NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - From the renowned astronomer and author of Cosmos comes a powerful [and] stirring defense of informed rationality (The Washington Post Book World) in a world where fake news stories and Internet conspiracy theories play to a disaffected American populace.

LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE WINNER - Glorious . . . 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, New Age thinking, and fundamentalist zealotry and the testable hypotheses of science?

Casting a wide net through history and culture, 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. He examines and authoritatively debunks such celebrated fallacies as witchcraft, faith healings, 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.

Renowned astronomer Carl Sagan's classic bestseller that dives into the past, present, and future of science, dealing with the mind-staggering enormity of the cosmos in which we exist (Associated Press)--with an Introduction by Ann Druyan and a Foreword by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Sagan dazzles the mind with the miracle of our survival, framed by the stately galaxies of space.--Cosmopolitan

THE INSPIRATION FOR THE FOX MINISERIES COSMOS: POSSIBLE WORLDS, HOSTED BY NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON AND STARRING SETH MACFARLANE AND SIR PATRICK STEWART

In clear-eyed prose, Carl Sagan reveals a jewel-like blue world inhabited by a life form that is just beginning to discover its own identity and to venture into the vast ocean of space. Featuring full-color illustrations, Cosmos retraces the fourteen billion years of cosmic evolution that have transformed matter into consciousness, exploring such topics as the origin of life, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphics, spacecraft missions, the death of the Sun, the evolution of galaxies, and the forces and individuals who helped shape modern science.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Cosmos and renowned astronomer Carl Sagan's international bestseller about the discovery of an advanced civilization in the depths of space remains the greatest adventure of all time (Associated Press).

The future is here...in an adventure of cosmic dimension. When a signal is discovered that seems to come from far beyond our solar system, a multinational team of scientists decides to find the source. What follows is an eye-opening journey out to the stars to the most awesome encounter in human history. Who--or what--is out there? Why are they watching us? And what do they want with us?

One of the best science fiction novels about communication with extraterrestrial intelligent beings, Contact is a stunning and satisfying (Los Angeles Times) classic.

Fascinating . . . memorable . . . revealing . . . perhaps the best of Carl Sagan's books.--The Washington Post Book World (front page review)

In Cosmos, the late astronomer Carl Sagan cast his gaze over the magnificent mystery of the Universe and made it accessible to millions of people around the world. Now in this stunning sequel, Carl Sagan completes his revolutionary journey through space and time.

Future generations will look back on our epoch as the time when the human race finally broke into a radically new frontier--space. In Pale Blue Dot, Sagan traces the spellbinding history of our launch into the cosmos and assesses the future that looms before us as we move out into our own solar system and on to distant galaxies beyond. The exploration and eventual settlement of other worlds is neither a fantasy nor luxury, insists Sagan, but rather a necessary condition for the survival of the human race.

Takes readers far beyond Cosmos . . . Sagan sees humanity's future in the stars.--Chicago Tribune

A history of the human brain from the big bang, fifteen billion years ago, to the day before yesterday . . . It's a delight.--The New York Times

Dr. Carl Sagan takes us on a great reading adventure, offering his vivid and startling insight into the brain of man and beast, the origin of human intelligence, the function of our most haunting legends--and their amazing links to recent discoveries.

How can I persuade every intelligent person to read this important and elegant book? . . . He talks about all kinds of things: the why of the pain of human childbirth . . . the reason for sleeping and dreaming . . . chimpanzees taught to communicate in deaf and dumb language . . . the definition of death . . . cloning . . . computers . . . intelligent life on other planets. . . . Fascinating . . . delightful.--The Boston Globe

In some lost Eden where dragons ruled, the foundations of our intelligence were laid. . . . Carl Sagan takes us on a guided tour of that lost land. . . . Fascinating . . . entertaining . . . masterful.--St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A fascinating book on the joys of discovering how the world works, by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Cosmos and Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors.

Magnificent . . . Delightful . . . A masterpiece. A message of tremendous hope for humanity . . . While ever conscious that human folly can terminate man's march into the future, Sagan nonetheless paints for us a mind-boggling future: intelligent robots, the discovery of extraterrestrial life and its consequences, and above all the challenge and pursuit of the mystery of the universe.--Chicago Tribune

Go out and buy this book, because Carl Sagan is not only one of the world's most respected scientists, he's a great writer. . . . I can give a book no greater accolade than to say I'm planning on reading it again. And again. And again.--The Miami Herald

The brilliant astronomer . . . is persuasive, provocative and readable.--United Press International

Closely reasoned, impeccably researched, gently humorous, utterly devastating.--The Washington Post

Ann Druyan has unearthed a treasure. It is a treasure of reason, compassion, and scientific awe. It should be the next book you read. --Sam Harris, author of The End of Faith

A stunningly valuable legacy left to all of us by a great human being. I miss him so. --Kurt Vonnegut

Carl Sagan's prophetic vision of the tragic resurgence of fundamentalism and the hope-filled potential of the next great development in human spirituality

The late great astronomer and astrophysicist describes his personal search to understand the nature of the sacred in the vastness of the cosmos. Exhibiting a breadth of intellect nothing short of astounding, Sagan presents his views on a wide range of topics, including the likelihood of intelligent life on other planets, creationism and so-called intelligent design, and a new concept of science as informed worship. Originally presented at the centennial celebration of the famous Gifford Lectures in Scotland in 1985 but never published, this book offers a unique encounter with one of the most remarkable minds of the twentieth century.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - In the final book of his astonishing career, Carl Sagan brilliantly examines the burning questions of our lives, our world, and the universe around us.

These luminous, entertaining essays travel both the vastness of the cosmos and the intimacy of the human mind, posing such fascinating questions as how did the universe originate and how will it end, and how can we meld science and compassion to meet the challenges of the coming century? Here, too, is a rare, private glimpse of Sagan's thoughts about love, death, and God as he struggled with fatal disease.

Ever forward-looking and vibrant with the sparkle of his unquenchable curiosity, Billions & Billions is a testament to one of the great scientific minds of our day.

Praise for Billions & Billions

Sagan's] writing brims with optimism, clarity and compassion.--Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

Sagan used the spotlight of his fame to illuminate the abyss into which stupidity, greed, and the lust for power may yet dump us. All of those interests and causes are handsomely represented in Billions & Billions.--The Washington Post Book World

Astronomer Carl Sagan didn't live to see the millennium, but he probably has done more than any other popular scientist to prepare us for its arrival.--Atlanta Journal & Constitution

Billions & Billions can be interpreted as the Silent Spring for the current generation. . . . Human history includes a number of leaders with great minds who gave us theories about our universe and origins that ran contrary to religious dogma. Galileo determined that the Earth revolved around the Sun, not the other way around. Darwin challenged Creationism with his Evolution of Species. And now, Sagan has given the world its latest challenge: Billions & Billions.--San Antonio Express-News

Sagan's] inspiration and boundless curiosity live on in the gift of his work.--Seattle Times & Post-Intelligencer

Couldn't stay awake in your high school science classes? This book can help fill in the holes. Acclaimed scientist Carl Sagan combines his logic and knowledge with wit and humor to make a potentially dry subject enjoyable to read.--The Dallas Morning News

La obra de mayor éxito del célebre divulgador de la ciencia.

Este libro, que contiene más de doscientas cincuenta ilustraciones a todo color verdaderamente asombrosas, está basado en un programa de trece capítulos que el profesor Carl Sagan realizó para la televisión. Narrado con la proverbial habilidad que tenía para conseguir que las ideas científicas fueran comprensibles y apasionantes, Cosmos trata de la ciencia en su contexto humano más amplio y explica cómo se desarrolla conjuntamente con la civilización.

La obra aborda también el tema de las misiones espaciales destinadas a explorar los planetas más próximos a la Tierra, se ocupa de la antigua Biblioteca de Alejandría, del cerebro humano, de los jeroglíficos egipcios, del origen de la vida, de la muerte del Sol, de la evolución de las galaxias y de los orígenes de la materia, los soles y los mundos.

Nos habla aquí de una evolución cósmica de quince mil millones de años que transformó la materia en vida y consciencia e hizo posible que el Cosmos se interrogara acerca de sí mismo. Se comentan también los descubrimientos sobre la vida fuera de la Tierra y cómo podemos comunicarnos con los habitantes de otros mundos.

Sagan contemplaba nuestro planeta desde un privilegiado punto de vista extraterrestre, y lo veía como un mundo azul habitado por una forma de vida que apenas acaba de descubrir su propia unidad y se aventura en el vasto océano del espacio.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

The most successful work of the famous science communicator.

This book, which contains more than two hundred and fifty truly amazing full-color illustrations, is based on a thirteen-part television series that Professor Carl Sagan created for television. Narrated with his proverbial skill for making scientific ideas understandable and exciting, Cosmos deals with science in its broader human context and explains how it develops together with civilization.

The work also addresses the topic of space missions aimed at exploring the planets closest to Earth, delves into the ancient Library of Alexandria, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphs, the origin of life, the death of the Sun, the evolution of galaxies, and the origins of matter, suns, and worlds.

It speaks here of a cosmic evolution of fifteen billion years that transformed matter into life and consciousness and made it possible for the Cosmos to question itself. It also comments on discoveries about life beyond Earth and how we can communicate with the inhabitants of other worlds.

Sagan viewed our planet from a privileged extraterrestrial point of view, seeing it as a blue world inhabited by a form of life that has just discovered its own unity and is venturing into the vast ocean of space.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - Exciting and provocative . . . A tour de force of a book that begs to be seen as well as to be read.--The Washington Post Book World

World renowned scientist Carl Sagan and acclaimed author Ann Druyan have written a Roots for the human species, a lucid and riveting account of how humans got to be the way we are. Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a thrilling saga that starts with the origin of the Earth. It shows with humor and drama that many of our key traits--self-awareness, technology, family ties, submission to authority, hatred for those a little different from ourselves, reason, and ethics--are rooted in the deep past, and illuminated by our kinship with other animals.

Sagan and Druyan conduct a breathtaking journey through space and time, zeroing in on critical turning points in evolutionary history, and tracing the origins of sex, altruism, violence, rape, and dominance. Their book culminates in a stunningly original examination of the connection between primate and human traits. Astonishing in its scope, brilliant in its insights, and an absolutely compelling read, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a triumph of popular science.

What are these graceful visitors to our skies? We now know that they bring both life and death and teach us about our origins.

Comet begins with a breathtaking journey through space astride a comet. Pulitzer Prize-winning astronomer Carl Sagan, author of Cosmos and Contact, and writer Ann Druyan explore the origin, nature, and future of comets, and the exotic myths and portents attached to them. The authors show how comets have spurred some of the great discoveries in the history of science and raise intriguing questions about these brilliant visitors from the interstellar dark.

Were the fates of the dinosaurs and the origins of humans tied to the wanderings of a comet? Are comets the building blocks from which worlds are formed?

Lavishly illustrated with photographs and specially commissioned full-color paintings, Comet is an enthralling adventure, indispensable for anyone who has ever gazed up at the heavens and wondered why.

Praise for Comet

Simply the best. --The Times of London

Fascinating, evocative, inspiring. --The Washington Post

Comet humanizes science. A beautiful, interesting book. --United Press International

Masterful . . . science, poetry, and imagination. --The Atlanta Journal & Constitution

In 1973, Carl Sagan published The Cosmic Connection, a daring view of the universe, which rapidly became a classic work of popular science and inspired a generation of scientists and enthusiasts. This seminal work is reproduced here for a whole new generation to enjoy. In Sagan's typically lucid and lyrical style, he discusses many topics from astrophysics and solar system science, to colonization, terraforming and the search for extraterrestrials. Sagan conveys his own excitement and wonder, and relates the revelations of astronomy to the most profound human problems and concerns: issues that are just as valid today as they were thirty years ago. New to this edition are Freeman Dyson's comments on Sagan's vision and the importance of the work, Ann Druyan's assessment of Sagan's cultural significance as a champion of science, and David Morrison's discussion of the advances made since 1973 and what became of Sagan's predictions. Who knows what wonders this third millennium will reveal, but one thing is certain: Carl Sagan played a unique role in preparing us for them.

Contacto es la nica novela escrita por el astr nomo estadounidense Carl Sagan, uno de los mayores divulgadores cient ficos del siglo XX.

Galardonado con el premio Pulitzer por Los dragones del Ed n, Sagan es adem s el aclamado autor de Cosmos, el libro de divulgaci n cient fica m s vendido de la historia, el cual inspir una aclamada serie de televisi n estrenada en m s de sesenta pa ses.

Contacto, premio Locus 1986, desarrolla una de las constantes en la trayectoria del autor: la b squeda de inteligencia extraterrestre y la comunicaci n con ella a trav s de sondas espaciales. En 1997, el director de cine Robert Zemeckis llev esta historia a la gran pantalla, en una pel cula protagonizada por Jodie Foster y Matthew McConaughey.

Tras cinco a os de incesantes b squedas con los dispositivos m s sofisticados del momento, la astr noma Eleanor Arroway consigue, junto a un equipo de cient ficos internacionales, conectar con la estrella Vega y demostrar que no estamos solos en el universo. Empieza entonces un trepidante viaje hacia el encuentro m s esperado de la historia de la humanidad, y con l Sagan plantea magistralmente c mo afectar a a nuestra sociedad la recepci n de mensajes de una civilizaci n extraterrestre.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

At first it seemed impossible - a radio signal that came not from Earth but from far beyond the nearest stars. But then the signal was translated, and what had been impossible became terrifying. For the signal contains the information to build a Machine that can travel to the stars. A Machine that can take a human to meet those that sent the message. They are eager to meet us: they have been watching and waiting for a long time. And now they will judge.

La búsqueda personal del célebre divulgador científico para comprender la relación existente entre religión y ciencia.

En esta obra póstuma, el brillante astrofísico y ganador del Premio Pulitzer Carl Sagan combina magistralmente astronomía, física, biología, filosofía, mitología y teología para explorar la relación entre religión y ciencia, y explicar el sentimiento casi místico que uno experimenta al admirar el universo.

En 1985, Sagan fue invitado a las prestigiosas Conferencias Gifford y el resultado de ese encuentro es esta maravillosa y personal exposición de sus observaciones y opiniones sobre temas mayores de la historia de la humanidad. Con un estilo claro y directo, sin academicismos ni tecnicismos, el autor aborda los temas clave de su obra como el origen del universo, la posibilidad de vida inteligente en otros planetas, el peligro de la aniquilación nuclear, el creacionismo y la posible naturaleza química de la transcendencia.

Las observaciones divertidas, sabias y a menudo asombrosamente proféticas de Sagan sobre algunos de los mayores misterios del universo tienen el efecto vigorizador de estimular el intelecto y la imaginación, así como de despertarnos a la grandeza de la vida en el cosmos.

Este libro es un tesoro de sabiduría, compasión y asombro científico. Debería ser el próximo libro que lea. Sam Harris, autor de El fin de la fe

Un legado increíblemente valioso que nos deja una gran persona. Kurt Vonnegut

Especulaciones sobre la evolución de la inteligencia humana.

Los dragones del Edén es un libro mítico, publicado por vez primera en 1977 y galardonado con el premio Pulitzer. Casi 30 años después conserva toda su frescura e interés. En una impresionante ojeada panorámica que abarca desde la prehistoria hasta la época actual, Carl Sagan explica la evolución intelectual y mental del ser humano, habla de nuestros antepasados y sus antagonistas, describe la mecánica de nuestro cerebro y del de otros animales y dilucida el papel que han desempeñado las computadoras en el conocimiento de los mecanismos de nuestro cerebro y en el almacenamiento de la información en nuestra memoria. Hallamos también en estas fascinantes páginas, incursiones en los terrenos del mito y la leyenda, así como atrevidas especulaciones sobre los cauces por los que parece va a discurrir la evolución del hombre en el futuro.