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The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark |  | Authors: Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Category: Book
List Price: $17.00
Buy Used: $3.48
as of 9/6/2010 18:51 CDT details
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New (51) Used (93) Collectible (1) from $3.48
Seller: goodwill-discount-books
Rating:  434 reviews
Sales Rank: 3350
Media: Paperback
Pages: 480
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.4 x 1
ISBN: 0345409469
Dewey Decimal Number: 001.9
EAN: 9780345409461
ASIN: 0345409469
Publication Date: February 25, 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| • | ISBN13: 9780345409461 | | • | Condition: New | | • | Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed |
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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.
Product Description
"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
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 434
 A Smart and Important book. August 26, 2010
Tony Stengel (Hollywood, USA)
My favorite Sagan book. He asks "why does a fighter pilot get into a million dollar aircraft, fully knowing the science of how it works, and still brings along a superstitious rabbit foot for protection?" He speaks to the voice inside that says superstition, be it religion or otherwise, is a dangerous thing. And as passion and standards for science dies in America so dies America. It is also a easy and interesting read.
As gud as new August 25, 2010
sarthak
I am quite happy with the order, as the book is like new, as the seller claimed, and it reached on time.
 Sagan Book Review July 29, 2010
Sydney Aliff (West Virginia, USA)
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
I personally am not a big fan of this book. I do not agree with a lot of the points that Sagan tries to make, and I find some of the chapters completely irrelevant and interesting. The purpose I had in purchasing this book was for a class that I will be taking this upcoming fall. I do, however, respect what Sagan has to say, and it has done well in exposing me to very different ways of thinking from my own.
Skepticism 101 July 24, 2010
Mugen (WSU; Pullman, WA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The best book to get into true scientific skepticism. Also listen to Skeptics' Guide to the Universe Podcast!
 No Such Thing As A Dumb Question July 2, 2010
Rico
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I realize there are already a lot of reviews for the book, but I will add my opinion to the mix.I first heard of Carl Sagan when I watched his Cosmos television series.Sagan has a unique way of sharing science with us regular folks and even children. So, I was very interested to read this book that covers a lot more material and takes on subjects such as UFO's and Religion.
I found the book to be quite easy to understand and found myself agreeing with most of Sagan's questions and points. His arguments regarding many subjects seem like great questions that nobody ever answers to his satisfaction or mine for that matter. While many have pointed out that Sagan seems to be very aggressive in regards to ufologists and alien abductions, I think it is because it's something most people are familiar with in our culture. Many of his points in this area are quite valid and something I had never though of before. He devotes much of the book to the idea that we should all be critical thinkers, not only of government and religion, but even of science itself. Sagan explains how science can usually police itself due to it's very nature. I found this point of view to be refreshing, not only for adults but also for children to learn how to be a critical thinker. While the book is a decade old now, the points are still valid, and the part about education seems to have only gotten worse.
If you are skeptic of anything, I think you will find the book and Sagan's opinions enjoyable.
Even if you disagree with him on some things, the information and techniques he describes apply to everything.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 434
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