Reading Carl Sagan in the Age of Clickbait and Conspiracies
The Lasting Power of The Demon-Haunted World
These days I re-read Carl Sagan’s 1995 book The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, a powerful defence of scientific thinking and skepticism—perhaps more relevant today than ever. Sagan examines the widespread belief in superstition, conspiracy theories, and pseudoscience, arguing that they thrive due to the lack of critical thinking and scientific literacy.
Ultimately, The Demon-Haunted World is a call for reason and curiosity. In an age where misinformation spreads at the speed of a click, The Demon-Haunted World feels jarringly prescient. The modern information landscape is overwhelming, inundated by a volume of contradictory and misleading narratives on all issues. It’s no wonder many people disengage from the news entirely. I know firsthand how exhausting it can be to sift through the noise, to separate fact from fiction, and to navigate reality with a commitment to evidence-based reasoning.
The book is not just about science—it’s about protecting democracy, nurturing curiosity, and embracing reason over superstition and fear. If more people embraced Sagan’s message, we might live in a world less dominated by paranoia and blind faith, and more focused on knowledge and open-minded inquiry.
Some books inform. Others illuminate. This one does both.
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