Just wanting to see if anyone enjoys or has read Carl Sagan books movies, etc.

Your thoughts on why we lately we don't have a Carl Sagan promoting science.

As a matter of fact, I am a big Carl Sagan fan! I haven't read all his books yet, but i've enjoyed all of the ones i have read. Contact is one of my favorite books. I really wish there were more people like him promoting science today. As for *why* there's nobody like him today, i'm not sure, but it would certainly be a nice change to see intelligent shows on TV. Even the learning channel and the dicovery channel are turning more and more to wacky shows about alien abductions and bigfoot and stuff to get the ratings.

I haven't read much of his work, but so far I like it. But I haven't read anough to call myself a fan. As a matter of fact it takes quite something for me to become a fan. I think I am only a fan of my girlfriend. :D
And I would like to add: Nova, I agree completely with your comment on Discovery.

You should read Cosmos; this will be my second time reading the book. Typically I have to read other technical stuff for work, but sometimes it is nice to take a break and read something refreshing.
I am not a science grad out of university, but more of a science buff. His books are easy to read and understand. I think that is what is missing out of our culture today - someone who can talk science and make it take it apart so that most of the general public can understand. One reason this is important is look at the one post about "the moon landing is fake" Fox understands that most people do not have a basic understanding of space. So why not target those people...it worked.
If more had been educated in the basics and enough info had been placed out in the public and taught is schools we should not have these types of issues. Your thoughts anyone
Oh ya please also comment on the book




Originally posted by Nova1021
As a matter of fact, I am a big Carl Sagan fan! I haven't read all his books yet, but i've enjoyed all of the ones i have read. Contact is one of my favorite books. I really wish there were more people like him promoting science today. As for *why* there's nobody like him today, i'm not sure, but it would certainly be a nice change to see intelligent shows on TV. Even the learning channel and the dicovery channel are turning more and more to wacky shows about alien abductions and bigfoot and stuff to get the ratings.

Carl Sagan is one of my heroes, because he tried so hard for so long to get governments, companies, and the general public interested in the advancement of science and exploration of the universe.

We do in fact have people doing that now. Hawking is doing the exact same thing, although to me he isn't quite as groovy. Here in Australia we have another chap doing similar work, although again he's not as groovy as Carl.

Carl Sagan is one of my heroes, because he tried so hard for so long to get governments, companies, and the general public interested in the advancement of science and exploration of the universe.

Same here. He did something most other scientists can't do, and that's bring the science to the people.

Hawking is doing the exact same thing, although to me he isn't quite as groovy. Here in Australia we have another chap doing similar work, although again he's not as groovy as Carl.

Haha, that's true, good way to describe it. Hawking and others are trying, but the groovyness is lacking.

If more had been educated in the basics and enough info had been placed out in the public and taught is schools we should not have these types of issues.

I think you're absolutely right. The lack of *basic* understanding of science in the general population is very sad. Even as a little kid i was shocked at how many adults knew no more science than myself. And shows like Fox's moon landing special and the degradation of the "educational" channels into mindless drivel about aliens and bigfoot don't help. It's like, the populace is getting dumber, so to cater to a stupider audience, networks make stupider shows, which make the audience stupider, ad nauseum.

Also, you said comment on the book? I really enjoyed Cosmos, it's like an informal astronomy class with no math or anything, just wonderful explanations and ideas. Or did you mean comment on Contact? Oh well, whteher you wanted me to or not, i will. :) Contact was an amazing book. It's sort of a combination of philosophy and science. It adresses the conflicts between religion and science, poses some very interesting ideas and possibilities, and i personally loved the ending. I've been thinking of reading it again.

I just check out his book; "Cosmos" from the library today. I have only skimmed through it, because right now I am reading another book. But what I did read was pretty cool. I have nmo seen any of his movies or read any of his books, but I think I will now.

I'm a Sagan fan. He did lots of cool stuff. He was involved in the Viking missions to Mars. He was a great populariser of science. His <i>Cosmos</i> series was ground-breaking TV. He lobbied the US government on the value of science, the dangers of nuclear war and so on. He was an intelligent guy who cared about the environment and his fellow human beings.