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  • The Demon-Haunted World

  • Science as a Candle in the Dark
  • By: Carl Sagan
  • Narrated by: Cary Elwes, Seth MacFarlane
  • Length: 17 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (653 ratings)

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The Demon-Haunted World

By: Carl Sagan
Narrated by: Cary Elwes, Seth MacFarlane
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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

©1996 Carl Sagan (P)2017 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.
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What listeners say about The Demon-Haunted World

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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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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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Superb

Narration was good. The book itself is brilliant. Should be required reading for every person.

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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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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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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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A true classic

A true classics that is more current and on point then one would like to think.

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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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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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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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