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Cosmos

A Personal Voyage

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About this listen

Cosmos is one of the bestselling science books of all time. In clear-eyed prose, Sagan reveals a jewel-like blue world inhabited by a life form that is just beginning to discover its own identity and to venture into the vast ocean of space. Featuring a new Introduction by Sagan's collaborator, Ann Druyan, and a new Foreword by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos retraces the fourteen billion years of cosmic evolution that have transformed matter into consciousness, exploring such topics as the origin of life, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphics, spacecraft missions, the death of the Sun, the evolution of galaxies, and the forces and individuals who helped to shape modern science.

Includes introductory music: Heaven and Hell by Vangelis from Cosmos: A Personal Voyage used with permission from Druyan-Sagan Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.

©1980 Carl Sagan Productions, Inc (P)2017 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Foreword © 2013 by Ann Druyan. “Reflections on Carl Sagan’s Cosmos” essay © 2013 by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Astronomy Astronomy & Space Science Biological Sciences Cosmology Earth Sciences Physics Science Thought-Provoking Funny

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Editor reviews

Editors Select, June 2017

As a big fan of Neil deGrasse Tyson's recent documentary series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, which honors Carl Sagan's original work from 1980, I was excited to listen to Sagan's companion book - now available in audio for the first time. While I was a bit too young to catch Sagan's docuseries, LeVar Burton's Reading Rainbow did heavily influence my childhood, and this may be why my brain seemed primordially attuned to learn from Burton's voice. He's the perfect narrator for untangling complicated scientific subjects as well as highlighting their moments of majesty. I legit feel smarter for having listened to Cosmos, and I'll also never be able to forget why medieval Catholic monks first domesticated rabbits (hint: it wasn't because they were cute). —Emily, Audible Editor
Most relevant
Loved this great story of the Universe and of the key people who have contributed to our understanding of it.

Great true story

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Cosmology is tough enough to follow at the best of times, even if you’re attention span fairly reasonable. The over acting along with the heavy and unnecessary inflections are off-putting if for no other reason than they make your internal monologue disappear off on its own tangent about how annoying the peformance is.

Aside from that, the analogies and references used really make understanding what is going on out there as easy as possible. It’s also nice to hear how the scientific world are not saying they have worked it all out, simply, buy virtue of their research and experiments, this is the most likely outcome, however, they are willing and almost want to be proved wrong.

Given the exponential increase in data, experiments, technology and therefor understanding, since this book was written some 40 years ago, it’s incredible that given the huge breakthroughs this book still stands up. This is especially poignant when Sagan talks about the hopes and goals of missions which have now been completed,. You can cross check how close he actually was.

In review. A must read as long as you can get past the massively annoying narrator.

Stands the test of time but narrator is annoying

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A truly awe-inspiring work, and all the more impressive for being about science but not feeling at all dated, even almost 40 years after publication. Wonderful read.

Magnificent Read

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If you are passionate or just curious about this subject you'll experience a thorough, compelling and at times poethic journey through the universe, our history and the human nature.
The reader was as passionate as the book itself: a really great performance.
Ive totally enjoyed this masterpiece.

Brilliant

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This is really quite brilliant. I was put off reading this as I wondered would all / most of the science be out of date 40 years later. Not only is that not the case, but the philosophical, historical and political discussions throughout the book are all at the very top level. He ruminates on life on other planets, the evolution of humans, the spiralling galaxies. At the same time he is an outstanding science communicator.

Wonderful stuff. LeVar Burton reads perfectly.

Stellar

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A magnificently interesting, entertaining and informative work. it should be standard reading for all mid-teens at school and for all adults with an inquisitive mind. It's as compelling and relevant today, in 2023, as it was when first written. Carl had an unmatched ability to articulate complicated theories and concepts in a way which entralls and informs. 5 stars all around.

Magnificent

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I loved watching the TV series in the early 80's and this book has brought back good memories.
It has stood the test of time well and is still very relevant.
The narration is very good and well paced throughout.

Excellent Listen

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This is a true classic of science writing and remains a huge achievement. It provides a summation of the cosmology of the twentieth century and all preceding centuries and still has much to say to us today.

A classic

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A brilliantly Insightful book by one of the greatest astrophysicist and science influencer of our time.

Brilliantly Insightful

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Finally got round to this, definitely worth the wait, Carl is able to describe and deliver many vast concepts in a clear and accessible way, without dumbing down or appearing condescending.
He makes great points about our society and our priorities that I feel we are only now slowly beginning to realise.

About Time (and space)

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