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George

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George’s Bookshelves

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George is Currently Reading

George is currently reading

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

by Carl Sagan

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Reading for the 2nd time

read in March 2022

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George said: " A thoughtful, balanced case for using the tools of scientific methodology to battle the largely irrational, political, religious and moral darkness that seems to be overtaking our world.

I haven't read anything written by Carl Sagan for a very long ti A thoughtful, balanced case for using the tools of scientific methodology to battle the largely irrational, political, religious and moral darkness that seems to be overtaking our world.

I haven't read anything written by Carl Sagan for a very long time. When I was in high school I read both his "Cosmic Connection" and "The Dragons of Eden" , and I loved them both.
I read them at a time when I was starting to be skeptical about my faith, and wanted to see what science might have to say about things. I didn't find anything that was incompatible with faith, (as long as it didn't involve taking the Bible literally, or as some kind of science text).
I was pleased to discover that there seemed to be quite enough weirdness and wonder in the real, observable world without having to rely on the supernatural.
Although I eventually moved on to other non-fiction science writers such as Charles Pelligrino,
I always had a soft spot for Carl. When I started reading this book, I remembered how much I missed his mix of skepticism and wonder, made accessible to the layman.

Although this book was published in 1996, it is still very timely, possibly even more timely as the problems and concerns it addresses have if anything, increased. The credulity and willfull ignorance that disturbingly large portions of humanity seem to be embracing hasn't improved much over the last 30 years.
I was especially tuned to this book after experiencing the recent, prolonged and incredibly tiresome period of our history with ever increasing numbers of people believing ever more irrational and unsubstantiated things, like anti-vaccing, "fake news", propaganda disguised as "infotainment", unashamed ignorance, and mean-spirited dumb-assery passing for some kind of common sense.
This book identifies and addresses many forms of pseudo-science, anti-science, and irrational "magical" thinking including UFO's as visiting aliens, mesmerism, hypnosis, spiritualism, ESP, faith healing, recovered memories and re-incarnation. He's not ruling anything out, he's just asking for proof. Actual, verifiable, evidence.
Science is not only a good methodology for experiencing and understanding the world, but also has real, tangible benefits, and is also essential for democracy to work properly. It's interesting that ignorance and an acceptance of authoritarianism seem to go hand in hand.
I especially enjoyed the sections "When Scientists Know Sin", "The Fine Art of Baloney Detection" (which should be required reading for every living human being), and "Real Patriots Ask Questions" about the connection between scientific methodology and democracy. (The founding fathers were more inspired by science and the enlightenment than religious belief)
There are so many things I could praise in this book, but don't take my word for it, in the spirit of science and inquiry, read it for yourself! ...more "

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(page 23 of 459)
— Nov 04, 2026 11:11AM

Mar 11, 2022 03:24PM · see review

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The Complete and Original Norwegian Folktales of Asbjørnsen and Moe

by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen

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(page 41 of 320)
— Oct 28, 2026 08:15AM

Oct 23, 2026 08:15AM

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Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live

by Tom Shales

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(page 103 of 608)
— Oct 28, 2026 08:15AM

Oct 21, 2026 08:23AM

See all 5 books that George is reading…

George’s Quotes

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

tags: love

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