Collection
Description
Science. Nonfiction. HTML:RETURNING TO TELEVISION AS AN ALL-NEW MINISERIES ON FOX Cosmos is one of the bestselling science books of all time. In clear-eyed prose, Sagan reveals a jewel-like blue world inhabited by a life form that is just beginning to discover its own identity and to venture into the vast ocean of space. Cosmos retraces the fourteen billion years of cosmic evolution that have transformed matter into consciousness, exploring such topics as the origin of life, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphics, spacecraft missions, the death of the Sun, the evolution of galaxies, and the forces and individuals who helped to shape modern science. Praise for Cosmos �??Magnificent . . . With a lyrical literary style, and a range that touches almost all aspects of human knowledge, Cosmos often seems too good to be true.�?��??The Plain Dealer �??Sagan is an astronomer with one eye on the stars, another on history, and a third�??his mind�??s�??on the human condition.�?��??Newsday �??Brilliant in its scope and provocative in its suggestions . . . shimmers with a sense of wonder.�?��??The Miami Herald �??Sagan dazzles the mind with the miracle of our survival, framed by the stately galaxies of space.�?��??Cosmopolitan �??Enticing . . . iridescent . . . imaginatively illustrated.�?��??The New York Times Book Review… (more)
Awards
National Book Award (Finalist — 1981)
Hugo Award (Nominee — 1981)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 1980)
User reviews
LibraryThing member richardbsmith
It is an older book,and much has been done in astronomy since 1980. He mentions the supernovae observed by Brahe in 1572 and by Kepler in 1604, and laments that there have been none since. He talks about no observation of a comet colliding with a planet.
Since the publication, both have been
But it is not so much the specifics of astronomy that make this a must read book, even today with the retiring shuttle program, the coming replacement of Hubble evidencing the age of the book.
That said, the science in the book remains true, and the presentation is an excellent help for any who are new to the study of astronomy. There is the additional benefit today of looking back to appreciate the vision that Carl Sagan had in 1980.
Sagan covers the cosmos in this book. He offers a modern perspective, informed with scientific method and scientific knowledge of multiple fields, an understanding and an appreciation of faith, a hope and a challenge for us all.
This with the added benefit that Carl Sagan writes well. His understated irony will provide you with many powerful and memorable quotes, as well as many opportunities to smile.
Enjoy his knowledge, his perspective, his hope, and his challenge for us.
Since the publication, both have been
Show More
observed.But it is not so much the specifics of astronomy that make this a must read book, even today with the retiring shuttle program, the coming replacement of Hubble evidencing the age of the book.
That said, the science in the book remains true, and the presentation is an excellent help for any who are new to the study of astronomy. There is the additional benefit today of looking back to appreciate the vision that Carl Sagan had in 1980.
Sagan covers the cosmos in this book. He offers a modern perspective, informed with scientific method and scientific knowledge of multiple fields, an understanding and an appreciation of faith, a hope and a challenge for us all.
This with the added benefit that Carl Sagan writes well. His understated irony will provide you with many powerful and memorable quotes, as well as many opportunities to smile.
Enjoy his knowledge, his perspective, his hope, and his challenge for us.
Show Less
LibraryThing member danrk
It's safe to say this book changed my life. I'm so lucky to have found this book at the age of 13 when all my powers of curiosity were heightened and searching. Once you view the world from the perspective of Cosmos, you feel incredibly lucky to be a part of history.
LibraryThing member danconsiglio
I remember this PBS series from when I was a kid. The shots of space and interviews with well spoken scientists stuck with me as I grew up and had a continued casual interest in physics and astronomy. While neither of these academic disciplines were ever my strong suit I still like to read up on
Sagan's companion to the TV series goes much further than what I remember. I did not expect the spiritual direction in which he takes the big ideas in science that he presents. The book presents the love of science that has driven humanity to continue to ask questions of the universe around us. I found this book to be as informative in its exploration of learning and inquiry as it is about the actual findings concerning the universe. It presents a truly awesome view of the universe that even delves into the way that we can use our knowledge of the physical world to live better social and spiritual lives. Good freakin' stuff!
Show More
the Hubble Space Telescope and whatever NASA is up to these days.Sagan's companion to the TV series goes much further than what I remember. I did not expect the spiritual direction in which he takes the big ideas in science that he presents. The book presents the love of science that has driven humanity to continue to ask questions of the universe around us. I found this book to be as informative in its exploration of learning and inquiry as it is about the actual findings concerning the universe. It presents a truly awesome view of the universe that even delves into the way that we can use our knowledge of the physical world to live better social and spiritual lives. Good freakin' stuff!
Show Less
LibraryThing member jrthebutler
Cosmos tells the fascinating story of how fifteen billion years of cosmic evolution transformed matter and life into consciousness, of how science and civilization grew up together, and of the forces and individuals who helped shape modern science.
LibraryThing member lpg3d
While this book is now somewhat dated, it is still worth reading for an excellent view of our place in the universe.
LibraryThing member Tullius22
Overall, I found the writing adequate, usually. Some parts were better than average, other parts were flawed.
As to the flaws, I will, for this review, restrict myself to saying that at times it could be a bit scattered and disorganized, however lofty the prose. And, to take one, probably very
In short, he should not have dragged the divisions and factions of the earth with him to the stars of the heavens.
I therefore conclude that, however great his technical knowledge and great reputation, that this book of his is a somewhat flawed production.
(7/10)
As to the flaws, I will, for this review, restrict myself to saying that at times it could be a bit scattered and disorganized, however lofty the prose. And, to take one, probably very
Show More
sensitive example, I did not understand the reasoning behind entering into a discussion of natural selection in a book about astronomy. Natural selection is a very important concept (and I do indeed assent to it), but it belongs to biology, not astronomy. Darwin did not write about the lives of the stars, and it is, quite simply, no slight to him to say so. I believe the purpose of including it as a topic was essentially polemical, and in doing so, he not only muddies the waters at that specific point, but by broading his scope beyond his proper subject, gives himself, in other areas as well, the intellectual space to wax loquacious about subjects, such as folklore, for example, which are far outside his competency, and not always with the utmost degree of respect. In short, he should not have dragged the divisions and factions of the earth with him to the stars of the heavens.
I therefore conclude that, however great his technical knowledge and great reputation, that this book of his is a somewhat flawed production.
(7/10)
Show Less
LibraryThing member thorold
The Cosmos TV series of 1980 seems to have been a life-transforming experience for a lot of people I know, but I somehow missed out on it at the time: I think simply because it was shown on the BBC while I was a physics undergraduate, and we didn't really get the chance to watch TV at all during
Anyway, the book has now popped up on audio, so I thought I'd give it a chance and find out what all the fuss was about.
As the title implies, it's an attempt to describe everything, to the extent that it was known in 1980, with the emphasis on astrophysics and planetary science, but a lot of excursions into the history of science and philosophy, biology and the origins of life, prospects for finding other intelligent life elsewhere in the galaxy, and so on. All ground that has been gone over by a lot of other people since then, but still very nicely presented, in a way that should be accessible to most people, but without much obvious dumbing-down. Obviously it has the limitations of when it was written and the way it was written as a companion to a TV series: there's a lot of full-on science-evangelism and some very elated passages of awe-and-wonder that haven't aged as well as they might have. But on the whole it still struck me as quite readable, and I'm sure I learnt one or two things I didn't know in between all the recapitulation of things I once knew about the Solar System.
Interesting to see how the balance of optimism and terror has shifted since 1980: we don't seem to be as worried about nuclear weapons and population growth as we were forty years ago (even though neither threat has gone away), and equally we seem to have lost a lot of the interest we had in exploring space, but climate-change now has moved from a speculative footnote to centre-stage. I suspect that Sagan, were he still with us, would have been revising down his estimate for the likelihood that intelligent civilisations would achieve interstellar travel before destroying themselves.
Show More
term-time, even if it was physics-related (too much other stuff going on).Anyway, the book has now popped up on audio, so I thought I'd give it a chance and find out what all the fuss was about.
As the title implies, it's an attempt to describe everything, to the extent that it was known in 1980, with the emphasis on astrophysics and planetary science, but a lot of excursions into the history of science and philosophy, biology and the origins of life, prospects for finding other intelligent life elsewhere in the galaxy, and so on. All ground that has been gone over by a lot of other people since then, but still very nicely presented, in a way that should be accessible to most people, but without much obvious dumbing-down. Obviously it has the limitations of when it was written and the way it was written as a companion to a TV series: there's a lot of full-on science-evangelism and some very elated passages of awe-and-wonder that haven't aged as well as they might have. But on the whole it still struck me as quite readable, and I'm sure I learnt one or two things I didn't know in between all the recapitulation of things I once knew about the Solar System.
Interesting to see how the balance of optimism and terror has shifted since 1980: we don't seem to be as worried about nuclear weapons and population growth as we were forty years ago (even though neither threat has gone away), and equally we seem to have lost a lot of the interest we had in exploring space, but climate-change now has moved from a speculative footnote to centre-stage. I suspect that Sagan, were he still with us, would have been revising down his estimate for the likelihood that intelligent civilisations would achieve interstellar travel before destroying themselves.
Show Less
LibraryThing member GaryPatella
The book follows the 13 episode series in content. Nevertheless, I believe that this is a worthy read even for those that have watched every episode of Cosmos. The book allows Sagan to go into a bit more detail on certain topics (e.g. the planetary orbits in our solar system). Yet there are many
I suppose what it comes down to is this: although the series and the book are very closely aligned, they are not in perfect alignment. Something can be gained from the book that is not available in the series, and vice versa. A true Sagan fan should embrace both.
Show More
insights in the series that were not present in the book.I suppose what it comes down to is this: although the series and the book are very closely aligned, they are not in perfect alignment. Something can be gained from the book that is not available in the series, and vice versa. A true Sagan fan should embrace both.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Jasignature
Possibly the first 'Scientist' who was able to popularise Astronomy/Science to the mass audience and his book descibes in a very 'layman' fashion which was mostly why it was a success around the world. Carl Sagan - he who brought the Heavens back 'down to earth'.
LibraryThing member TheLiveSoundGuy
When you truly understand Carl Sagan's views of the Cosmos, it will become very clear that we are only just beginning our journey. It is no wonder that this book is a classic for all of time. Carl Sagan was truly one of the higher forms of intelligent life
LibraryThing member mckenz18
First of all, I find the style employed by Sagan very readable. He does not dumb down what he is talking about, but he makes it accessible for someone without an intense background in science courses. I also like that much of the foundation of the book is comprised of concepts and ideas that I have
As for the subjects he treated, they ranged a wide spectrum, including biology, astronomy, evolution, and genetics. In tackling these topics he refers to many instances in history, philosophy, religion, and folklore, which adds a particular richness that most people at first glance might not assign to science. The one pitfall of this book is that it was written over twenty years ago—so it is dated. Despite this, much of the book is still pertinent, and the insights packed in every page made it a worthwhile read for me. Reading Carl Sagan is like having a passionate conversation with a friend that happens to be a scientist. He is completely amiable in every sentence that he writes. Not only did I find that this book educated me on a range of topics that I was interested in, but it made me feel better equipped in my knowledge of the planet I live on and the universe around me.
Show More
already learned about and understand. Such a jumping off point made for easier comprehension of more in depth discussion. As for the subjects he treated, they ranged a wide spectrum, including biology, astronomy, evolution, and genetics. In tackling these topics he refers to many instances in history, philosophy, religion, and folklore, which adds a particular richness that most people at first glance might not assign to science. The one pitfall of this book is that it was written over twenty years ago—so it is dated. Despite this, much of the book is still pertinent, and the insights packed in every page made it a worthwhile read for me. Reading Carl Sagan is like having a passionate conversation with a friend that happens to be a scientist. He is completely amiable in every sentence that he writes. Not only did I find that this book educated me on a range of topics that I was interested in, but it made me feel better equipped in my knowledge of the planet I live on and the universe around me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member thanbini
Truly inspirational and well worth the read. So many things in this book apply to and are still the case today - I had to keep reminding myself that this book was written in 1980. But it didn't feel like it was aside from the occasional reference to something that hadn't happened yet. I never even
His analysis and thoughts on humanity and what wonders we can accomplish if we fight the forces trying to regress us or destroy ourselves. I hadn't realized that people even in ancient times had figured out that the Earth was round. If not for the Dark Ages we'd probably be 1000 years more advanced now and colonizing nearby star systems.
I see a lot of similarities in the end of the "Ionian Awakening" (as he calls it) and the return to barbarism, loss of science and mathematics and the present day. I hope that one day common sense and logic prevails and those who think the earth is flat (some people still do) or was willed into existence by a "man in the sky" or forsake knowledge don't drag us down into another Dark Ages.
How much knowledge was lost during the destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria or the fall of the Roman Empire? And yet today people still burn or destroy books with 'controversial' content or forsake knowledge or forsake learning for the sake of learning.
We are the end result of billions of years of hydrogen atoms doing some really interesting things. We come from the stars themselves. Lets not squander that.
TL;DR: I liked the book.
Show More
considered that there could be a 4 dimensional physical universe before reading this. How cool is that?His analysis and thoughts on humanity and what wonders we can accomplish if we fight the forces trying to regress us or destroy ourselves. I hadn't realized that people even in ancient times had figured out that the Earth was round. If not for the Dark Ages we'd probably be 1000 years more advanced now and colonizing nearby star systems.
I see a lot of similarities in the end of the "Ionian Awakening" (as he calls it) and the return to barbarism, loss of science and mathematics and the present day. I hope that one day common sense and logic prevails and those who think the earth is flat (some people still do) or was willed into existence by a "man in the sky" or forsake knowledge don't drag us down into another Dark Ages.
How much knowledge was lost during the destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria or the fall of the Roman Empire? And yet today people still burn or destroy books with 'controversial' content or forsake knowledge or forsake learning for the sake of learning.
We are the end result of billions of years of hydrogen atoms doing some really interesting things. We come from the stars themselves. Lets not squander that.
TL;DR: I liked the book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jfe16
Clearly yet eloquently, astronomer Carl Sagan takes the reader on a magnificent tour of fourteen billion years of cosmic evolution. Focusing on the stars, on history, on the human condition, he weaves a mesmerizing tale of what was, what is, and what may one day be.
It’s a dazzling tour de force;
Highly recommended.
It’s a dazzling tour de force;
Show More
this book should be on everyone’s must-read list.Highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member AliceAnna
Interesting and not written too deep or over my head. Nice way of describing our place in the universe.
LibraryThing member ashishg
Written in 1980s, Cosmos is a comprehensive general science book dealing with history of astronomy and evolution. Book provides a overview of our universe and planet, regarding laws that govern them, how they were discovered, and what lies ahead. Information is well researched and well written in
Show More
captivating way. Show Less
LibraryThing member boweraj
A fun read especially after 20 years (maybe 30 soon?). I found my mom's copy. If you are going to read this book, find the hardcover edition with the full page color pictures. This is where Sagan ties everything together beautifully.
LibraryThing member Beanstalk
I watched the Cosmos series about 16 years in High School. I was one of the few who actually enjoyed it, but never got around to reading the book until now. It brought back some good memories of the wondrous historic detail and and the exciting scientific facts and theories about this universe of
Show More
which we are lucky enough to be floating around. Even many years later this was a fresh new view into the Cosmos. My only wish would be to be around long enough to actually witness some of the great discoveries that are bound to be had...probably many many thousands (or millions) of years from now. Excellent book! Show Less
LibraryThing member dlgoldie
As a B. Dalton science book buyer, this was one of my few "bestsellers"! Gotta love that!
LibraryThing member michaelcruse
Much better than the TV show
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
This is a book about the history and basic concepts of science--and above all about wonder and the “exploration” of the “cosmic perspective.” We get a guided tour through the solar system and beyond. The back of the book boasts this is “one of the best-selling science books in the English
Sagan says in the 1984 introduction to the book that little of the science in the few years since had become “obsolete” despite “new findings.” Over two decades has gone past since and I’d say from what I know that’s still true--of the science. His politics, mostly hammered upon in the last chapter, struck me as not just preachy and out of place but in its moral equivalency of the old Soviet Union and the United States as dangerously naive as the Noninterventionist "America First" Movement that sought to appease Hitler. If today global warming is all the rage, Sagan’s bete noir then was the prospect of a nuclear winter. Sagan can also be “scientist-centric” in ways that sometimes annoyed me, as when he complained that our consumer culture is cluttering the radio waves which he needs to seek extraterrestrial life! In any case, the Soviets are a thing of the past, and what annoyed outweighed by what was enjoyed.
And even if some of its facts are no longer true--Pluto, for instance, being demoted from a planet (and little here involving quantum mechanics)--I’d say there’s still some value in the book in sparking an interest and understanding of science. Sagan isn’t just lucid, with the ability to make an ordinary person understand difficult concepts and immense scales (although not even he, Hawking or Einstein can make Relativity explicable to me) but he can write poetic prose that inspires awe in the workings of the universe. And I do find some of his social speculations interesting--for instance the possible connection between slavery, the mind/body estrangement promoted by philosophers such as Plato and the extinguishing of the incipient scientific revolution of the Hellenistic Age. One major caveat though is that if you buy it, do so in trade paperback or hardcover form. Not only does the mass market paperback stint on the spectacular photographs included in those editions, it features eye-killing tiny font. Although truth to tell, I loved Sagan’s Dragons of Eden and The Demon-Haunted World a lot more than Cosmos. Maybe because in the end, too much of the material in Cosmos was already familiar to me. And given the intervening years dating much of the material, I'd recommend books by Hawking, Bill Bryson or Brian Greene on this theme over Cosmos.
Show More
language” and we’re told its companion 13-part television series, which aired in 1980, was “the most widely watched series in the history of American public television.” In the 1984 introduction Sagan tells us that “the book and the television series evolved together;” the 13 chapters of the book correspond to the 13 episodes of the series. A book however, allowed Sagan to go “more deeply into many topics.” This isn’t simply the script to the series--it’s much more; it’s own entity. Sagan says in the 1984 introduction to the book that little of the science in the few years since had become “obsolete” despite “new findings.” Over two decades has gone past since and I’d say from what I know that’s still true--of the science. His politics, mostly hammered upon in the last chapter, struck me as not just preachy and out of place but in its moral equivalency of the old Soviet Union and the United States as dangerously naive as the Noninterventionist "America First" Movement that sought to appease Hitler. If today global warming is all the rage, Sagan’s bete noir then was the prospect of a nuclear winter. Sagan can also be “scientist-centric” in ways that sometimes annoyed me, as when he complained that our consumer culture is cluttering the radio waves which he needs to seek extraterrestrial life! In any case, the Soviets are a thing of the past, and what annoyed outweighed by what was enjoyed.
And even if some of its facts are no longer true--Pluto, for instance, being demoted from a planet (and little here involving quantum mechanics)--I’d say there’s still some value in the book in sparking an interest and understanding of science. Sagan isn’t just lucid, with the ability to make an ordinary person understand difficult concepts and immense scales (although not even he, Hawking or Einstein can make Relativity explicable to me) but he can write poetic prose that inspires awe in the workings of the universe. And I do find some of his social speculations interesting--for instance the possible connection between slavery, the mind/body estrangement promoted by philosophers such as Plato and the extinguishing of the incipient scientific revolution of the Hellenistic Age. One major caveat though is that if you buy it, do so in trade paperback or hardcover form. Not only does the mass market paperback stint on the spectacular photographs included in those editions, it features eye-killing tiny font. Although truth to tell, I loved Sagan’s Dragons of Eden and The Demon-Haunted World a lot more than Cosmos. Maybe because in the end, too much of the material in Cosmos was already familiar to me. And given the intervening years dating much of the material, I'd recommend books by Hawking, Bill Bryson or Brian Greene on this theme over Cosmos.
Show Less
LibraryThing member literateowl
Brilliant, timeless as the universe, want to understand more about astrophysics or space? This guy is your man! Deep and clearly written. Love it. Also video series...
LibraryThing member nmarun
Reading Carl Sagan's book is just pleasure, I wish my textbooks were like this! Once you start reading the book, its difficult to keep it down.
The book talks about variety of topics about cosmos and it's cousins. The scope of the book is just too vast making the book a must read. The book starts
As always, his language is simple makes even complex subjects easily understandable.
"Biology is more like history than physics. You have to know the past to understand the present."
The book talks about variety of topics about cosmos and it's cousins. The scope of the book is just too vast making the book a must read. The book starts
Show More
with some of the very basic concepts and stretches to the deep corners of the universe.As always, his language is simple makes even complex subjects easily understandable.
"Biology is more like history than physics. You have to know the past to understand the present."
Show Less
LibraryThing member psiloiordinary
I can remember watching the TV series when it was first shown on UK TV and being awe-struck. It was around the time of the Voyager or was it Pioneer pictures of the outer solar system and really made me think about life the universe and everything.
I think I saw the last two episodes on a tiny black
I got the book for Xmas and it still has my name and address and a very short phone number written inside the cover.
I was slightly apprehensive about re-reading this book after all these years just in case it disappointed me thanks to a combination of 30 years of scientific progress and the golden light of memory.
No a bit of it, still a wonderfully approachable introduction to Life the Universe and Everything, told with respect for the readers intelligence and a sense of the awe and sheer enjoyment that can be had in understanding the world we live in which I find infectious. Not many books can include a reference to a mathematical proof as an appendix which actually provides enjoyment.
I heartily recommend this book especially, to 10 to 14 year olds.
I think I saw the last two episodes on a tiny black
Show More
and white set, equipped with a very poor arial, in the kitchen of a caravan in Cornwall, surrounded by snoring relatives, nearly all of whom are now dead BTW. Tempus Fugit.I got the book for Xmas and it still has my name and address and a very short phone number written inside the cover.
I was slightly apprehensive about re-reading this book after all these years just in case it disappointed me thanks to a combination of 30 years of scientific progress and the golden light of memory.
No a bit of it, still a wonderfully approachable introduction to Life the Universe and Everything, told with respect for the readers intelligence and a sense of the awe and sheer enjoyment that can be had in understanding the world we live in which I find infectious. Not many books can include a reference to a mathematical proof as an appendix which actually provides enjoyment.
I heartily recommend this book especially, to 10 to 14 year olds.
Show Less
LibraryThing member JVioland
I have one major complaint about this book. Sagan's certainty in the apparent non-existence of a God (as though nothing outside the empirical can exist) and his penchant for assigning blame for humanity's lack of advancement due to religion (Ex.: the destruction of the Library at Alexandria by
Show More
early Christians - he forgot to inform the reader that it had been burned to the ground during the rebellion by the Alexandrians against Roman occupation under Caesar in 48 BC). Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
To me, Cosmos by Carl Sagan is more like an introduction to astrophysics for the layperson. I say that with the caveat that it still requires close attention while listening because the subject matter is so complex that one can easily get lost in its scope. While some of the examples and
Show More
possibilities mentioned within the book are out-of-date, I feel Cosmos will still resound with today’s listener because it serves as an ever-important reminder of the miracle of life on Earth. Show Less
Subjects
Publication
Random House (1980), Edition: 1st, 365 pages
Original publication date
1980
Pages
365
ISBN
0394502949 / 9780394502946
Similar in this library
Language
Original language
English