Cosmos Paperback – December 10, 2013

Top favorite book I've ever read. I've read this book like 3 times. Such a beautiful writing style. If you like to read about the cosmos this book will not disappoint. This book is truly one of a kind.

A comprehensive overview of the cosmos. It reads like great literature should, and leaves the reader pondering the existence of humanity now and in the future. It asks us to think about who we humans are, and whether or not we will survive our own technology. A crucial warning!

What a privilege and joy it was to have read this book. I made my way through it rather slowly because it was so packed full of historical anecdotes, scientific findings, and thought-provoking insights that I needed a break every chapter or so to let ideas mentally sink in. In 13 chapters, Dr Sagan gives us a glimpse into all scales of space and time. From the Big Bang to the formation of the stars and the Earth, through the painstaking evolutionary process that resulted in human beings, to millenia beyond our time where interstellar travel may be a viable means of commute. From quarks to complex molecules to planets, supernovae and black holes, to the idea of an infinite hierarchy of universes, all nested within one another.This book is far beyond an ordinary astronomy general interest read. Its contents incorporate genetics, ancient history, chemical biology, sociology, religion, human psychology and philosophy... Dr Sagan weaves these realms together in the context of the Cosmos, and raises intriguing questions about hypothetical alternate turn of events as well as where we (humankind) go from here. He pays homage to the brilliant minds whose work and courage has contributed to our current technical capabilities. From Erastosthenes' astute calculation of the Earth's circumference, to Kepler’s observations, to Einstein's special theory of relativity (and those in between: Huygens, Brahe, Newton, Champollion etc.), Sagan not only highlights their contribution, but discusses the societal circumstances that these individuals found themselves in. In doing so, he invokes a scrutiny of our current societal climate and behaviors. Are we doing our best to build and maintain a society that values the pursuit of knowledge over one that may eventually crumble under self-destructive greed? Are we investing an adequate amount of resources (both monetary and intellect) on constructive, self-preserving causes? Sagan goes as far as to compare government spendings on military weapons with scientific research funding, and demonstrates how far will have still to go before our loyalties are united not just within nation-states, but as a species of Planet Earth.Dr Sagan’s intrigues are not limited to Western ways of thinking. Instead, he pays deep respect to the cultures, achievements, and creation myths around the world - this was done through anecdotes from ancient Chinese, Egyptian, and Indian history as well as various tribal accounts. By doing so, he demonstrates that human intrigue has more in common than we may first assume. The early civilizations around the Earth, long before they knew of one another, independently devised theories about how we came to be based on their observations of the heavens. These were passed on to their descendants through subsequent generations ultimately resulting in what we may believe or know of today.I wonder what Dr Sagan would have thought about the state of the world today… recent election results, SpaceX, virtual reality, artificial intelligence/machine learning, Kepler missions, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, instability in the Middle East, the Higgs Boson… My guess is that he would simultaneously be alarmed that we are STILL arguing whether or not climate change is a problem, and amazed at our technological achievements with the internet and a legitimate goal to visit Mars. I would without a doubt recommend this book to everyone. A scientific degree is not necessary to fully appreciate the lesson and message that this book conveys. Dr Sagan’s literary style is not only comprehensible but so finely depicts his deep passion for the sciences that it is almost poetic. After having read the book, one could truly dwell on what we can do to unify ourselves as citizens of Planet Earth, with a mutual interest of survival, pursuit of interplanetary/interstellar travel and constant discovery of what our universe has to offer.

Interesting reading. Carl really gets bogged down on cosmic theory. It’s worth reading. Anyone interested in science and the cosmos should read.

This is my first introduction to Carl Sagan in earnest.What an enjoyable read. The journey through history and also the logic and easy explanations of various concepts was a lot of fun. He was an excellent author and I’d like to read more.

Well written

This is a life-changing book, one that will challenge long-held assumptions and opinions. It places all of human existence in its proper context, and opens our mind to new perspectives. We are not separate from the Cosmos, looking “up there” and “out there” as disinterested observers. Rather, we are an integral part of the Cosmos capable of self-reflection and self-knowledge. We are made of star stuff, yes, but more than that: we are the Cosmos incarnate.

This incredible book was written in 1980 to coincide with the PBS mini-series by the same name. With cutting edge science (in 1980) and a keen grasp of history Sagan takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of the universe and our own past. From "The Shores of the Cosmic Ocean" to the "Edge of Forever" Sagan's writing tackles some strange and complex subjects in a clear, straight forward manner. The Tunguska Event, the "Canali" of Mars, impact craters and the mythology of our sister planets are just a few of the many things that are covered in Cosmos. While there have been many advances in the field of Astronomy over the intervening years since 1980 that shouldn't make much of a difference to the general reader. Indeed, it will introduce you to the wonders of the solar system, the galaxy, the universe and beyond. It may even encourage you to read something on astronomy that's a little more up to date. Some of the more recent books out there will take you to places that Sagan only hinted at in Cosmos like the multiverse and the rovers on Mars. Besides astronomy Sagan also delves into the history of science and the people that made it happen. Science Fiction is also touched on, authors such as; Edger Rice Burroughs and H G Wells round out the discussion. This is The Classic science book so strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.I had no technical problems with this Kindle edition but, as noted by other reviewers, the stunning color art work is missing. This may be an oversight or a copyright issue, it's hard to tell. But that's up to the publishing company and Kindle to sort out and correct. Maybe that's why the price is so low. I guess there's no substitute for having the original hard bound edition. The fact of missing pictures does not in any way diminish the overall impact of the text and, to me, that's the bottom line.For more on the author and his works see Raymond Shubinski's interesting article "Remembering Carl Sagan and Cosmos" in the July 2013 issue of Astronomy.LastRanger