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Cosmos
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Released: 1985-10-12 Rating:  More Details: Cosmos Cosmos @Amazon Cosmos @aStore |
Product Description
The best-selling science book ever published in the English language, COSMOS is a magnificent overview of the past, present, and future of science. Brilliant and provocative, it traces today's knowledge and scientific methods to their historical roots, blending science and philosophy in a wholly energetic and irresistible way.
Cosmos was the first science TV blockbuster, and Carl Sagan was its (human) star. By the time of Sagan's death in 1996, the series had been seen by half a billion people; Sagan was perhaps the best-known scientist on the planet. Explaining how the series came about, Sagan recalled:
I was positive from my own experience that an enormous global interest exists in the exploration of the planets and in many kindred scientific topics--the origin of life, the Earth, and the Cosmos, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, our connection with the universe. And I was certain that this interest could be excited through that most powerful communications medium, television.
Sagan's own interest and enthusiasm for the universe were so vivid and infectious, his screen presence so engaging, that viewers and readers couldn't help but be caught up in his vision. From stars in their "billions and billions" to the amino acids in the primordial ocean, Sagan communicated a feeling for science as a process of discovery. Inevitably, some of the science in Cosmos has been outdated in the years since 1980--but Sagan's sense of wonder is ageless. --Mary Ellen Curtin
Customer Reviews:
My mom made me watch it & i loved it!
Seriously. I was born shortly before this was made. Good grief. I think like so many reviewers, they grew up with Sagan books and tapes, thus always in the back of my mind there was something from him around the table. Watching and reading Sagan is very peaceful and it feels like growing up again. The star stuff is cool, but there are lots of programs far better than this out there. Sagan though is Sagan. Can't think of another Astronomer I like better. That Zeth Showstack (SETI) guy is cool though.
Wonderful Book
Carl Sagan's works inspired me as a child and in many ways and lead me down a path to become a teacher. There are other books that are more up-to-date than this, however, there is a bit of Sagan magic in this one that still shines. I love sharing this book with my young students.
A Breif History of The Cosmos
Sagan does a fantastic job of explaining both the fascinating discoveries of science, and it's role modern in society. Cosmos is a 15 billion year history of the universe, through the eyes of science as they have been gradually opened, and an insight into the very best of human nature.
Dr. Sagan did a wonderful job of making thousands of years of scientific discovery, not only palpable to people with no scientific education, but concisely conveys the significance of their implications as well. I have a feeling the ideas contained in this book, will leave me inspired for years to come.
Superior reading
Eye opening and spellbinding reading. For those who like to think and reason, this is the book for you. If you want to get one of those "Whoa" feelings after reading something truly awesome and mind expanding (yet easily digested due to Sagan's knack for teaching complex subjects with simple analogies), this is the book for you. If you believe the earth is only 3,000 years old, you probably won't pick this up anyway, but you should as it will make you think.
A permanent resident of my all time favorite books list.
a brief history of everything
I am staggered that there are anything but 5 star ratings for this book, sadly in this dumbed down age, we may have lost some of our ability to wonder at the vastness of creation and contemplate our place in it. This book manages to be all things to all men, I have 3 degrees (not in astro-physics!) and in no way feel that this book condescends the reader, and feel that any one with any level of education would get so much from this wonderful book.
Carl Sagan must have been a wonderful man to have learned from, one of those rare creatures that takes his or her enthusiasm for their subject and infects others with it.
I find some of the concepts mind boggling and I think it's a good thing that we are all reminded about the size of the universe and what a rare and precious thing we are as a species.
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