Enjoying this excellent book, written back in 1995. So much of it now seems almost like a series of premonitions.
Sagan argues that science is not just a body of knowledge but a way of thinking that can protect us from deception, encourage curiosity, and illuminate the darkest corners of ignorance. He reminds readers that embracing the scientific method does not diminish the mystery and beauty of the world but enhances our ability to appreciate it.
I worry that, especially as the Millennium edges near, pseudoscience and superstition will seem year by year more tempting, the siren song of unreason more sonorous and attractive. Where have we heard it before? Whenever our ethnic or national prejudices are aroused, in times of scarcity, during challenges to self-esteem or nerve, when we agonize about our diminished cosmic place and purpose, or when fanaticism is bubbling up around us — then, habits of thought familiar from ages past reach for the controls. The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles. Darkness gathers. The demons begin to stir.
The book is both a cautionary tale and a hopeful call to action, urging readers to embrace reason, critical inquiry, and a sense of wonder. It is a timeless work that continues to inspire those committed to promoting rational thought in an often irrational world.