Call number
Collection
Publication
New York : Random House, c1994.
Pages
xviii; 429
Description
"Fascinating . . . memorable . . . revealing . . . perhaps the best of Carl Sagan's books."--The Washington Post Book World (front page review) In Cosmos, the late astronomer Carl Sagan cast his gaze over the magnificent mystery of the Universe and made it accessible to millions of people around the world. Now in this stunning sequel, Carl Sagan completes his revolutionary journey through space and time. Future generations will look back on our epoch as the time when the human race finally broke into a radically new frontier--space. In Pale Blue Dot, Sagan traces the spellbinding history of our launch into the cosmos and assesses the future that looms before us as we move out into our own solar system and on to distant galaxies beyond. The exploration and eventual settlement of other worlds is neither a fantasy nor luxury, insists Sagan, but rather a necessary condition for the survival of the human race. "Takes readers far beyond Cosmos . . . Sagan sees humanity's future in the stars."--Chicago Tribune… (more)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1994
Physical description
xviii, 429 p.; 9.5 inches
ISBN
0679438416 / 9780679438410
Similar in this library
Cosmos by Carl Sagan
User reviews
LibraryThing member madcurrin
Dated, but this is still the most majestic and relevant book you’re likely to find about humanity’s place in the solar system. I actually 'read' Pale Blue Dot by listening to the audiobook, narrated for the most part by the author himself. Carl Sagan's delivery is justifiably the stuff of
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legend, with his rich, deliberate and passionate enunciation. Years after his death Sagan remains one of the most poetic and thought provoking of writers. Marvellous, marvellous stuff. Show Less
LibraryThing member tyomero
As always, an inspiring book by one of the greatest science popularizers. It takes you through various moments of tension during various spacecraft missions.
It lets you in a state of expectation and optimism for the things we can achieve in future generations, this sensation can be best summarized
"Sailors on a becalmed sea, we sense the stirring of a breeze."
It lets you in a state of expectation and optimism for the things we can achieve in future generations, this sensation can be best summarized
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by his last sentence with his singular and powerful prose:"Sailors on a becalmed sea, we sense the stirring of a breeze."
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LibraryThing member robrod1
Sagen writes in his usual eloquent and impassioned manner, about how we must venture into the vast cosmos, and begin our exploration of other worlds. He presents a well thought out argument for the exploration of space as a means of continuing our civilization well into the future. He convinced me,
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but I am not hard to convince when it comes to exploration or science. I gave this book a rating of three, because it is not as good as other books he has written. Show Less
LibraryThing member jimdemanche
All though I have the greatest respect for Dr. Carl Sagan, he does tend to let his 'political opinions' leak out. It became very obvious to me that Dr. Sagan has no time for conservatives or Republicans in general.
That said, this book is outstanding if one considers the date it was published. Young
The big take away for me was that we 'humans', are not the center of anything but our own imaginations. Our place in the cosmos is so insignificant, that it's not even worth mentioning. And to think we are so smart, is laughable.
Thank you Dr. Sagan, and rest well.
Jim DeManche
Amateur Astronome
That said, this book is outstanding if one considers the date it was published. Young
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astronomers and environmentalists will see and learn about our small but precious Earth.The big take away for me was that we 'humans', are not the center of anything but our own imaginations. Our place in the cosmos is so insignificant, that it's not even worth mentioning. And to think we are so smart, is laughable.
Thank you Dr. Sagan, and rest well.
Jim DeManche
Amateur Astronome
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LibraryThing member amaraduende
This book had SO much information packed in a very accessable way. All about our solar system, space exploration, the planets and moons, and all kinds of things. It's so enjoyable to read and will help you understand the amazing place we live. Not earth, folks... the universe.
LibraryThing member lapomelzi
Wonderful and mind expanding book. It makes a great case for the space program and human exploration of space, but does not stop there. Entertaining and filled with great science.
LibraryThing member Robin_Goodfellow
some fantastic content.. I mean really amazingly good. But also some seriously detailed stuff I tuned out a bit.
LibraryThing member Saltvand
"A Pale Blue Dot" is not fiction - it is incredible insightful scientific musings and a walk through planets and moons of our solar system - but it feels like fiction. Sagan's writing style is full of amazement, wisdom and poetry, and just like a great fiction book it is hard to put down.
When
The fascinating parts of the book start after that. They are about the worlds in our solar system, how planets and moons form, and the vision for human Space exploration. Fantastic. If it was science fiction it would be great science fiction (just add characters), but it is science which just makes it even greater.
The book is of course 20 years old, and a lot has been discovered since it was written, but mostly not described as eloquently as Sagan can do it. My husband and I read the book together second time (I read it up for him as goodnight story), and have used Wikipedia on my tablet to update ourselves about the later discoveries after each chapter, so when we finish reading about a planet or moon we go to Wikipedia to get the latest space exploration updates about it before moving on. I can recommend that reading strategy.
When
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that's said, he spends the first chapters of the book beating on the Church / centrist views in all forms but mostly the Church. I find that somewhat unnecessary - at least to beat that much, but it appears to be his pet peeve, so I put up with it. The fascinating parts of the book start after that. They are about the worlds in our solar system, how planets and moons form, and the vision for human Space exploration. Fantastic. If it was science fiction it would be great science fiction (just add characters), but it is science which just makes it even greater.
The book is of course 20 years old, and a lot has been discovered since it was written, but mostly not described as eloquently as Sagan can do it. My husband and I read the book together second time (I read it up for him as goodnight story), and have used Wikipedia on my tablet to update ourselves about the later discoveries after each chapter, so when we finish reading about a planet or moon we go to Wikipedia to get the latest space exploration updates about it before moving on. I can recommend that reading strategy.
Show Less
LibraryThing member dpevers
A well written and thought-provoking justification to reach for the stars.
LibraryThing member MarkBeronte
In Cosmos, the late astronomer Carl Sagan cast his gaze over the magnificent mystery of the Universe and made it accessible to millions of people around the world. Now in this stunning sequel, Carl Sagan completes his revolutionary journey through space and time.
Future generations will look back on
Future generations will look back on
Show More
our epoch as the time when the human race finally broke into a radically new frontier--space. In Pale Blue Dot Sagan traces the spellbinding history of our launch into the cosmos and assesses the future that looms before us as we move out into our own solar system and on to distant galaxies beyond. The exploration and eventual settlement of other worlds is neither a fantasy nor luxury, insists Sagan, but rather a necessary condition for the survival of the human race. Show Less
LibraryThing member Michael_Rose
If you want to see how science can offer a spiritual perspective, read this book.
LibraryThing member pgiunta
In this sequel to the original Cosmos, Carl Sagan again reminds us of the intrinsic human desire to wander, and expands on many of the social and scientific topics discussed in the 1980 television series and accompanying book. Here, Sagan begins with primitive humans migrating across the planet for
A full chapter details the conflicts between science and religion in the early Catholic church and argues that the human race gained a measure of humility after reluctantly accepting the fact that we are not at the center of the universe. As he did often in Cosmos, Sagan delves into the history of astronomical advancements including early discoveries of the larger moons around Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus by Galileo, Huygens, Cassini, Kuiper, and Lassell as well as the naming (and renaming) of the first seven planets by the ancients—Earth, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn—and how this inspired the development of the seven-day calendar week.
Readers are also treated to rich scientific detail about the planets and 60 plus natural satellites in our solar system based on data from the Viking, Galileo, Cassini-Huygens, Pioneers 10 and 11, and Voyager 1 and 2 probes. Further chapters delve into the atmospheric and surface compositions of the worlds, asteroids, and moons before Sagan goes on to expound three major threats to Earth’s environment—ozone depletion, global warming, and nuclear winter.
Sagan’s hopes and visions for the future of manned space exploration through international cooperation are inspiring for all their possibilities, but he is also pragmatic and laments the financial erosion and bureaucratic ossification of the space program over the past three decades and an unfortunate public shift in focus away from planetary exploration. However, in 1994, when Pale Blue Dot was published, it’s difficult to say whether Sagan predicted the dawn of private space agencies—such as SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and others—that would fill the void left by the government.
As always, Carl Sagan makes it clear that by exploring other worlds, we open our minds to possibilities far beyond the scope of our limited knowledge and experience bound up on this insignificant pale blue dot situated on the outer edge of a spiral arm lost among billions of stars and planets in the Milky Way.
“We’re made of star stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.” – Carl Sagan, Cosmos.
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survival as much as to push the boundaries of a given frontier. From there, Sagan offers a personal anecdote, describing the hardships of his grandparents’ life in Eastern Europe and their fretful immigration to the United States.A full chapter details the conflicts between science and religion in the early Catholic church and argues that the human race gained a measure of humility after reluctantly accepting the fact that we are not at the center of the universe. As he did often in Cosmos, Sagan delves into the history of astronomical advancements including early discoveries of the larger moons around Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus by Galileo, Huygens, Cassini, Kuiper, and Lassell as well as the naming (and renaming) of the first seven planets by the ancients—Earth, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn—and how this inspired the development of the seven-day calendar week.
Readers are also treated to rich scientific detail about the planets and 60 plus natural satellites in our solar system based on data from the Viking, Galileo, Cassini-Huygens, Pioneers 10 and 11, and Voyager 1 and 2 probes. Further chapters delve into the atmospheric and surface compositions of the worlds, asteroids, and moons before Sagan goes on to expound three major threats to Earth’s environment—ozone depletion, global warming, and nuclear winter.
Sagan’s hopes and visions for the future of manned space exploration through international cooperation are inspiring for all their possibilities, but he is also pragmatic and laments the financial erosion and bureaucratic ossification of the space program over the past three decades and an unfortunate public shift in focus away from planetary exploration. However, in 1994, when Pale Blue Dot was published, it’s difficult to say whether Sagan predicted the dawn of private space agencies—such as SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and others—that would fill the void left by the government.
As always, Carl Sagan makes it clear that by exploring other worlds, we open our minds to possibilities far beyond the scope of our limited knowledge and experience bound up on this insignificant pale blue dot situated on the outer edge of a spiral arm lost among billions of stars and planets in the Milky Way.
“We’re made of star stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.” – Carl Sagan, Cosmos.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bdgamer
I love the story behind the pale blue dot. More than that, I love how Carl Sagan uses a fuzzy little picture to highlight the human condition: small and insignificant yet brash and arrogant. With one image, he puts us in our place in the vast cosmos. Yet, he doesn’t belittle us. Instead, he uses
And that is what this book does to a greater degree. It’s a sobering reminder of what we are, where we are, and when we are. It’s also a glimpse into our future of reaching into space, conquering the final frontier and ushering in an era of peace and progress. While the last bit seemed far fetched in the 80s and 90s - and even more so now - the message is clear: we need to forget our differences - be they political, religious, or economical - and forge our future together.
Sagan uses the book to argue space travel in the 90s. Yes, we have come a long way since then, and some of the information is extremely outdated in 2015, but the warrant remains the same. His thesis is clear and the writing is sharp, which results in a highly persuasive read that will convert even the most hardcore anti-spacers out there.
I believe I’ve said more than enough about the book. Stop reading and go grab the book right now and immerse yourself in Sagan’s beautiful prose. You’ll lose yourself among the vastness of space, yet you won’t be alone.
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this image to elevate us to new heights and achieve things we haven’t even dreamed of yet.And that is what this book does to a greater degree. It’s a sobering reminder of what we are, where we are, and when we are. It’s also a glimpse into our future of reaching into space, conquering the final frontier and ushering in an era of peace and progress. While the last bit seemed far fetched in the 80s and 90s - and even more so now - the message is clear: we need to forget our differences - be they political, religious, or economical - and forge our future together.
Sagan uses the book to argue space travel in the 90s. Yes, we have come a long way since then, and some of the information is extremely outdated in 2015, but the warrant remains the same. His thesis is clear and the writing is sharp, which results in a highly persuasive read that will convert even the most hardcore anti-spacers out there.
I believe I’ve said more than enough about the book. Stop reading and go grab the book right now and immerse yourself in Sagan’s beautiful prose. You’ll lose yourself among the vastness of space, yet you won’t be alone.
Show Less
LibraryThing member kevn57
“The Universe is created for us! We’re at the center! Everything pays homage to us!”—and concluding that our pretensions are amusing, our aspirations pathetic, that this must be the planet of the idiots.
Xenophanes understood the arrogance of this perspective:
The Ethiopians make their gods
After showing how arrogant and stupid humanity has been Sagan still makes the plea that we somehow save ourselves, by going out into space. That way our entire species future isn't tied to a fragile planet that we ourselves might destroy through our misuse of technology or through war.
I think we are closer now to the destruction that Sagan feared even more so then in 1994, I'm afraid we don't have enough time left to colonize the planets, asteroids, and comets like he proposed. Steven Hawking repeated the plea in 2008. Personally I think, our efforts should be two fold, first try to get some human presence off of earth as quickly as possible, secondly try to develop as sophisticated an AI as possible, and send that off planet, as a hedge that even if humanity is completely destroyed we would have left something behind.
Xenophanes understood the arrogance of this perspective:
The Ethiopians make their gods
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black and snub-nosed; the Thracians say theirs have blue eyes and red hair … Yes, and if oxen and horses or lions had hands, and could paint with their hands, and produce works of art as men do, horses would paint the forms of the godslike horses, and oxen like oxen …After showing how arrogant and stupid humanity has been Sagan still makes the plea that we somehow save ourselves, by going out into space. That way our entire species future isn't tied to a fragile planet that we ourselves might destroy through our misuse of technology or through war.
I think we are closer now to the destruction that Sagan feared even more so then in 1994, I'm afraid we don't have enough time left to colonize the planets, asteroids, and comets like he proposed. Steven Hawking repeated the plea in 2008. Personally I think, our efforts should be two fold, first try to get some human presence off of earth as quickly as possible, secondly try to develop as sophisticated an AI as possible, and send that off planet, as a hedge that even if humanity is completely destroyed we would have left something behind.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bdtrump
Sagan is a genius - a brilliant deep thinker. That's obvious, and this review won't add or detract to that at all.
Pale Blue Dot had some fabulous insight into the difficulties behind space exploration, particularly on the political and bureaucratic end. However, it frequently goes off topic, where
A bit jumbled, and takes on too much, but a fascinating read nonetheless.
Pale Blue Dot had some fabulous insight into the difficulties behind space exploration, particularly on the political and bureaucratic end. However, it frequently goes off topic, where
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Sagan frequently lectures on the state of the world, our place in the universe, etc etc. Not that this isn't enlightening - just not why I picked up this book.A bit jumbled, and takes on too much, but a fascinating read nonetheless.
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LibraryThing member saskreader
Even though I don't always agree with some of Carl Sagan's viewpoints, I do like how he makes scientifically inaccessible information accessible.
LibraryThing member JHemlock
I honestly cannot think of too many people who have earned my respect more than Carl Sagan. Since I was a child I have clung to his writing and lecturing. The man just made sense. Pale Blue Dot is so relevant to us, not only as humans but as custodians of a lonely little planet amongst the outer
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dark. I am biased to this work as I am of all his work. With that being said Pale Blue Dot is an easy read that will weigh heavy on your spirit. Well written and thoughtful. This is our place. Show Less