Ah, Carl Sagan—the self-proclaimed “voice of the cosmos,” but let’s be real, he’s just a glorified space nerd who made an entire career out of waxing poetic about the stars while barely understanding the mess happening on Earth. Sure, Cosmos was a hit, but let’s not kid ourselves into thinking he was the innovative genius of the century. Carl Sagan was basically the poster child for the kind of intellectual who would spend years contemplating alien life while totally ignoring the actual issues on this planet. It’s almost like he thought the rest of us should just hang around and wonder about intergalactic civilizations while, you know, ignoring the decaying state of our own society.

Sure, he’s famous for coining the whole “billions and billions” catchphrase, but if you’re going to repeat a phrase that much, it better be profound or, at the very least, useful. Instead, Sagan gave us a whole bunch of “wow” moments that were nothing more than a space geek pretending to be profound. He spent hours talking about the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the vastness of the universe, but he never quite cracked the code on how to handle things right here on Earth. Funny, isn’t it? It’s like he built an entire career out of using scientific wonder to distract us from more pressing issues. Space is amazing, sure, but how about applying some of that wonder to the people struggling down here?

And let’s talk about his intellectual arrogance for a second. Here’s a guy who’s probably one of the first to suggest that the universe might be “infinite,” but you could almost see the self-satisfaction in his eyes when he’d say it. "Oh, look at me, I’m a genius talking about the cosmos," he’d say, as if those millions of people who were struggling with basic survival could really relate to his deep space musings. It’s like he thought all of humanity’s problems would be solved if we just looked up more often, as if the stars would solve world poverty or climate change.

But hey, his biggest “contribution”? A book about The Pale Blue Dot where he essentially tells us that, in the grand scheme of things, our planet is insignificant. Well, thanks, Carl, we really needed that pep talk. What next? A cosmic tour of “how to feel small and utterly powerless”? It’s like a motivational speaker telling you to "find your purpose" while simultaneously telling you that you don’t matter at all.

Sagan’s philosophy could be boiled down to “we are nothing, but space is everything.” Sure, that’s poetic and all, but you don’t need a PhD to tell us we’re tiny in the vastness of space. Maybe he should’ve focused a bit more on the problems here on Earth—like, I don’t know, making science more accessible instead of just waxing lyrical about the cold, indifferent void.

In the end, Carl Sagan was just a guy who spent most of his time being impressed by the stars while forgetting to look at the mess we made down here. He got the whole “big picture” thing, but missed the most important part: the one that happens right in front of us.

Everyday Life - Uma Ode às Auroras | Produção Original ©. - YouTube

https://youtu.be/-EdmF4OyoKI?si=I4JLKbgrPQfHLqLw

Carl Sagan is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant minds I’ve had the pleasure of exploring through his writing. Earlier this year, I embarked on a journey through Sagan’s works—a decision that came about almost on a whim. I had made a New Year’s resolution to read more non-fiction, and in January, I picked up Cosmos. I was blown away.

From there, I read Pale Blue Dot, followed by The Dragons of Eden, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, and Billions and Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium. Each book left me more enamoured than the last. Sagan's ability to convey dense, complex concepts with such eloquence and clarity is nothing short of brilliant.

Initially, I didn’t plan to immerse myself so deeply in Sagan’s catalogue. But as I turned the final pages of Cosmos, I couldn’t resist diving headfirst into more of his work. His voice, his ideas—they simply resonate with me.

When I picked up Contact, it was no different. I wasn’t surprised at all by how much I loved it. The book feels like a culmination of his non-fiction and essays, woven into a scientifically rich work of fiction. It reads like a companion piece to The Demon-Haunted World, so much so that I’d argue it’s essential reading to fully appreciate the broader ideas Sagan explored. That’s not to say these books must be read in a particular order, but enjoying one will undoubtedly enhance the experience of the other. Contact makes it clear where many of its ideas originated.

One of Sagan’s most impressive feats is his ability to navigate the interplay between religion and science—two deeply contested subjects—with breathtaking ease. In Contact, he takes the principles of clear, rational thought from his nonfiction works and integrates them seamlessly into a deeply entertaining narrative.

That said, Contact is a slow burn. It’s quite technical, which might deter some readers who find it dry. But I urge anyone who picks it up to give it a chance. In my opinion, the deliberate pacing works exceptionally well as Sagan balances philosophy and science on a razor’s edge with effortless grace.

Everything he’s written (at least, what I’ve read so far) feels purposeful. Whether he’s discussing humanity’s place among the cosmos, reflecting on our “pale blue dot,” or exploring skepticism and religion, each idea fits perfectly into his broader narrative. And there’s so much more to unpack.

Contact is not only a great entry point into Sagan’s vision of humanity, but it’s also a fantastic standalone story. The narrative remains grounded, set mostly on Earth, with technology that feels plausible and rooted in reality—only stretching into the speculative where necessary to tell this epic story of humanity’s place among the stars. The level of detail is astonishing.

Interestingly, I find it hard to categorize Contact purely as a science fiction novel. Perhaps this is a semantic argument, but to me, it feels more like a fictionalized exploration of his scientific ideas. It’s every bit as quintessentially “Sagan” as his non-fiction works.

The book tackles profound philosophical questions with incredible nuance. Questions like, “What is God?” and “What would happen if we discovered a more intelligent presence in the universe?” are explored in ways that leave a lasting impact.

While this review may feel more like a love letter to Carl Sagan than a focused critique of Contact, I think that’s a testament to the man himself. His brilliance, humanity, and unique outlook on the universe shine through in every word he wrote. Contact is no exception.

If you’re a fan of science fiction, this book is a must-read. If you’re someone who values clear thought and seeks to understand the world around you (and I hope that applies to everyone), pick up this book. But don’t stop there. Dive into the rest of Sagan’s works—they’re profoundly important.

Carl Sagan’s contributions to bringing science into public consciousness cannot be overstated. For that, I’m endlessly grateful. He has had a profound impact on my life, and I’m confident that if you give his work a chance, you’ll feel the same way.

Check out my blog where I talk about book content like this: https://blog-on-books.blogspot.com/

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Carl was imperfect like us all but he is a hero of mine. I am not sure if it is possible to miss someone that you never met but if it is true then I admit to missing Carl.

Miss you Carl.

I always wondered this about Sagan.

I heard Carl Sagan give a speech to the public at Stanford sometime in the early 80s. I wrote his exact words, then joined a crowd after the speech. I was fortunate enough to get his autograph.

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Found an old magazine with an inside look at the making of Cosmos. Once I get my scanner running I can post the article

I just got around to reading Contact and have been thinking about a scene where Ellie, the protagonist, is about to meet with Palmer Joss, a charismatic preacher. On TV, Joss talks about how we can’t trust scientists, claiming they're hoarding the truth, and that he’ll only believe the findings when he sees the raw data. This reminded me of the anti-science rhetoric that circulated during the COVID-19 pandemic—particularly the distrust of scientists over the virus’s origin and skepticism surrounding the vaccines.

It’s interesting how Sagan’s novel, written in 1985, seems to predict some of the same themes that emerged during the pandemic:

• Distrust in Expertise: Joss's stance mirrors how people during the pandemic questioned scientific consensus, often accusing scientists of withholding information or manipulating data. I was a research scientist before becoming an attorney. I didn't delve too much into virology (I did cell death of cancer cells research), but I know enough to talk about it. However, that did not stop my family from ignoring anything I said about the virus and vaccine.
• "Seeing is Believing" Mentality: Joss says he’ll only trust the raw data, similar to how some demanded firsthand proof of vaccine safety or virus origin, despite lacking the expertise or even the desire to interpret the data. Joss is eventually presented with the raw data, but he just calls it a day and walks away. I saw a lot of willful ignorance from people around me just like this.
• Politicization of Science and Faith: Just like how COVID-19 became a political issue, Joss’s critique of science seems tied to ideological and political motivations rather than genuine scientific skepticism.

Sagan’s portrayal of this tension between science and belief really resonated with the challenges I saw during the pandemic. I know that these debates about trusting experts are nothing new, but I was blown away about how well he captured this tension in the book. Sorry if this has been posted here before; just wanted to share my thoughts after reading it. 100% worth a read if you have not gotten around to it yet!

I have been really sick the last 5 days, and usually I’ll watch this series 2-3 times a year anyway. It’s definitely my comfort show, but it absolutely perfect for when you’re sick. Dr. Sagan has a soothing voice and presence. I’ve loved this show since the 90’s!

I wanted to know which 1st edition hardcover books by Carl were illustrated like Cosmos and Pale Blue Dot. I think also Comet but I am not sure. Do you know?