Ouvrages de vulgarisation · Astronomie · Astronomy
Cosmos by Carl Sagan — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
1980354 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 4.6 (24)
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What is Cosmos about?
This book is about science in its broadest human context, how science and civilization grew up together. It is the story of our long journey of discovery and the forces and individuals who helped to shape modern science, including Democritus, Hypatia, Kepler, Newton, Huygens, Champollion, Lowell and Humason. The book also explores spacecraft missions of discovery of the nearby planets, the research in the Library of ancient Alexandria, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphics, the origin of life, the death of the Sun, the evolution of galaxies and the origins of matter, suns and worlds. The author retraces the fifteen billion years of cosmic evolution that have transformed matter into life and consciousness, enabling the cosmos to wonder about itself. He considers the latest findings on life elsewhere and how we might communicate with the beings of other worlds. ~ WorldCat.org
A glimpse inside
The Cosmic Perspective
Sagan urges readers to adopt a 'cosmic perspective'—to see Earth as a tiny, fragile world in the vastness of space. This viewpoint fosters humility, awe, and a sense of unity among humans, while challenging parochialism and arrogance. By situating human history within billions of years of cosmic evolution, Sagan demonstrates both our insignificance and our unique capacity for understanding. The cosmic perspective is not just scientific; it’s ethical, encouraging stewardship of our planet and empathy for one another.
Science as a Candle in the Dark
Throughout Cosmos, Sagan champions science as humanity’s most reliable tool for discovering truth and dispelling superstition. He traces the development of scientific thought from ancient civilizations to the modern era, highlighting how skepticism, evidence, and imagination fuel progress. Sagan warns of the dangers of ignorance and pseudoscience, arguing that scientific literacy is essential for democracy and survival. Science, for Sagan, is not cold or detached—it is a profoundly human endeavor, filled with wonder and hope.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 4.6 / 5
24 ratings
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Get smart in 3 min
6 key ideas, distilled
- 1The Cosmic Perspective
- 2Science as a Candle in the Dark
- 3The Interconnectedness of Life and the Universe
- 4The Fragility and Preciousness of Civilization
- 5The Joy and Responsibility of Discovery
Popular quotes from Cosmos
“We are made of star-stuff.”
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”
More by Carl Sagan
Frequently asked
This book is about science in its broadest human context, how science and civilization grew up together. It is the story of our long journey of discovery and the forces and individuals who helped to shape modern science, including Democritus, Hypatia, Kepler, Newton, Huygens, Champollion, Lowell and Humason. The book also explores spacecraft missions of discovery of the nearby planets, the researc