emrache's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not sure I can explain the depths to which this book moved me. Perhaps the way I felt about it is the way that believers feel about the Bible, I don't know. As a secular Jew, the book felt so true, I felt so seen, and it made me rejoice in the magnificence of the world and universe around us.
zigzagzmak's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
"Being alive...[is] profoundly beautiful and staggeringly unlikely...For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love."
I've never read a book that so accurately depicts and reflects my own relationship with spirituality and our cosmic insignificance. That attitude is so often one that is portrayed as a sad, small and scared position. But to me, and to Sagan, there is beauty and miracle in the vastness of our universe, and the luck that allows us to be alive. She says "our vast universe provides us with enough profound and beautiful truths to live a spiritually meaningful life."
Life as a non-religious person can sometimes mean that finding specific rituals and bids for connection with community is difficult. Sagan suggests in this book ways to find daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and seasonal celebrations, as well as ways to mark births, deaths, and marriage. These ideas resonated with me deeply and encourage me to find those things for myself and my loved ones.
Sagan says "I don't think that faith is a requirement to see a world full of provable miracles and profound meaning," and I agree with her.
I quoted part of her wtiting at my grandparents' memorial service when I spoke, because I think my athiest grandfather would have loved Sagan's view of the world.
I plan to return to this book and find solace in Sagan's words.
I've never read a book that so accurately depicts and reflects my own relationship with spirituality and our cosmic insignificance. That attitude is so often one that is portrayed as a sad, small and scared position. But to me, and to Sagan, there is beauty and miracle in the vastness of our universe, and the luck that allows us to be alive. She says "our vast universe provides us with enough profound and beautiful truths to live a spiritually meaningful life."
Life as a non-religious person can sometimes mean that finding specific rituals and bids for connection with community is difficult. Sagan suggests in this book ways to find daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and seasonal celebrations, as well as ways to mark births, deaths, and marriage. These ideas resonated with me deeply and encourage me to find those things for myself and my loved ones.
Sagan says "I don't think that faith is a requirement to see a world full of provable miracles and profound meaning," and I agree with her.
I quoted part of her wtiting at my grandparents' memorial service when I spoke, because I think my athiest grandfather would have loved Sagan's view of the world.
I plan to return to this book and find solace in Sagan's words.
pandacat42's review against another edition
4.0
When you are secular minded, sometimes it seems like some celebrations aren't meant for you or that you cannot participate in them. Sasha Sagan beautifully illustrates how she pays respect to her ancestors while respecting her own beliefs. This book is helpful in inspiring those without a belief system to create their own celebrations while also respecting where they came from.
In many ways I feel a kindred spirit in Sasha because she speaks so poetically and in awe of everything, she has a spark for life and creation, she thinks logically about things, but she also has a very feeling personality.
In many ways I feel a kindred spirit in Sasha because she speaks so poetically and in awe of everything, she has a spark for life and creation, she thinks logically about things, but she also has a very feeling personality.
eleanor_r's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
I enjoyed this exploration of the importance of rituals to mark time and major life transitions for humans. The memoir elements, recounting the author's upbringing by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan with scientific curiosity and without religious superstition, were especially engaging. As Gen X child of scientists, I grew up on Carl Sagan's Cosmos!
But as the author moves away from her childhood with her famous parents and more into her own adult life, it grew less interesting and more like breezy women's lifestyle magazine pieces (and indeed several of the chapters were originally written for periodicals). I was looking for more insight on forging non-religious rituals and traditions for myself and my family, and "relatable" stories about relationships and dinner parties with girlfriends weren't what I was looking for.
But as the author moves away from her childhood with her famous parents and more into her own adult life, it grew less interesting and more like breezy women's lifestyle magazine pieces (and indeed several of the chapters were originally written for periodicals). I was looking for more insight on forging non-religious rituals and traditions for myself and my family, and "relatable" stories about relationships and dinner parties with girlfriends weren't what I was looking for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
lakecake's review against another edition
4.0
I won a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a sweet and interesting little book, a memoir of Sagan’s parents and upbringing and a social history of how human beings have marked things. It’s not exactly what I thought it would be—I was expecting a kind of step-by-step guide to creating your own rituals—but it’s better; the elements are there to allow you to do that but it’s really left up to you, not Pinterested in little boxes for you.
This is a sweet and interesting little book, a memoir of Sagan’s parents and upbringing and a social history of how human beings have marked things. It’s not exactly what I thought it would be—I was expecting a kind of step-by-step guide to creating your own rituals—but it’s better; the elements are there to allow you to do that but it’s really left up to you, not Pinterested in little boxes for you.
tripp_2mylou's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked this thoughtful, lovely book about human rituals, connection, the universe and the author’s life. It took me a while to finish the last few chapters because I kept getting distracted by other books (for work, mostly) but there was a lot to savor here. Highlights include tidbits about the author’s father, the famous Carl Sagan, thoughts about winter holidays (I love the winter solstice), staying connected to friends (I like her idea of a monthly dinner), and different ways of looking at being secular among non secular people.
heydebigale's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
4.75
I thought this was a very thoughtful book describing options for secular rituals.
The thesis of this book is that it’s important to mark and commemorate “sacred” moments in our life even if we do not believe in God.
Birth, death, the changing of the seasons all deserve to be celebrated.
Sasha Sagan also talks about how you can view the world as even more beautiful if you believe it’s all random. That beauty and loveliness emerges from the chaos is also something to be celebrated.
I also loved the idea to create our own rituals like a month book club or a weekly dinner with friends.
Notes: Sasha Sagan is a secular Jewish woman and the book primarily takes place in NYC and Ithica, NY.
The thesis of this book is that it’s important to mark and commemorate “sacred” moments in our life even if we do not believe in God.
Birth, death, the changing of the seasons all deserve to be celebrated.
Sasha Sagan also talks about how you can view the world as even more beautiful if you believe it’s all random. That beauty and loveliness emerges from the chaos is also something to be celebrated.
I also loved the idea to create our own rituals like a month book club or a weekly dinner with friends.
Notes: Sasha Sagan is a secular Jewish woman and the book primarily takes place in NYC and Ithica, NY.