The Demon-Haunted World
Science as a Candle in the Dark
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The Demon-Haunted World
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Narrated by:
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Cary Elwes
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Seth MacFarlane
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Written by:
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Carl Sagan
About this listen
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
©1996 Carl Sagan (P)2017 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.What listeners say about The Demon-Haunted World
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Manjeet
- 03-10-20
Torch-bearer Of a Curious and Skeptical society!
Loved the way he explained the need for a secular and scientific community though the evil practice of witch hunting in medieval europe and the founders of America!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Danish Prakash
- 15-08-23
Should be mandatory reading for all ages
Only if this was mandatory reading in schools for the children, we’d all be thinking more critically and be skeptical, for all the good reasons. This book shows the common shortcomings of us humans and how that leads us to believe in things such as ghosts, UFOs, and might I add religion. On their own, these phenomena are not harmful, but valorizing them in the face of scientific facts that say otherwise, is troublesome, as the author goes on to show in much detail.
The first half of the book is mostly debunking supernatural, religious, or other-worldly occurrences, which is nothing short of amusing. But it’s the second half of the book that is more sobering, the discussion about how Science is in danger. And not just science, the scientists, teachers, mentors, and essentially everyone who encourages critical thinking and skepticism, are in danger. This cohort is being cast aside and the free-reigning research that has led to all the innovations so far in the history of humanity is being threatened too. He then talks about the love and importance of reading and learning and how it affects society.
That this book was published in 1995, a year before I was born, is telling. Far from things changing for the better, at least in my humble opinion, and based so far on the world I’ve seen, which is very little, I think I can go out on a limb and say that the situation is getting worse. But one can hope. One thing that stood out throughout this book was the utter humility of Carl Sagan, unlike some other skeptical authors, such as Richard Dawkins, he empathizes with non-scientific folks and urges the two parties to work together.
Must listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Yash Saxena
- 19-04-21
Amazing Audiobook
One of the best books i've ever read. The audiobook helped me a lot. The narration is immaculate. Great job audible team.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pras Acharya
- 30-08-19
Skepticism as a philosophy
A book on philosophy, on the ethics of living right, by a brilliant mind. A must read in these days of fake news, debased education and debased life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- PANKAJ DESAI
- 07-09-19
Masterpiece
This can be called as masterpiece in real sense. The master that he was Carl Sagan comes out in full grand form everywhere in the book. It can develop a desire to question all practices passed off as sanctified unchallengeable truth in the society. It's message is simple but very powerful - challenge your ownself to reveal and revel in the amazing beauty of science. Only drawback was it is too long. As a result, the narrator becomes sometimes overbearing and boring, not his fault. It is more because of the lengthy book. Everyone who has even a small fragment of science within,must read this book. It's additional beauty lies in the challenge of pseudoscience and propagation of liberal democratic and civil values. Salute to the Master Sagan
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