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The Demon-Haunted World
- Science as a Candle in the Dark
- Narrated by: Cary Elwes, Seth MacFarlane
- Length: 17 hrs and 23 mins
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The Demon-Haunted World
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Summary
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
“Passionate.” - San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle
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What listeners say about The Demon-Haunted World
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- Torkild Smith
- 18-01-22
A brilliant book
A very well formulated view on our world and how science will always prevail and protect us. That is as long as it is ethically (this may be discussionable!) done.
Carl Sagan have certainly left his footpronts!
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1 person found this helpful
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- mr
- 24-12-22
A must read for most
An excellent listen for the science curious. Written so anyone cam get a grasp of the key facts that govern our lives.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 07-08-24
Superb
Narration was good. The book itself is brilliant. Should be required reading for every person.
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- William
- 21-09-21
Clear writing expressing powerful ideas
A delightful celebration of intelligence, liberal values, humanity, tolerance and understanding. It reads as a contemporary text in its relevance to ignorance, brutality and lies.
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 02-03-22
Essential listening for everyone
This book is equal parts inspirational, hugely informative and depressing as Sagan and his co-author - amongst other things - chart the course of human stupidity over the last few hundred years.
It is truly sobering reading this book in 2022 and reflecting on warnings and predictions made in 1995.
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1 person found this helpful
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- ARC
- 02-11-21
Excellent,
Brilliant, a book of substance. Wish everyone would read and digest the contents of this book.
Very relevant for today.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Mr. M. Anandarajah
- 06-05-20
As relevant now as when it was written
This book is a warning - the larger the gulf becones between scientific advancement and the public"s scientific literacy, the nore that tension will spill over into society. This is a worrying trend continuing into the 21st century, manifesting as the anti-vaccine movement, climate change denialism and recently 5G protestors.
Sagan tackles historical examples of societal pseudoscientific hysteria around witchcraft and modern day conspiracy theories with his "baloney detection kit" .
Chapters are well narrated by Cary Elwes and, at points, by Seth MacFarlane.
This is as important to read now as ever!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- andrew
- 01-07-17
A light not dimmed
Excellent audio book of a great book from the much missed Carl Sagan. You must own this book.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Mike GMT
- 07-12-21
Carl Sagan at his best
An exquisite insight in the mind of the best science promoter of the 20th century. Some arguments have acquired the patina of time, however the essence is still vivid in today's world.
Such a superb listening...
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1 person found this helpful
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- Marcus
- 27-11-22
A book that our planet should live by!
Incredible piece of work by a remarkable human. Can’t recommend highly enough and will return to this often. Faultless performance and well read. This should be studied in schools and offices of government across the globe.
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