting around the...

read full review | report as inappropriate
3/5
From: Amazon
Posted: Apr-03-2009
Dig through the ditches and burn through the witches and slam...into Sagan's statism

Dr. Sagan's political bias detracts from an otherwise much-needed work. He's a through-and-through liberal statist toeing the left-wing line. He's a global warmist (pp 7, 376). He regurgitates left-wing advocacy rape statistics ("In...

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2/5
From: Amazon
Posted: Oct-18-2008
Bland and uninspiring

If you're already a hardened skeptic, skip this book. The book briefly touches on a number of topics that tend to suck in gullible people (e.g. aliens, crop circles), but is unlikely to provide any new material to anyone even minimally...

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