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Keay Davidson

Carl Sagan: A Life Paperback – August 31, 2000

by Keay Davidson (Author)

56 ratings

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A penetrating, mesmerizing biography of a scientific icon

"Absolutely fascinating . . . Davidson has done a remarkable job."-Sir Arthur C. Clarke

"Engaging . . . accessible, carefully documented . . . sophisticated."-Dr. David Hollinger for The New York Times Book Review

"Entertaining . . . Davidson treats [the] nuances of Sagan's complex life with understanding and sympathy."-The Christian Science Monitor

"Excellent . . . Davidson acts as a keen critic to Sagan's works and their vast uncertainties."-Scientific American

"A fascinating book about an extraordinary man."-Johnny Carson

"Davidson, an award-winning science writer, has written an absorbing portrait of this Pied Piper of planetary science. Davidson thoroughly explores Sagan's science, wrestles with his politics, and plumbs his personal passions with a telling instinct for the revealing underside of a life lived so publicly."-Los Angeles Times

Carl Sagan was one of the most celebrated scientists of this century―the handsome and alluring visionary who inspired a generation to look to the heavens and beyond. His life was both an intellectual feast and an emotional rollercoaster. Based on interviews with Sagan's family and friends, including his widow, Ann Druyan; his first wife, acclaimed scientist Lynn Margulis; and his three sons, as well as exclusive access to many personal papers, this highly acclaimed life story offers remarkable insight into one of the most influential, provocative, and beloved figures of our time―a complex, contradictory prophet of the Space Age.

Print length

560 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Wiley
Publication date

August 31, 2000
Dimensions

6.13 x 1.31 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10

9780471395362
ISBN-13

978-0471395362
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Davidson gets underneath the skin to expose the personal, emotional and intimate details of Sagan's life, showing him both as a scientist, husband, lover and father. Brilliant." (Yorkshire Post, 9th November 2000)

"This biography is authoritative, interesting and entertaining. Every space enthusiast should read it." (Spaceflight, November 2001)

From the Back Cover

A penetrating, mesmerizing biography of a scientific icon, now in paperback

"Absolutely fascinating . . . Davidson has done a remarkable job."-Sir Arthur C. Clarke

"Engaging . . . accessible, carefully documented . . . sophisticated."-Dr. David Hollinger for The New York Times Book Review

"Entertaining . . . Davidson treats [the] nuances of Sagan's complex life with understanding and sympathy."-The Christian Science Monitor

"Excellent . . . Davidson acts as a keen critic to Sagan's works and their vast uncertainties."-Scientific American

"A fascinating book about an extraordinary man."-Johnny Carson

"Davidson, an award-winning science writer, has written an absorbing portrait of this Pied Piper of planetary science. Davidson thoroughly explores Sagan's science, wrestles with his politics, and plumbs his personal passions with a telling instinct for the revealing underside of a life lived so publicly."-Los Angeles Times

Carl Sagan was one of the most celebrated scientists of this century-the handsome and alluring visionary who inspired a generation to look to the heavens and beyond. His life was both an intellectual feast and an emotional rollercoaster. Based on interviews with Sagan's family and friends, including his widow, Ann Druyan; his first wife, acclaimed scientist Lynn Margulis; and his three sons, as well as exclusive access to many personal papers, this highly acclaimed life story offers remarkable insight into one of the most influential, provocative, and beloved figures of our time-a complex, contradictory prophet of the Space Age.

ASIN : 0471395366
Publisher : Wiley; 1st edition (August 31, 2000)
Language : English
Paperback : 560 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780471395362
ISBN-13 : 978-0471395362
Item Weight : 2.13 pounds
Dimensions : 6.13 x 1.31 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,889,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,883 in Scientist Biographies
- #25,145 in United States Biographies

Customer Reviews:
56 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		56%
4 star		16%
3 star		16%
2 star		9%
1 star		4%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Dylan Bray

I would give 4.5

Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2016

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Sometimes Davidson comes off as too sympathetic to postmodernism, as if he has friends in that camp he must satisfy. Otherwise, this book is fantastic reading and made me understand Sagan as a man not as the demigod he became.

One person found this helpful

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David McMahon

Mixed

Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 1999

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I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, this book is very well written and very interesting. It kept my interest from start to finish and was hard to put down. The detailed anecdotes and thoughts of Sagan's friends, colleagues and family members make for very interesting reading. I also came away with an enhanced respect for Sagan as a scientist. On the other hand, I think Davidson goes to far injecting his personal anti-science opinions and in tearing down Sagan's books. For instance, Davidson goes on a tirade trashing "Dragons of Eden", which was a magnificent achievement. I think there was some jealousy of Sagan among scientific circles, since it was Sagan who got all the attention. Maybe Davidson is a little jealous of Sagan's mega-success too. Despite this, I do feel the book is worth reading.

21 people found this helpful

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Robert Perry

Oversimplification of a complex personality

Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 1999

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I was extremely disappointed in this book. It reminded me of a high school term paper how it continuously reflected back on the New York's World Fair and "Pete can Fix It" analogies for being the primary contributors to Sagan's personality. The author both applauds and criticizes Sagan for being a creative thinker. The criticism is for not being educated enough in some fields that he wrote about in his "popular" books. The author claims to be a fan of Carl Sagan but I don't totally believe that after reading this book. Unfortunately, I don't feel the author has enough depth in his personality to write a quality biography. This came off as superficial and an oversimplification, to which I am very disappointed.

9 people found this helpful

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Michael Kemp

Given the choice, try William Poundstone's book instead.

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 1999

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Being a fan of biographies in general and Carl Sagan in particular, I have to say that this book was extremely disappointing. Davidson apparently felt that he was obligated to insert as many negative comments about Sagan as possible in the guise of presenting a balanced view of the man. Is it surprising that Sagan's ex-wife, Lynn Margulis, had almost nothing nice to say about him? Given that Davidson quotes her extensively throughout the book, one is led to believe that her statements are facts rather than opinions - or, more precisely, accusations. Davidson, while acknowledging Sagan's talents and intellectual achievements, also implies repeatedly that Sagan was egotistical, self-centered and self-serving in virtually everything he did. I doubt that anyone who has read Sagan's books would agree. My advice to those who want to read a biography about Sagan is to try Poundstone's book. I haven't read it yet, but it can't be worse than this one.

19 people found this helpful

Helpful

Karen James

interesting insights

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2015

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Interesting insights into a rich and full life.

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Vicky Rockey

Wonderful book

Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2013

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It's well-written, has just enough facts (but not too many), and suits my research purposes. I would recommend reading it.

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Jorge Gonzalez

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2014

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Carl allowed himself to be too commercialized.

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Daniel Putman

No one quite like him today

Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2019

Carl Sagan was a hero of mine when I was younger not because of physical bravery but because he opened up for me the mystery and wonder of space. I had heard since then that his personal life was a different story. This well-written book presents both sides of the man – the inspirational and the flawed. Like many famous people in history, Sagan had what is sometimes called “feet of clay,” But his limitations and failures don’t take away from what Sagan could do incredibly well – present science, especially astronomy, to the general public in a way that was clear, eloquent and filled with insight about our place in the universe.

What’s especially interesting about Davidson’s biography is its even-handedness. Most biographers are at least broadly sympathetic to their subjects and mention but don’t overplay the subject’s failures. But Davidson lays on Sagan’s failures “full bore.” He pulls no punches about Sagan’s ego, his narcissism as he became more famous, and his neglect and sometimes harm he caused in human relationships. Some critics view this biography as a book-length putdown of Sagan. But that is not the case. In many other places Davidson spells out in great detail Sagan’s love of science, his dedication to finding truth over human illusions, his superb teaching skill, and his eloquence about science that inspired millions. It’s rare to have a book that is so incredibly blunt and strong about both a subject’s strengths and weaknesses. I found this extreme honesty about Sagan refreshing and, if the man behind Cosmos and Contact had some major failings, for me it pointed more clearly toward what Sagan could do positively. This is a complete picture of the man.

If the book has any weaknesses, it is Davidson’s tendency in places to rhapsodize over his own thoughts on space and history, There are times when I said to myself, “That’s great, Mr. Davidson, now let’s get back to the biography.” But this is a small point in an otherwise excellent biography. The media has some very good popularizers of science today including Ann Druyan, the person who was Sagan's real love and who grounded him in personal relationships. Druyan continues to work with the media to present science in a way that the public can comprehend. The new Cosmos series is well done (another one supposed to be coming soon). But, simply in terms of rhetorical ability, no one has Sagan’s combination of eloquence, clarity and ability to inspire. Sagan was a flawed human being but, in terms of the level of scientific literacy in society, how much we miss him!

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

John Dexter

An Opportunity Missed

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2011

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As early as the third page (Preface p.viii), Keay Davidson cautions his readers of the dangers of 'scrutinizing Sagan's life in detail'. Fortunately, like Davidson, I found myself liking and respecting Carl Sagan more at the end of this book rather than less but sadly, the same cannot be said of my feelings for the author.

The problem with this biography is that it is little more than a salacious exposé of Sagan's oft-cited character flaws rather than a balanced account of his life and (significant) achievements. Davidson paints Sagan as a social and professional climber who, in the gratuitous pursuit of celebrity, allowed his ambition to sour marriages, professional collaborations, and friendships alike.

As evidence of the 'serious flaws' involving his personal relationships (p.viii), Davidson cites Sagan's three marriages and throughout the book, holds Sagan unilaterally responsible for the breakdown of the first two. Conversely, Davidson's treatment of Lynn Margulis (Sagan's first wife) is far less judgemental despite her being divorced exactly the same number of times as her first husband (p.394)! This lack of even-handedness pervades Davidson's work; for instance, whilst he is content to infer that Sagan's ambition was a corrosive vice, Margulis' professional aspirations are characterised as enviable virtues (p.71). The biographer even lampoons his subject's curriculum vitae (p.383), seemingly dismissive of Sagan's contributions to over six-hundred scientific papers, twenty popular science books, a novel, a major television series, and a Hollywood film. Doubtless there were some trivial entries in Sagan's resume, but is that not true of most CV?

Clearly, it is entirely reasonable for a biographer to make judgements and form opinions about his subject and it is obvious that Davidson had extensive access to people that were close to Sagan. Undoubtedly, Keay Davidson's judgement of Carl Sagan is better informed than my own, but it seems to me that, by focussing on Sagan's shortcomings rather than his prodigious achievements, Davidson misses an opportunity to celebrate Sagan's contribution to science and society.

12 people found this helpful

Laura McCormack

Not a balanced journey of discovery but rather a collection of negative opinions gathered in one tome more to satisfy the author

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2017

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Davidson’s biographical effort appears motivated by his own desire to belittle Carl Sagan and crash him under the weight of his own human nature and faults. Not a balanced journey of discovery but rather a collection of negative opinions gathered in one tome more to satisfy the author’s need to rationalize a great man through the lens of negativity than to provide the reader with a more intimate and non judgemental portrait of the man.
Unless a new biography is published that may be worth reading, I think we can all learn so much more about Carl Sagan from reading Sagan’s own books. There is an excellent critique of this book published by Professor of planetary astrophysics Carolyn Porco in the Guardian in 1999 you can access on line.

One person found this helpful

Daniel

And in any good, balanced biography there is always going to be ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 29, 2014

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I have never been one to see my heroes as Whiter-than-white. And in any good, balanced biography there is always going to be many "man behind the mask" revelations.
Unfortunately, I cannot reasonably call this a "balanced" biography. "Unintended Hatchet Job" may be more of an apt description. Page after page I look forward to reading Sagan's accomplishments, his successes and positive traits. Yet page after page we are treated to criticism after criticism (by those interviewed rather than the author I must add) to effect that with a dull weariness you know that is probably coming next. Even his family do not escape - Was there any reason to waste a paragraph describing an incident between Sagan's mother and Isaac Asimov for example?
The author has certainly done a huge amount of research and really got under the skin of his subject. Its just a shame he is likely to get under the reader's skin too. A point in question is that the continual finger pointing that Sagan was more of a showman than scientist. Well, yes, he was a great showman, and no doubt there were better scientists. But please, shouldn't Sagan's showmanship be celebrated? He brought Science to the masses. How he did that is the biography I want to read.

2 people found this helpful

gibson

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 6, 2014

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HEAVY READING AT TIMES

Mr O L Rogers

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2016

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Out of this world

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