500Er is iets misgegaan By texasbeerguide.com
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 dont 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 500Er is iets misgegaan
texasbeerguide.com ↠ 3 download
He predicted the level of ignorance and anti science sentiment we see today. He warned us about the rise of flat earthers, moon landing conspiracists, anti vaxers, fake news, alternative facts, religious fanatics,
He did it in 1996. English I think this is a 'must read' book ,Carl Sagan was a brilliant cosmologist and polymath. This is not necessary about science what we know about the world and the universe or chemistry , physics and biology, but about the objective way in which scientist think and how they come to their conclusions through experiment and reasoning and how this method of thought can be used in or less any aspect which we encounter. We live in a world where people believe all sorts of strange and fantastical things from crystal healing , ufo's ,mediums, astrology, reflexology ,ghosts you name it people will believe it, where there is absolutely no scientific evidence to believe it, in a time when government money is limited on scientific research perhaps money donated any number of worthy scientific causes , would be efficacious than having our palms read or our future predicted by a charlatan. A very liberating piece of literature. Science is important it cures illness , it improves the quality of our lives we all need to make the effort to take a bit of interest. English Great man. Great book. Let's get the minor criticisms out of the way first. Carl can ramble slightly at times. His points are valid and thought provoking. However, I felt that a little editing was required. That asidewonderful. Clear, balanced, unbiased and honest. He takes a look at all the key areas of science from his own interest as a child to a closing chapter on how the essential promotion of the critical thinking protects us from fundementalists, crackpots, psuedoscience, political manipulators and those who profit from obscuring the truth. His tone isn't hectoring and less likely to discourage some. My favourite moment (and one I've re read) is the chapter 'Obsessed with Reality' in which he takes a look how media can be fooled and therefore fool us with unsubstantiated claims. He tells the story of how the great Randi fools the Australian press with 'Carlos' a kind of channeling version of Chopra/Tolle which should act as a warning to all and is also (I found at least!) quite funny. Worth publishing in every school is his 'baloney detection kit'. It might help us spot some of our errors and not be taken in by some of the less honest, sincere or otherwise, in our society. Thank you Carl. You're sorely missed. English A wonderful debunking of pseudoscience. I laughed out loud when Carl Sagan listed the many and various sciences targeted at the gullible. The comedy punch line was the inclusion of long term financial forecasting. There is plenty of drivel spouted in TV advertising. If you have a bathroom full of exotic products I can recommend the advice of my sister explaining how she maintained her radiant complexion. Soap, water and that not too often! I use washing up liquid instead of shower gel it works better at a fraction of the price. English
One of the most amazing contradictions of the scientific era is the use of modern technology (internet, automobile, computer etc.) to practice pre modern religions. Pre modern religion, which by definition is all religions, is one the demons that continues to haunt the modern scientific age. As Carl Sagan put it “…there lives along side the twentieth century the thirteenth.” This combination of ignorance and power can only lead to disaster. From the current affairs, we can see this in the Covid 19 anti vaccination numbers.
This is My Demon Story:
It was at a gas station. I was filling my car with gas, already feeling guilty enough over all this ostensibly innocuous but unethical act implies and entails, when a well dressed gentlemen drove up, parked next to me and jumped out of his car with a smile at hand and a Bible in hand; smart phone in the other hand. He unwittingly presented the contradiction discussed above, too bad I could not snap a picture. He stood before me as the poster boy for the science denying but technology embracing religion of continuous contradictions. In any case, he was well dressed in a white shirt and a colorful tie. He did not frighten me, I never felt physically threatened or in fear for my safety but he was insistent that he was going to tell me about the good news as he smiled brightly. He said hello, I said good morning. He very spritely continued, “I want to share the good news of the Bible with you.” I said, “there is no good news in rape, enforced abortion, murder, oppression, forced incest, infanticide, slavery, genocide…” I did not get much further before he said “No, no, you are misunderstanding and taking things out of context and too literally”. I thought to myself that context is reality, but I asked, “oh really? in what context are rape, murder, oppression, forced incest, infanticide, slavery and genocide OK?” “What am I not understanding here?” I also thought to myself how the true Bible believers that I know criticize me for not taking the Bible literally, ugh! I just cant get it right with these people. I said further, but out of politeness should have reframed, “your Bible is a Bronze Age text and has nothing to say to me in the in 21st Century. The Bible permits and forbids everything and anything; it says whatever one wants it to say.” I also said that, “at best, the Old testament is ancient Jewish mythology and the New Testament is literary fiction.” At this, he lost his smile, got back in his car and drove away. Yes, I know, I went off on a tirade but I could not help myself, a sign of my own frustration from living with this nonsense on a daily basis where even an honest and sincere question about belief or religion is treated with open hostility and derisive contempt. I actuary felt bad, I think he was a genuinely nice person with the best of intentions and I hurt him and insulted him. One has to make a choice between being religious and being real, he made his and I made mine. He left hurt and I was left feeling bad, so much for the good news and a good morning.
For this man, I was not just dismissing a false doctrine, I was rejecting his inner sense of self worth. He just did not know that he was in cult and that his Bible bore the marks of its lowly origin or how his religion was imprinted with the indelible stains of murder, torture, cruelty and brutality. The Bible is a book of relative tribal passions. This is what happens when religious belief is conflated with personal behavior. Insisting someone believe in the truth of myth is itself unethical, it leads to dogmatic intolerance based on fixed doctrines. Myth is just a way of mediating between real and imagined worlds. English I love Carl Sagan and everything about him. I have watched Cosmos multiple times over and find it so stirring I am almost moved to tears at points. So I am writing this as a Sagan fan.
This book contains lots of great Sagan stuff: an evenhanded look at the issues, nice literary quotes, optimism, sceptism, imagination, a defence of science, a love of humanity, humility, well referenced, and respectful treatment of those who (earnestly) buy into, pursue or promote things we know are false. (Not so, for those who know they are false but use their credulity of earnest believers to line their own pockets or increase their power.)
However, I quickly realised that a lot of Sagan's appeal is his personality and voice. Reading this was almost a let down after watching dozens of his videos on Youtube. Not because the book is bad it isn't but because his in person delivery is so good. I found the same thing after watching a ton of Richard Feynman videos and then switching to his books: when you subtract the voice, the smile, the laughter, the comedic timing, the dramatic pauses etc. then, I found, a great deal of the enjoyment was lost.
All to say: manage your expectations and you'll be fine, or read this before watching Cosmos! The aim, content and execution of the book is good: almost all human beings are trying to figure out meaning in their lives, connect with nature, and be captains of their own destiny it is simply that not all ways of doing this are equally true or successful. The book looks at why, and at why false or ineffective ways of doing this are so persistent, from a sympathetic point of view that we all deserve to have both the emotional consolations and everyday relevance of things like religion and astrology, but without turning away from the fascinating and effective truths of science and technology. English Although written in the 1990s, I felt like I was reading about the unstable current world situation of 2017. This book should be required reading for all high school and/or college students, or everyone for that matter. Carl Sagan's explanation and strong advocacy for the understanding and practice of science is an essential mandate for the survival of our planet. English As an astronomer and physicist, Carl Sagan believed in logic, science, and the importance of education. Sadly, he saw and people in America who did not share his values. This book is his response.
More than anything, Sagan felt that reason and logic could make the world a better place, and this book is really an extended essay on that idea. With both wisdom and compassion, he lays out the importance of rational thought, and the need to educate ourselves and our fellow men. He wields reason against the demons of superstition and magical thinking, and begs us to do the same.
It's really a great book. It's not a scientific treatise: it's just Carl Sagan, speaking conversationally, spelling out what he believes and why, and why you should apply your mind as well. It's all mixed with his kindness and humanism, and his desire to see the world become the place it really should be. A great read. English I've had this book in the basement for 20 years and I finally got around to reading it. I'm glad I did. Despite being a tad dated now, Sagan's thesis that it's the dual modes of thinking wonder of the real world and skepticism of authority and baseless assertions that most benefit societies. His clarion call for a people with mature critical thinking skills needs to be heard than ever. He is clear that belief without evidence is anathema to a free, 21st century society world.
Because it was written than 20 years ago, the book has lost some of the power it had in the mid 90s. Sagan never mentions the internet or social networks. The rise of Islamic terrorism is still a thing of the future. Though apposite in the mid 90s, some of his examples are less relevant today. This is the only reason I can't give this book 5 stars.
He avoids name calling and strident rhetoric. He focuses on pseudo science rather than religion. The book is largely apolitical but the concluding two chapters are, he acknowledges, intentionally political than the rest of the book. And these last two chapters are just as pertinent today as they were 20 years ago. (In fact, they have a prescient quality to them.) I highly recommend you read them.
Sagan would be 82 were he still alive. It's a pity he's not around to provide commentary. Recommended. English