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Synopsis
In the last book he completed before his death, Carl Sagan, the most popular scientist since Albert Einstein, takes on "pseudo-science" in this scathing indictment of paranormal phenomenon and superstition, which he sees as signs of an onset of global ignorance. Sagan cogently examines a variety of supposedly supernatural phenomenon, including UFOs, ghosts, psychics, astrology, crop circles, religious apparitions, Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster, and he finds that there is no evidence in support of any of them, other than the surprisingly similar stories of people who have every reason to lie. For Sagan, these hoaxes are far from harmless; as people continue to embrace the verity of such scientific travesties, they move away from the glory and wonder of real science, which is supported by the ubiquity of our perceptions. Sagan completes his utterly convincing defense of science with a "baloney detection kit," which consists of a list of questions which can be used to measure the worth of any claim or theory., The legendary scientist shares his views of how scientific thinking is necessary to safeguard our democratic institutions and our technical civilization.
| Size | | Height: | 8.3 in | | Width: | 6.0 in | | Thickness: | 1.0 in | | Weight: | 13.6 oz |
Industry Reviews
"Eloquent, fascinating, humane, witty....I wish I had written THE DEMON-HAUNTED WORLD. Having failed to do so the least I can do is press it upon my friends. Please read this book."
Richard Dawkins
"Sagan has produced a valuable document on the side of scientific civilization and enlightened progress."
Heilbroner
"...the book makes a wonderfully cohesive whole. It is rich in ideas, elegantly expressed. I highly recommend it to any serious student of science and culture."
Rand
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