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frontpage Posted by powerfuldoppler | Staff • Yesterday
frontpage Posted by powerfuldoppler | Staff • Yesterday

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan (eBook)

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Random House LLC via Amazon has The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan (Kindle Edition) on sale for $2.99.
  • Note: Eligible Prime members may apply earned No-Rush Shipping credits to this purchase (check balance).
Ballantine Books via Google Play also has The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan (eBook) on sale for $2.99.

Thanks to Deal Editor powerfuldoppler for finding this deal.

About this eBook:
  • "Synopsis: 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."

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Written by jimmytx | Staff
  • About this Store:
  • Additional Information:
    • This offer is $12 lower (80% savings) than the list price and also matches our very popular front page deal from July 2024 which earned over 50 thumbs up.
    • Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon based on over 7165 customer reviews.
    • Please see the original post for additional details and/or view the Wiki and forum comments for further helpful discussion if available.

Original Post

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About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Random House LLC via Amazon has The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan (Kindle Edition) on sale for $2.99.
  • Note: Eligible Prime members may apply earned No-Rush Shipping credits to this purchase (check balance).
Ballantine Books via Google Play also has The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan (eBook) on sale for $2.99.

Thanks to Deal Editor powerfuldoppler for finding this deal.

About this eBook:
  • "Synopsis: 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."

Editor's Notes

Written by jimmytx | Staff
  • About this Store:
  • Additional Information:
    • This offer is $12 lower (80% savings) than the list price and also matches our very popular front page deal from July 2024 which earned over 50 thumbs up.
    • Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon based on over 7165 customer reviews.
    • Please see the original post for additional details and/or view the Wiki and forum comments for further helpful discussion if available.

Original Post

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Top Comments

The guy was a visionary and a sage. One of the best authors and thinkers of the last 50 years - Contact is one of my favorite books (a bit different from the movie), Cosmos was fantastic.

One of his most famous quotes comes from this book:

"I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness...

The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance. "
This book should be mandatory reading in every highschool. Sagan predicted that a charlatan would come along and take advantage of a poorly educated American populace. Make of that what you will.

14 Comments

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Pro
14h ago
544 Posts
Joined May 2010
14h ago
TenaciousJP
Pro
14h ago
544 Posts
The guy was a visionary and a sage. One of the best authors and thinkers of the last 50 years - Contact is one of my favorite books (a bit different from the movie), Cosmos was fantastic.

One of his most famous quotes comes from this book:

"I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness...

The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance. "
14h ago
376 Posts
Joined Jan 2016
14h ago
TinyTimslick
14h ago
376 Posts
I just read this this year at age 30, and it is one of my favorite books now. That said, it is free on internet archive.
1
1
14h ago
536 Posts
Joined May 2007
14h ago
drivenZ
14h ago
536 Posts
Quote from TenaciousJP :
The guy was a visionary and a sage. One of the best authors and thinkers of the last 50 years - Contact is one of my favorite books (a bit different from the movie), Cosmos was fantastic.

One of his most famous quotes comes from this book:

"I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness...

The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance. "
love sagan. he would be aghast at the state of the current day or maybe he wouldnt, since he saw it all coming. the "celebration of ignorance" is upon us.
12h ago
18,860 Posts
Joined Sep 2003
12h ago
beowulf7
12h ago
18,860 Posts
Quote from TinyTimslick :
I just read this this year at age 30, and it is one of my favorite books now. That said, it is free on internet archive.
I wonder if it's available on Libby.
5h ago
46 Posts
Joined Feb 2009
5h ago
AnimalMother
5h ago
46 Posts
This book should be mandatory reading in every highschool. Sagan predicted that a charlatan would come along and take advantage of a poorly educated American populace. Make of that what you will.
5h ago
101 Posts
Joined Sep 2012
5h ago
saleshunter
5h ago
101 Posts
Quote from beowulf7 :
I wonder if it's available on Libby.
Please enlighten me about "Libby"?
4h ago
62 Posts
Joined Jan 2017
4h ago
giwookiee
4h ago
62 Posts
Quote from saleshunter :
Please enlighten me about "Libby"?
https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=libby
1

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4h ago
376 Posts
Joined Jan 2016
4h ago
TinyTimslick
4h ago
376 Posts
Quote from saleshunter :
Please enlighten me about "Libby"?
E book app that's affiliated with municipal libraries. If you have a library card in your town it's worth setting up
3h ago
376 Posts
Joined Jan 2016
3h ago
TinyTimslick
3h ago
376 Posts
Can't believe that incredibly obnoxious website is still alive, let alone used by anyone. What an annoying, cringey premise.


Ironically used on a link about a Book that is about educating people with compassion. Unreal. Read this book man.
3h ago
376 Posts
Joined Jan 2016
3h ago
TinyTimslick
3h ago
376 Posts
Quote from AnimalMother :
This book should be mandatory reading in every highschool. Sagan predicted that a charlatan would come along and take advantage of a poorly educated American populace. Make of that what you will.
Not only that, he gives examples of several times it happened throughout history, and references the founding father's ideas of how to avoid slipping into dark ages in the future
3h ago
6 Posts
Joined Mar 2024
3h ago
BraveCaribou9453
3h ago
6 Posts
Quote from TenaciousJP :
The guy was a visionary and a sage. One of the best authors and thinkers of the last 50 years - Contact is one of my favorite books (a bit different from the movie), Cosmos was fantastic. One of his most famous quotes comes from this book:"I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness...The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance. "
"I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few..."

People tend to focus on the later commentary in the quote about how Americans are getting dumber (just Americans or everyone?) mostly because it makes the commenter feel smart and superior, but this is also a relevant observation and commentary.
25m ago
261 Posts
Joined Oct 2007
25m ago
barathrum
25m ago
261 Posts
This is a phenomenal book by a brilliant writer and thinker. My Amazon history shows that I bought the paperback in 2001. Now is a good time for a re-read.
9m ago
253 Posts
Joined Oct 2019
9m ago
brad_headley
9m ago
253 Posts
Quote from TenaciousJP :
The guy was a visionary and a sage. One of the best authors and thinkers of the last 50 years - Contact is one of my favorite books (a bit different from the movie), Cosmos was fantastic.

One of his most famous quotes comes from this book:

"I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness...

The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance. "
for a bit of a different angle on "the dumbing down of America" (which btw I don't think is a political statement - I think it applies to all of us), check out Amusing Ourselves to Death. I think it was written in the early 80s and applied to effects of television on critical thinking, attention span, etc. Any effect of television is obviously 1,000x worse in the internet and social media age.

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