A prescient warning of a future we now inhabit, where fake news stories and Internet conspiracy theories play to a disaffected American populace
“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
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.
Praise for The Demon-Haunted World
“Powerful . . . A stirring defense of informed rationality. . . Rich in surprising information and beautiful writing.”—The Washington Post Book World
“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
‘Demon Haunted World’ by Carl Sagan was a bit of a let down. I’ve always admired Sagan immensely, but it took me more than a year to read this one. I kept putting it off every other chapter, so I decided to just start from the beginning and read it until the end. ‘Demon Haunted World’ is a bible to the skeptics, where Sagan tries to convey the importance of the scientific method, education, and critical thinking. To be honest, some of it’s chapters were either boring, dense or too patronizing. I feel like Sagan was preaching to the choir. I believe the people Sagan is trying to educate may just feel too defensive about his teachings, which kind of defeats the purpose of this book? Either way, I’m still glad I stuck with it it till the end. There are still many great lessons and important insights to take from this book, even if at times its delivery wasn’t the best. I still recommend it for readers that are particularly interested in critical thinking.
