Reading Carl Sagan's Cosmos

**MonwarH** · 03-05-2007, 09:55

The sense of wonderment and exhilaration that one gets from this book is just awesome! It does tend to put things into perspective about our place in the universe. One part which I was going through recently was theorizing on the Big Crunch or multiple Big Bangs, and it just made me say WOW at how little I understand. It's really amazing how little we understand of our universe!

Sagan makes science sexy! The writing style, and the way he communicates rather dense information even, is great and awe-inspiring. Yes, he's opinionated, but you can not be passionate without being opinionated.

Heartily recommended.

**InsaneApache** · 03-05-2007, 12:46

I saw his TV series Cosmos in the early 80s and even now I remember it fondly. A very good informative program.

Have this one on me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMHNnhAEDN4

**Beirut** · 03-05-2007, 12:54

I saw Cosmos on TV, "billions and billions...", and Sagan is great, but when it comes to outer space, Arthur C. Clarke is ma man.

(Edit)

MonwarH,

Just noticed you were from Bangladesh, you might be our first Frontroom member from there. Welcome aboard.

**MonwarH** · 03-06-2007, 04:32

Bon jour, Quebecois (hope I got that right!).

I have not seen the TV show, but the book allows me to take in the content in my own sweet time, and ponder the concepts more. And has Sagan not packed in content in that book, man!

**Gregoshi** · 03-06-2007, 14:39

I have the book but haven't read it yet. I did watch the TV series and have all but one episode on VHS tape. It is excellent stuff.

When the show first aired, I was an astronomy major at Penn State. I recall most of the astronomy professors kind of scoffed at Sagan and were bothered by his generalizations. What they failed to realize, however, is that though Sagan generalized some of the science, 1) it was to help understand the overall concepts without bogging down in the details, and 2) Sagan was able to fire the imagination and get people excited about science. His method of relating science in everyday terms was enthralling - he was able to get and then hold your attention. He often had you wondering how science was going to relate to the story he was unfolding before you. One of my favourites was the segment on the Heiki crab.

Of course, coupled with Sagan's ability to weave a fascinating tale of scientific concepts was his distinctive voice. Twenty-five years after Cosmos, you still hear people, like Beirut above, saying "BILLions and BILLions" in the same manner that Sagan did.

I had the honour of seeing Sagan in person when he came to Penn State to deliver a lecture/talk one evening. He was just as fascinating to listen to without all the special effects and visuals as he was on Cosmos.

Ah Carl, I do miss you.

**InsaneApache** · 03-06-2007, 19:19

Amen to that brother Greg.

Like you, I was awed by the space program of the 60's. I too loved astronomy. Patrick Moore was my god when I was 11 years old.

Did you really meet Sagan?

You lucky bugger!