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Contact Carl Sagan 9782266079990 Books

Download As PDF : Contact Carl Sagan 9782266079990 Books

Contact Carl Sagan 9782266079990 Books

I can admit there are parts that aren't perfect. There is a bit much exposition, I guess. And maybe other details are a bit off. However, I love it with all my heart. All the details. It's just so thorough. Everytime I read this book (or watch the movie), I end up tearing up. Every single time. There is just so much to unpack. The last few chapters are worth the buildup for me. Completely worth it. I emotionally connect to Ellie so much that both when I saw the movie and read the book for the first time, I thought "There's no reason for me to cry this much. And I'm nothing like Ellie and nothing sad has happened. Except... oh... whoa... I need a minute. Where has this been all my life??? I'm not crying because I'm sad. This is new. I need to wait before trying to feel this again". This book fills me with wonder. It reminds me of all the good and bad parts about science. Plus, I am a sucker for discussions of religion and science and their overlapping magistra. I always expect to find flaws that ruin my experience of this book. I love it. I can't be bothered. When a book speaks to you, you just have to roll with it and maybe find a therapist at some point. I can't say this book will do the same for anyone else. It is dense. But I hope if you start, you finish. I love the whole ending. It has so much.


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Contact Carl Sagan 9782266079990 Books Reviews

I had watched the movie version recently, so I thought to buy the book. The two are quite different in many respects. Sagan gets much more space to expound on his philosophy and put aside any thoughts that Matthew and Jodie are going to hook up. On the other hand you do get some idea of the rule book for scientific backbiting and seniors taking credit for the work of juniors; fortunately not as common as one might think.

So was I disappointed in the movie after finally reading the book? No, movies are different than books. Both versions of Contact, in spite of their differences, are valid approaches to the same subject (with the movie inspired by the book, of course). My only beef as a scientist, and this applies to both versions of the story. My response to doubt is let us take another ride and see if Jodie (or the group of 5 in the book) have the same experience. N=2 yields at least one-degree of freedom.
Engaging exploration of the interaction of science and religion, and ways they can converge and diverge. While some of the story's threads seemed at times to be distractions from the plot, they came together nicely in a final statement on beliefs, assumptions, and facts. Enjoyed listening to the Audible version; the narrator was excellent, especially for a story with a woman protagonist.
A very thought provoking book. It brings out the the eagerness of mankind in total, our long but not-in-vain search for some little evidence, that we do want/ have neighbors in this cosmos, somebody greater and even better than us but above all our feeling that we are not alone in this universe!

I personally liked the war of words between the Science and Religion. It was factual and brought out the frustrations involved in both sides of the argument.
1) Plot (5 stars) - After spending a lifetime listening to the stars, one astronomer finally hears a message to build a machine. But should humanity build it? What will the machine do? Will it be friendly or hostile? The decision pulls all facets of our modern society to the table for a heated debate and the tension of their interplay and the final result was fascinating. Sometimes, however, I felt the pace was a bit slow.

2) Characters (4 stars) - Ellie is the brilliant scientist charging forward for the cause of the rational, while sometimes missing the subtleties of interpersonal relations or emotions. She's a romantic which puts her at odds with her fellow scientists, but also deeply analytical which puts her at odds with much of humanity. On top of it, she's a female in a male dominated profession which allows for sexual and gender conflict as well. I enjoyed riding along with her on this journey.

3) Theme (5 stars) - Are we alone in the universe? It's so immense that it seems almost mathematically impossible for us to be the only "intelligent" life form. But if so, why haven't we made contact? Is it a lack of technology on our side or theirs? A lack of interest? A time or space distance too large to hurdle? Or are we just too different to understand each other? This was the surface question of the book, but underlying it was the theme of faith vs. empirical rationality, and how we need both to dream and advance. A message which was summed up beautifully in the book's conclusion.

4) Voice (4 stars) - Sagan became famous for translating esoteric scientific principles into simple and engaging parlance for non-scientists, and this ability shines through in his prose. Through Sagan's eyes all the prosaic backdrop we take for granted--ants, stars, mathematic concepts--come alive with his curiosity and the teeming science behind them.

5) Setting (4 stars) - The book takes place in a variety of science facilities on Earth, and a bit in outer space. All were described well and I felt transported there.

6) Overall (4 stars) - An excellent story on the role of science in our present and future, made accessible through a strong lead, interesting plot, and a kindly professorial voice. Smart and fun. I'd recommend it.
Like most of his work, Sagan puts across the sciences and professions of astronomy and astrophysics across for the lay reader with great ability and an obvious feeling for his subject and his readers. I enjoyed the humanness of his characters, the realities of their work world, and the science in which they were involved. I read the book before watching the video and felt, as I usually do, that the book was better. One can always create more side plots and develop to a greater extent the individual characters in a volume of so many pages, which the reader can set aside at will and return to as needed. The director must stick to a central theme and be constantly mindful of budgetary constraints. I also thought the relationship of the heroine with her father was more intense and surprising in the book than in the movie.
I can admit there are parts that aren't perfect. There is a bit much exposition, I guess. And maybe other details are a bit off. However, I love it with all my heart. All the details. It's just so thorough. Everytime I read this book (or watch the movie), I end up tearing up. Every single time. There is just so much to unpack. The last few chapters are worth the buildup for me. Completely worth it. I emotionally connect to Ellie so much that both when I saw the movie and read the book for the first time, I thought "There's no reason for me to cry this much. And I'm nothing like Ellie and nothing sad has happened. Except... oh... whoa... I need a minute. Where has this been all my life??? I'm not crying because I'm sad. This is new. I need to wait before trying to feel this again". This book fills me with wonder. It reminds me of all the good and bad parts about science. Plus, I am a sucker for discussions of religion and science and their overlapping magistra. I always expect to find flaws that ruin my experience of this book. I love it. I can't be bothered. When a book speaks to you, you just have to roll with it and maybe find a therapist at some point. I can't say this book will do the same for anyone else. It is dense. But I hope if you start, you finish. I love the whole ending. It has so much.