As a B. Dalton science book buyer, this was one of my few "bestsellers"! Gotta love that! ( )

Possibly the first 'Scientist' who was able to popularise Astronomy/Science to the mass audience and his book descibes in a very 'layman' fashion which was mostly why it was a success around the world. Carl Sagan - he who brought the Heavens back 'down to earth'. ( )

When you truly understand Carl Sagan's views of the Cosmos, it will become very clear that we are only just beginning our journey. It is no wonder that this book is a classic for all of time. Carl Sagan was truly one of the higher forms of intelligent life ( )

First of all, I find the style employed by Sagan very readable. He does not dumb down what he is talking about, but he makes it accessible for someone without an intense background in science courses. I also like that much of the foundation of the book is comprised of concepts and ideas that I have already learned about and understand. Such a jumping off point made for easier comprehension of more in depth discussion.
As for the subjects he treated, they ranged a wide spectrum, including biology, astronomy, evolution, and genetics. In tackling these topics he refers to many instances in history, philosophy, religion, and folklore, which adds a particular richness that most people at first glance might not assign to science. The one pitfall of this book is that it was written over twenty years ago—so it is dated. Despite this, much of the book is still pertinent, and the insights packed in every page made it a worthwhile read for me. Reading Carl Sagan is like having a passionate conversation with a friend that happens to be a scientist. He is completely amiable in every sentence that he writes. Not only did I find that this book educated me on a range of topics that I was interested in, but it made me feel better equipped in my knowledge of the planet I live on and the universe around me. ( )

A fun read especially after 20 years (maybe 30 soon?). I found my mom's copy. If you are going to read this book, find the hardcover edition with the full page color pictures. This is where Sagan ties everything together beautifully. ( )