Carl Sagan was a household name in the late 60s or early 70s due to the TV series Cosmos in the USA. Cosmos aired on national television in India in the 80s. There is a general tendency for 80s kids to get enchanted by Sagan. Someone gifted the book to me in the late 90s. Yet despite several serious attempts earlier, I was not able to get past a few pages. Finally, I tried one last time, and here is what I discovered.
The book is not a standard popular astronomy book. There are astronomical figures and facts in some chapters, but, in most places, the book is a critique of older philosophical interpretations - a myth buster of sorts. Some of these myths are period-based - a pseudo-science article in a newspaper. After 50 years, we cannot quite correlate it to the original popular myth. Secondly, some of the ideas have been accepted over the years. If you are really not into the field, you wonder why you need to read such a book. Yes, the book, though well-written, has lived its life.
I will not recommend it for today’s audience.
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