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The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark Paperback – February 25, 1997

by Carl Sagan (Author), Ann Druyan (Author)

908 customer reviews

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"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

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

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Carl Sagan muses on the current state of scientific thought, which offers him marvelous opportunities to entertain us with his own childhood experiences, the newspaper morgues, UFO stories, and the assorted flotsam and jetsam of pseudoscience. Along the way he debunks alien abduction, faith-healing, and channeling; refutes the arguments that science destroys spirituality, and provides a "baloney detection kit" for thinking through political, social, religious, and other issues. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Eminent Cornell astronomer and bestselling author Sagan debunks the paranormal and the unexplained in a study that will reassure hardcore skeptics but may leave others unsatisfied. To him, purported UFO encounters and alien abductions are products of gullibility, hallucination, misidentification, hoax and therapists' pressure; some alleged encounters, he suggests, may screen memories of sexual abuse. He labels as hoaxes the crop circles, complex pictograms that appear in southern England's wheat and barley fields, and he dismisses as a natural formation the Sphinx-like humanoid face incised on a mesa on Mars, first photographed by a Viking orbiter spacecraft in 1976 and considered by some scientists to be the engineered artifact of an alien civilization. In a passionate plea for scientific literacy, Sagan deftly debunks the myth of Atlantis, Filipino psychic surgeons and mediums such as J.Z. Knight, who claims to be in touch with a 35,000-year-old entity called Ramtha. He also brands as superstition ghosts, angels, fairies, demons, astrology, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster and religious apparitions.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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Product details

Paperback: 457 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books; Reprint edition (February 25, 1997)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345409469
ISBN-13: 978-0345409461
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 908 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2 in Books > Science & Math > Experiments, Instruments & Measurement > Methodology & Statistics
- #6 in Books > Science & Math > History & Philosophy
- #25 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy

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Top customer reviews

An Uplifting Discussion of the Power of Wonder and Skepticism

ByKem Whiteon September 24, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I've had this book in the basement for 20 years and I finally got around to reading it. I'm glad I did. Despite being a tad dated now, Sagan's thesis that it's the dual modes of thinking - wonder of the real world and skepticism of authority and baseless assertions - that most benefit societies. His clarion call for a people with mature critical thinking skills needs to be heard more than ever. He is clear that belief without evidence is anathema to a free, 21st century society world.

Because it was written more than 20 years ago, the book has lost some of the power it had in the mid-90s. Sagan never mentions the internet or social networks. The rise of Islamic terrorism is still a thing of the future. Though apposite in the mid-90s, some of his examples are less relevant today. This is the only reason I can't give this book 5-stars.

He avoids name-calling and strident rhetoric. He focuses more on pseudo-science rather than religion. The book is largely apolitical but the concluding two chapters are, he acknowledges, intentionally more political than the rest of the book. And these last two chapters are just as pertinent today as they were 20 years ago. (In fact, they have a prescient quality to them.) I highly recommend you read them.

Sagan would be 82 were he still alive. It's a pity he's not around to provide commentary. Recommended.

0Comment 39 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

ByJohn Michael Strubharton May 16, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is positively one of the most important books ever written. If people are to ensure that their rights remain protected and their freedoms respected, each and every one of us must be critical thinkers who are unafraid to ask the tough questions, to constantly criticize authority and to accept that no idea should be free from critical examination. I have read no one who makes these points more clear than Carl Sagan. This is not a pleasant read. It points out much of what is wrong about our society and government. Though dated in some areas, the general arguments that Sagan makes are just as valid today as they were 20 years ago. You can't read this book and come away unchanged.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

I liked it, you might not - but we will both be using our heads and thinking about it. Great book

ByMiljan Matovicon January 10, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Almost 20 years passed between Mr. Sagan writing the book and me reading it and I wish I had it then - surely I was a kid who could not understand it but it would have been a thing to read and re-read every now and then...
There are couple of topics inside with the most important (the way I see it) being: education and science are not only important but essential for our existence on Earth. A light is shed on the phenomena of witches and UFOs (a successor of witches in MR. Sagan's opinion - which I came to share during the reading of the book) but these 2 - although they take a large portion of the book - are used only to illustrate the consequences of refusing the scientific approach to thinking.
Let me not waste more of your time - whatever your convictions, try reading the book - it will give you food for your brain even if you really don't like it or disapprove it.
The best book I read in 2014.

11 comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

"This is the sort of thing that will be enjoyed by people who enjoy this sort of thing" - Abraham Lincoln.

ByTom Morrison October 7, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Slightly uneven. Parts were worth highlighting, others not so much. The great majority of the book was excellent.
While reading, it occurred to me that the people who would enjoy Sagan's reasoning the most were those who need it least, and those who need it most would not listen to it.
None of the conspiracy theorists, channelers, crystal gazers, ancient-aliens-as-Pyramid-builder fans, chemtrailers, anti-vaxxers, climate change deniers, fundamentalists, or current Republican presidential hopefuls are going to be convinced of anything by science, reason, and logic.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Life Changing Book

ByAndyon June 26, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Reading this book really helped me reflect upon my past and make peace with myself. I was one of those people that fell into those mystical and new age traps. Without science and logic, I probably would not have escaped. I found myself laughing at myself so many times throughout this book as though Carl was with me throughout my journey in life. It was like he was pointing out every step I took and explained why it was irrational and plain out wrong. Its amazing that this book was written in 1996 and yet the same problems still persist today. This book was like medicine to me and it is a great weapon against the true "demons" of this world.

Also VERY IMPORTANT, I do not recommend the hardcover version of this book published by Paw Prints. It is expensive and yet the quality is horrible. The pages are thin like toilet seat covers and the design of the cover is just too weird. If you are looking for a hardcover copy, go with another publisher.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

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Most recent customer reviews

Not what I expected.

It was not at all what I had expected. Disappointed, as I loved Sagan!

Published 5 days ago by Lani

If this book makes you angry, you need to read it.

Carl Sagan shows us that the rise of pseudoscience is not trivial, but a major threat to the survival of democracy.Read more

Published 8 days ago by William Gamez

If this book makes you angry, you need to read it.

Carl Sagan shows us that the rise of pseudoscience is not trivial, but a major threat to the survival of democracy.Read more

Published 8 days ago by Britch Howard

This is probably one of the greatest insights into skepticism and rational thought ever written

This is probably one of the greatest insights into skepticism and rational thought ever written. I can't recommend it too highly. It's so unfortunate that Sagan left us.

Published 23 days ago by zennin casl

Most influential book I've ever read in my life

This is the most influential book I've ever read in my life.

I ran into it when I was 17 when I didn't know what to believe in or how to search for it, and this book...Read more

Published 25 days ago by Rodrigo

Science is the best thing we all have going for us. Now 65, I grew up in an era of amazing scientific discoveries. I continued to be amazed today!Read more

Published 29 days ago by MGBguy

As relevant for today (i.e., 2017) as when it was published

The terrifying miseducation of the the masses is more apparent than ever in our world. People are voting in favor of their own demise (and to the demise of their own progeny) at...Read more

Published 1 month ago by G. Tanner

It changed, altered, and illuminated my perspective on everything in the current, and historic past.Read more

Published 1 month ago by JustACustomer

Still reading this book but it is amazing! Carl Sagan is a genius!

Published 1 month ago by Amazon Customer

Most important book

This book should be considered "required reading" for every person who wants to promote and preserve freedom and search for truth.

Published 2 months ago by Robert Elessar

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