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Cosmos (Sagan book)

April 07, 2024

Cosmos is a popular science book written by astronomer and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Carl Sagan. It was published in 1980 as a companion piece to the PBS mini-series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage with which it was co-developed and intended to complement. Each of the book's 13 illustrated chapters corresponds to one of the 13 episodes of the television series. Just a few of the ideas explored in Cosmos include the history and mutual development of science and civilization, the nature of the Universe, human and robotic space exploration, the inner workings of the cell and the DNA that controls it, and the dangers and future implications of nuclear war. One of Sagan's main purposes for both the book and the television series was to explain complex scientific ideas in a way that anyone interested in learning can understand. Sagan also believed the television was one of the greatest teaching tools ever invented, so he wished to capitalize on his chance to educate the world.[1] Spurred in part by the popularity of the TV series, Cosmos spent 50 weeks on the Publishers Weekly best-sellers list and 70 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list to become the best-selling science book ever published at the time. In 1981, it received the Hugo Award for Best Non-Fiction Book. The unprecedented success of Cosmos ushered in a dramatic increase in visibility for science-themed literature. The success of the book also served to jumpstart Sagan's literary career. The sequel to Cosmos is Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space (1994).[2]

Cosmos
Cover of the first edition
AuthorCarl Sagan
Cover artistAdolf Schaller
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SubjectCosmology
PublisherRandom House
Publication date
1980
Media typePrint (Hardcover, Paperback)
Pages365 (first edition)
396 (2013 edition)
ISBN0-394-50294-9 (first edition)
978-0-375-50832-5(2002 edition)
978-0-345-53943-4 (2013 edition)
OCLC6280573
520
LC ClassQB44.2 .S235
Preceded byBroca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science 
Followed byPale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space 

In 2013, a new edition of Cosmos was published, with a foreword by Ann Druyan and an essay by Neil deGrasse Tyson.[3]

Summary edit

Cosmos has 13 chapters, corresponding to the 13 episodes of the Cosmos television series. In the original edition, each chapter is heavily illustrated.[4] The book covers a broad range of topics, comprising Sagan's reflections on anthropological, cosmological, biological, historical, and astronomical matters from antiquity to contemporary times. Sagan reiterates his position on extraterrestrial life—that the magnitude of the universe permits the existence of thousands of alien civilizations, but no credible evidence exists to demonstrate that such life has ever visited earth.[5] Sagan explores 15 billion years of cosmic evolution and the development of science and civilization.[6] He traces the origins of knowledge and the scientific method, mixing science and philosophy, and speculates about the future of science.[7] He also discusses the underlying premises of science by providing biographical anecdotes about many prominent scientists, placing their contributions in the broader context of the development of modern science.[8]

The book, like the television series, contains a number of Cold War undertones including subtle references to self-destruction and the futility of the arms race.[9]

Style and contents edit

Cosmos utilizes a light, conversational tone to render complex scientific topics readable for a lay audience. On many topics, the book encompasses a more concise, refined presentation of previous ideas about which Sagan had written.

Cosmos is not just about the mysteries of space. Sagan leads every chapter with a philosophical quote to remind readers that the universe is not simply stars and planets, but a link between all things. He reminds readers that "we are all star stuff," and, though it seems humans are currently alone in space, the universe was not created for our race to thrive, but that we are a product of something much larger. Sagan's book explicitly supports the search for intelligent extraterrestrial life, as he believes the extraterrestrials will be able to spur an enormous change in life on Earth.

Popularity edit

Shortly after release, Cosmos became the best-selling science book ever published in the English language,[10][11][12][13] and was the first science book to sell more than half a million copies.[14] Though spurred in part by the popularity of the television series, Cosmos became a best-seller by its own regard, reaching hundreds of thousands of readers.[15] It was only surpassed in the late 1980s by Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time (1988).[16]Cosmos spent 50 weeks on the Publishers Weekly best-seller's list,[17] and 70 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list.[18] Cosmos sold over 900,000 copies while on these lists,[19] and continued popularity has allowed Cosmos to sell about five million copies internationally.[20] Shortly after Cosmos was published, Sagan received a $2 million advance for the novel Contact.[21] This was the largest release given for an unwritten fiction book at the time.[14] The success of Cosmos made Sagan "wealthy as well as famous."[22] It also ushered in a dramatic increase in visibility for science books, opening up new options and readership for the previously fledgling genre.[19] Science historian Bruce Lewenstein of Cornell University noted that among science books "Cosmos marked the moment that something different was clearly going on."[15]

After the success of Cosmos, Sagan turned into an early scientific celebrity. He appeared on many television programs, wrote a regular column for Parade, and worked to continually advance the popularity of the science genre.[23]

Lewenstein also noted the power of the book as a recruitment tool. Along with Microbe Hunters and The Double Helix, he described Cosmos as one of the "books that people cite as 'Hey, the reason I'm a scientist is because I read that book'."[15] Particularly in astronomy and physics, he said, the book inspired many people to become scientists.[21] Sagan has also been called the "most successful popularizing scientist of our time," for his ability to draw such a large and varied audience.[24]

The popularity of Sagan's Cosmos has been referenced in arguments supporting increased space exploration spending.[25] Sagan's book was also referenced in Congress by Arthur C. Clarke in a speech promoting an end to Cold War anti-ICBM spending, instead arguing that the anti-ICBM budget would be better spent on Mars exploration.[26]

Critical reception edit

Reception for Sagan's work was generally positive. In The New York Times Book Review, novelist James Michener praised Cosmos as "a cleverly written, imaginatively illustrated summary of [Sagan's]... ruminations about our universe... His style is iridescent, with lights flashing upon unexpected juxtapositions of thought."[27] The American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson described "Cosmos" as something "more than Carl Sagan".[28] David Whitehouse of the British Broadcasting Corporation went so far as to say that "there is not a book on astronomy – in fact not one on science – that comes close to the eloquence and intellectual sweep of Cosmos... If we send just one book to grace the libraries of distant worlds..., let it be Cosmos."[29] Kirkus Reviews described the book as "Sagan at his best."[30] Cornell News Service characterized it as "an overview of how science and civilization grew up together."[17] In 1981, Cosmos received the Hugo Award for Best Non-Fiction Book.[31]

The U.S. Library of Congress designated Cosmos one of eighty-eight books "that shaped America."[32]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Golden, Frederic, Peter Stoler, and Calif. 1980. "The Cosmic Explainer He-e-e-re's Carl, bringing you nothing less than the universe." Time 116, no. 16: 62. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed April 10, 2013).
  2. ^ "Pale Blue Dot". Powell's Books. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  3. ^ Sagan, Carl; Druyan, Ann; Tyson, Neil deGrasse (2013). Cosmos. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0-345-53943-4.
  4. ^ "Cosmos: Bibliographical Data". Book Depository. The Book Depository International Ltd. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  5. ^ Michener, James (25 January 1981). "Ten Million Civilizations Nearby". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  6. ^ "Cosmos: Full Description". Book Depository. The Book Depository International Ltd. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  7. ^ . Borders. Borders, Inc. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  8. ^ Lessel, Thomas (May 1985). "Science and the Sacred Cosmos: The Ideological Rhetoric of Carl Sagan". Quarterly Journal of Speech. 71 (2): 175–187. doi:10.1080/00335638509383727.
  9. ^ Tyson, Neil deGrasse (January–February 2013). "Another round of Cosmos". Columbia Journalism Review. 51 (5): 30–33.
  10. ^ . Stanford News Service. Stanford University. 2012-04-04. Archived from the original on 2015-04-08. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  11. ^ . The Planetary Society. Archived from the original on 1 May 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  12. ^ Garreau, Joel (2003-07-21). "Science's Mything Links As the Boundaries of Reality Expand, Our Thinking Seems to Be Going Over the Edge". Washington Post. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  13. ^ . The Science Channel. Archived from the original on 2007-05-18. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
  14. ^ a b . National Science Foundation. 2004. Archived from the original on 14 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  15. ^ a b c Lewenstein, Bruce (2002-03-08). . National Institute for Standards and Technology. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  16. ^ Shermer p. 490
  17. ^ a b Brand, David; Friedlander, Blaine P.k Jr. (2001-02-19). "From somber Silent Spring to creative Cosmos, author's style can make difference in selling science, says Cornell researche". Cornell News. Cornell University. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  18. ^ Brand, David (1996-12-20). "Carl Sagan, Cornell astronomer, dies today (Dec. 20) in Seattle". Cornell News. Cornell University. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  19. ^ a b Nord, David; Joan Shelley Rubin (2009). "Science Books Since 1945". A History of the Book in America: Volume 5: The Enduring Book: Print Culture. Michael Schudson. UNC Press. p. 357. ISBN 978-0-8078-3285-1.
  20. ^ Ruprecht, Louis (1996). "Book Reviews". Journal of the American Academy of Religion. LXIV (2). Oxford Journals: 459–464. doi:10.1093/jaarel/lxiv.2.459. ISSN 1477-4585. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  21. ^ a b Lewenstein, Bruce (March 2007). "Why should we care about science books?". Journal of Science Communication. 6 (1). International School for Advanced Studies: C03. doi:10.22323/2.06010303. ISSN 1824-2049.
  22. ^ Morrison, David (January 2007). . Skeptical Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  23. ^ Lawler, Peter (Summer 1999). "Aliens, the Cosmos, and the Foundations of Political Life". Perspectives on Political Science. 28 (3): 131. doi:10.1080/10457099909602354.
  24. ^ Lawler, Peter Augustine (September–October 1998). "Aliens in the cosmos or, the curious affair of Carl Sagan and E.T.". American Enterprise. 9 (5): 47–49.
  25. ^ Extensions of Remarks – Friday, November 18, 1983, 129 Cong. Rec. E5773 (1983).
  26. ^ Senate – Wednesday, October 10, 1984, 130 Cong. Rec. 31165 (1984)
  27. ^ Dicke, William (1996-12-21). "Carl Sagan, an Astronomer Who Excelled at Popularizing Science, Is Dead at 62". New York Times. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  28. ^ Why Carl Sagan is Truly Irreplaceable https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-carl-sagan-truly-irreplaceable-180949818/
  29. ^ Whitehouse, David (1999-10-15). "Sci/Tech Carl Sagan: A life in the cosmos". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  30. ^ "Reviews". Kirkus Book Review. DC Public Library. 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2010.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ "Cosmos". Goodreads. 2002-05-07. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  32. ^ Druyan, Ann; Sagan, Carl; Tyson, Neil deGrasse (2013). Cosmos. New York: Ballantine Books. p. xix. ISBN 978-0-345-53943-4.

Further reading edit

Library resources about
Cosmos (Sagan book)
  • Shermer, Michael (August 2002). (PDF). Social Studies of Science. 32 (4). London: SAGE Publications: 489–525. doi:10.1177/0306312702032004001. ISSN 0306-3127. OCLC 2242476. PMID 12503565. S2CID 220879229. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-20. Retrieved 2010-04-02.

April 07, 2024
cosmos, sagan, book, cosmos, popular, science, book, written, astronomer, pulitzer, prize, winning, author, carl, sagan, published, 1980, companion, piece, mini, series, cosmos, personal, voyage, with, which, developed, intended, complement, each, book, illust. Cosmos is a popular science book written by astronomer and Pulitzer Prize winning author Carl Sagan It was published in 1980 as a companion piece to the PBS mini series Cosmos A Personal Voyage with which it was co developed and intended to complement Each of the book s 13 illustrated chapters corresponds to one of the 13 episodes of the television series Just a few of the ideas explored in Cosmos include the history and mutual development of science and civilization the nature of the Universe human and robotic space exploration the inner workings of the cell and the DNA that controls it and the dangers and future implications of nuclear war One of Sagan s main purposes for both the book and the television series was to explain complex scientific ideas in a way that anyone interested in learning can understand Sagan also believed the television was one of the greatest teaching tools ever invented so he wished to capitalize on his chance to educate the world 1 Spurred in part by the popularity of the TV series Cosmos spent 50 weeks on the Publishers Weekly best sellers list and 70 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list to become the best selling science book ever published at the time In 1981 it received the Hugo Award for Best Non Fiction Book The unprecedented success of Cosmos ushered in a dramatic increase in visibility for science themed literature The success of the book also served to jumpstart Sagan s literary career The sequel to Cosmos is Pale Blue Dot A Vision of the Human Future in Space 1994 2 CosmosCover of the first editionAuthorCarl SaganCover artistAdolf SchallerCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishSubjectCosmologyPublisherRandom HousePublication date1980Media typePrint Hardcover Paperback Pages365 first edition 396 2013 edition ISBN0 394 50294 9 first edition 978 0 375 50832 5 2002 edition 978 0 345 53943 4 2013 edition OCLC6280573Dewey Decimal520LC ClassQB44 2 S235Preceded byBroca s Brain Reflections on the Romance of Science Followed byPale Blue Dot A Vision of the Human Future in Space In 2013 a new edition of Cosmos was published with a foreword by Ann Druyan and an essay by Neil deGrasse Tyson 3 Contents 1 Summary 2 Style and contents 3 Popularity 4 Critical reception 5 See also 6 References 7 Further readingSummary editCosmos has 13 chapters corresponding to the 13 episodes of the Cosmos television series In the original edition each chapter is heavily illustrated 4 The book covers a broad range of topics comprising Sagan s reflections on anthropological cosmological biological historical and astronomical matters from antiquity to contemporary times Sagan reiterates his position on extraterrestrial life that the magnitude of the universe permits the existence of thousands of alien civilizations but no credible evidence exists to demonstrate that such life has ever visited earth 5 Sagan explores 15 billion years of cosmic evolution and the development of science and civilization 6 He traces the origins of knowledge and the scientific method mixing science and philosophy and speculates about the future of science 7 He also discusses the underlying premises of science by providing biographical anecdotes about many prominent scientists placing their contributions in the broader context of the development of modern science 8 The book like the television series contains a number of Cold War undertones including subtle references to self destruction and the futility of the arms race 9 Style and contents editCosmos utilizes a light conversational tone to render complex scientific topics readable for a lay audience On many topics the book encompasses a more concise refined presentation of previous ideas about which Sagan had written Cosmos is not just about the mysteries of space Sagan leads every chapter with a philosophical quote to remind readers that the universe is not simply stars and planets but a link between all things He reminds readers that we are all star stuff and though it seems humans are currently alone in space the universe was not created for our race to thrive but that we are a product of something much larger Sagan s book explicitly supports the search for intelligent extraterrestrial life as he believes the extraterrestrials will be able to spur an enormous change in life on Earth Popularity editShortly after release Cosmos became the best selling science book ever published in the English language 10 11 12 13 and was the first science book to sell more than half a million copies 14 Though spurred in part by the popularity of the television series Cosmos became a best seller by its own regard reaching hundreds of thousands of readers 15 It was only surpassed in the late 1980s by Stephen Hawking s A Brief History of Time 1988 16 Cosmos spent 50 weeks on the Publishers Weekly best seller s list 17 and 70 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list 18 Cosmos sold over 900 000 copies while on these lists 19 and continued popularity has allowed Cosmos to sell about five million copies internationally 20 Shortly after Cosmos was published Sagan received a 2 million advance for the novel Contact 21 This was the largest release given for an unwritten fiction book at the time 14 The success of Cosmos made Sagan wealthy as well as famous 22 It also ushered in a dramatic increase in visibility for science books opening up new options and readership for the previously fledgling genre 19 Science historian Bruce Lewenstein of Cornell University noted that among science books Cosmos marked the moment that something different was clearly going on 15 After the success of Cosmos Sagan turned into an early scientific celebrity He appeared on many television programs wrote a regular column for Parade and worked to continually advance the popularity of the science genre 23 Lewenstein also noted the power of the book as a recruitment tool Along with Microbe Hunters and The Double Helix he described Cosmos as one of the books that people cite as Hey the reason I m a scientist is because I read that book 15 Particularly in astronomy and physics he said the book inspired many people to become scientists 21 Sagan has also been called the most successful popularizing scientist of our time for his ability to draw such a large and varied audience 24 The popularity of Sagan s Cosmos has been referenced in arguments supporting increased space exploration spending 25 Sagan s book was also referenced in Congress by Arthur C Clarke in a speech promoting an end to Cold War anti ICBM spending instead arguing that the anti ICBM budget would be better spent on Mars exploration 26 Critical reception editReception for Sagan s work was generally positive In The New York Times Book Review novelist James Michener praised Cosmos as a cleverly written imaginatively illustrated summary of Sagan s ruminations about our universe His style is iridescent with lights flashing upon unexpected juxtapositions of thought 27 The American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson described Cosmos as something more than Carl Sagan 28 David Whitehouse of the British Broadcasting Corporation went so far as to say that there is not a book on astronomy in fact not one on science that comes close to the eloquence and intellectual sweep of Cosmos If we send just one book to grace the libraries of distant worlds let it be Cosmos 29 Kirkus Reviews described the book as Sagan at his best 30 Cornell News Service characterized it as an overview of how science and civilization grew up together 17 In 1981 Cosmos received the Hugo Award for Best Non Fiction Book 31 The U S Library of Congress designated Cosmos one of eighty eight books that shaped America 32 See also editKosmos by Alexander von Humboldt like Cosmos a book that discusses the then known universe and humankind s place in itReferences edit Golden Frederic Peter Stoler and Calif 1980 The Cosmic Explainer He e e re s Carl bringing you nothing less than the universe Time 116 no 16 62 Academic Search Complete EBSCOhost accessed April 10 2013 Pale Blue Dot Powell s Books Retrieved 3 January 2010 Sagan Carl Druyan Ann Tyson Neil deGrasse 2013 Cosmos New York Ballantine Books ISBN 978 0 345 53943 4 Cosmos Bibliographical Data Book Depository The Book Depository International Ltd Retrieved 3 January 2010 Michener James 25 January 1981 Ten Million Civilizations Nearby The New York Times Retrieved 21 May 2011 Cosmos Full Description Book Depository The Book Depository International Ltd Retrieved 3 January 2010 Cosmos About this Edition Borders Borders Inc Archived from the original on 24 March 2010 Retrieved 3 January 2010 Lessel Thomas May 1985 Science and the Sacred Cosmos The Ideological Rhetoric of Carl Sagan Quarterly Journal of Speech 71 2 175 187 doi 10 1080 00335638509383727 Tyson Neil deGrasse January February 2013 Another round of Cosmos Columbia Journalism Review 51 5 30 33 Carl Sagan to lecture at Stanford April 23 Stanford News Service Stanford University 2012 04 04 Archived from the original on 2015 04 08 Retrieved 7 January 2010 Carl Sagan Founder and First President of The Planetary Society The Planetary Society Archived from the original on 1 May 2007 Retrieved 7 January 2010 Garreau Joel 2003 07 21 Science s Mything Links As the Boundaries of Reality Expand Our Thinking Seems to Be Going Over the Edge Washington Post Retrieved 3 January 2010 Meet Dr Carl Sagan The Science Channel Archived from the original on 2007 05 18 Retrieved 2010 01 02 a b Science and Technology Public Attitudes and Understanding National Science Foundation 2004 Archived from the original on 14 January 2011 Retrieved 3 January 2010 a b c Lewenstein Bruce 2002 03 08 How Science Books Drive Public Discussion National Institute for Standards and Technology Archived from the original on 2011 06 29 Retrieved 3 January 2010 Shermer p 490 a b Brand David Friedlander Blaine P k Jr 2001 02 19 From somber Silent Spring to creative Cosmos author s style can make difference in selling science says Cornell researche Cornell News Cornell University Retrieved 3 January 2010 Brand David 1996 12 20 Carl Sagan Cornell astronomer dies today Dec 20 in Seattle Cornell News Cornell University Retrieved 3 January 2010 a b Nord David Joan Shelley Rubin 2009 Science Books Since 1945 A History of the Book in America Volume 5 The Enduring Book Print Culture Michael Schudson UNC Press p 357 ISBN 978 0 8078 3285 1 Ruprecht Louis 1996 Book Reviews Journal of the American Academy of Religion LXIV 2 Oxford Journals 459 464 doi 10 1093 jaarel lxiv 2 459 ISSN 1477 4585 Retrieved 2010 02 06 a b Lewenstein Bruce March 2007 Why should we care about science books Journal of Science Communication 6 1 International School for Advanced Studies C03 doi 10 22323 2 06010303 ISSN 1824 2049 Morrison David January 2007 Man for the Cosmos Carl Sagan s Life and Legacy as Scientist Teacher and Skeptic Skeptical Inquirer Archived from the original on February 1 2016 Retrieved July 11 2015 Lawler Peter Summer 1999 Aliens the Cosmos and the Foundations of Political Life Perspectives on Political Science 28 3 131 doi 10 1080 10457099909602354 Lawler Peter Augustine September October 1998 Aliens in the cosmos or the curious affair of Carl Sagan and E T American Enterprise 9 5 47 49 Extensions of Remarks Friday November 18 1983 129 Cong Rec E5773 1983 Senate Wednesday October 10 1984 130 Cong Rec 31165 1984 Dicke William 1996 12 21 Carl Sagan an Astronomer Who Excelled at Popularizing Science Is Dead at 62 New York Times Retrieved 3 January 2010 Why Carl Sagan is Truly Irreplaceable https www smithsonianmag com science nature why carl sagan truly irreplaceable 180949818 Whitehouse David 1999 10 15 Sci Tech Carl Sagan A life in the cosmos British Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 3 January 2010 Reviews Kirkus Book Review DC Public Library 2010 Retrieved 6 February 2010 permanent dead link Cosmos Goodreads 2002 05 07 Retrieved 3 January 2010 Druyan Ann Sagan Carl Tyson Neil deGrasse 2013 Cosmos New York Ballantine Books p xix ISBN 978 0 345 53943 4 Further reading editLibrary resources about Cosmos Sagan book Resources in your library Resources in other libraries Shermer Michael August 2002 This View of Science Stephen Jay Gould as Historian of Science and Scientific Historian Popular Scientist and Scientific Popularizer PDF Social Studies of Science 32 4 London SAGE Publications 489 525 doi 10 1177 0306312702032004001 ISSN 0306 3127 OCLC 2242476 PMID 12503565 S2CID 220879229 Archived from the original PDF on 2018 09 20 Retrieved 2010 04 02 Portals nbsp 1990s nbsp Books nbsp Astronomy nbsp Stars nbsp Spaceflight nbsp Outer space nbsp Solar System nbsp Science Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cosmos Sagan book amp oldid 1192194381, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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