Paul answers “Is it still relevant/correct/upto date in...”

jvb asked this question about Cosmos:

Is it still relevant/correct/upto date in 2015? I believe much more would have been found, many theories would have been disproved etc since the time this book was written. So wondering if it is still worth reading. Don't want to end up knowing the wrong/outdated facts. :-)

Paul This is not a book to learn about the latest astronomical discoveries, so criticizing it on the basis that some scientific data that have been discove…moreThis is not a book to learn about the latest astronomical discoveries, so criticizing it on the basis that some scientific data that have been discovered after its publication have changed does not make much sense.
To get up to date in astronomy you should read technical books of the last ones to be published and as it happens to every technical book with time and new scientific discoveries the data will change.

The value of the book is not in those astronomical details that have changed due to new discoveries. The value of the book is that it is a great way to approach science in general in a very human and entertaining way.

This is not a book about astronomy, it is a book about the path of science throughout human history, about the curiosity of the human being, about the philosophers and scientists who wondered about the questions of the natural world, about the great scientific discoveries and above all about the love for science, for discovery and for the universe.

It is a book to put us in perspective as to our place on the planet, in the universe and in time. Something that is sorely needed now and will be needed for a long time to come.
If it is relevant in 2015, it is still relevant in 2023. It is relevant because it teaches us the importance of science in our lives, and as long as we live on this planet, in this universe, it will continue to be a relevant book.(less)

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