2026 Reading Challenge
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

Questions About The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

by Carl Sagan

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Answered Questions (5)

So he writes a book mocking people who believe they or others have meet or been kidnapped by aliens. but he wrote a bestseller about a women meeting aliens in the book Contact? What book did he write first?
Michael your use of "mocking" tells the world more about you and less about Sagan. "Demon Haunted world" is an essay. "Contact," is a novel.…moreyour use of "mocking" tells the world more about you and less about Sagan. "Demon Haunted world" is an essay. "Contact," is a novel.(less)
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Much praise lately for this 20-year-old book but I'm having trouble with it. Author makes valuable points but buries them in PAGES of silly "straw men." Sort of hurts my feelings to be told not to watch for Big Foot. Not at all sure National Enquirer readers would read Sagan? Also not interested in mocking them, they have their own problems. So...does this get better? I'm not at all worried about alien abduction.
David He neither mocks nor sets up straw men. He responds to real criticisms with logical answers. He never said not to look for Big Foot. This isn't a book…moreHe neither mocks nor sets up straw men. He responds to real criticisms with logical answers. He never said not to look for Big Foot. This isn't a book to bring your feelings of attachment to unsubstantiated claims. (less)
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"Fallacies of the past"? hmmm Indigenous religion such as practicing curanderismo and brujeria being debunked by a white man that has "authority" in the name of science.. mind you many Indigenous cultures were well advanced in the cosmos. The "unreason" that is occurring in the government is not stemming from these practices that millions of people confide in, but from colonial values stemming from European cultures..
Marty Fried What was your question? What book are you even talking about?

I searched for curanderismo and brujeria in the book, and didn't find any reference to ei…moreWhat was your question? What book are you even talking about?

I searched for curanderismo and brujeria in the book, and didn't find any reference to either one. So your statement is misleading from the start, and not even suitable as a question about this book. In fact, it's contrary to what he says near the beginning.(less)
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At one point Sagan recounts the story about a nuclear physicist who was psychoanalyzed (this was the 1950's) because he spent so much time living in a fantasy of a future world. The scientist is given the alias Kirk Allen. I have to ask, is there any indication this was Jack Parsons?
willaful Here's the wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_Allen

There are several theoretical possibilities but Jack Parsons isn't mentioned as on…moreHere's the wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_Allen

There are several theoretical possibilities but Jack Parsons isn't mentioned as one of them. (less)
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Does this book tackle problems of substance, which is to say pervasive but subtle perversions of scientific knowledge - stuff like climate change denial, insistence that vaccines cause autism, etc? Or is it basically just relaying elementary school level "here's how the scientific method works and also telepathy isn't real" stuff?
JethOrensin Yes, it does, but you have to read all of it, not cherry-pick.
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Unanswered Questions (2)

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