Reviews for Carl Sagan: A Biography

The average rating for Carl Sagan: A Biography based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-02-01 00:00:00 Monty Timmins Spangenburg and Moser's review of Sagan's life is an excellent balance between the scientific and the celebrity aspect of his life. It is a readable review of 20th century science and Sagan's confluence with it. Spangenburg and Moser factor in the influence of Sagan's personality and his private life on his success and failures which makes it more readable than many historical perspectives. This biography reminds us of some of the most important scientific discoveries of the last century in physics, biology and astronomy and how they collide to influence Sagan's curiosity. From the discoveries of Urey and Miller, Crick and Watson to the imagination of Isaac Asimov, Sagan's mind was an amalgam of ideas and possibilities. The influence of Sagan's ideas on the space program and his enthusiasm about life in the galaxy defines how several generations view the cosmos. It follows Sagan's fascination with the space program from the first Mariner mission in 1962 until Viking 2 in 1976. His genuine belief in the scientific process above his own ego paved the way for many emerging scientists. The book chronicles his metamorphosis from theorist/exobiologist to physicist/skeptic in an honest account of his life. It handles scientific aspects of Sagan's life basically enough that non-scientific readers can learn and appreciate.

Review # 2 was written on 2015-07-12 00:00:00 Christopher Todd I loved this book! Despite being a non-fiction biography, it was incredibly interesting with great writing. It went into depth about his life and career, as well as science. It was an educational, enjoyable, and emotional read; I 100% recommend.