Reviews

Billions & Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium by Carl Sagan

kcrouth's review against another edition

5.0

Billions and Billions is a collection of essays and other short writings on various topics by Dr. Sagan. This was his last book, published posthumously. Topics range from science to the environment to technology to philosophical and moral questions related to humans past, present, and future existence. This book is not a deep dive into any of these subjects, but in true Sagan form, is infused through and through with his vast knowledge and profound wisdom. When we lost Dr. Sagan in 1996, the world lost one of the greatest minds and hearts of the 20th century. The chasm left behind is vast, and so needs to be filled. This is a great collection, and perhaps a great introduction to Dr. Sagan.

fbole's review against another edition

3.75

• The world is so exquisite, with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better, it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look Death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides. - Carl Sagan (Billions and Billions, pg 258)

scott_op_ks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This is the book that got me reading. I was a waste of space back in the day, but after picking this up I was hooked. 

Definitely not his best. Still a joy to read. 

I miss Carl. 

tahnok's review against another edition

Too American patriotic Ra Ra and pop science

vincentngo's review against another edition

hopeful informative medium-paced

3.5

man_in_chair's review against another edition

funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad fast-paced

the final essay and epilogue are important to me

brainsandbraids's review against another edition

informative inspiring

4.0

marobo's review against another edition

dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death

rick_k's review against another edition

5.0

I have read several Sagan books, and dozens of other books on cosmology and science in general. I cherish Carl Sagan's precise and clever mind, and the passion and honesty of his narrative voice. This book expands in to international politics and social policy, but with the same reasoned, calm assurance. Perhaps I should have read the subtitle more clearly or tried to place this book chronologically with his other books, but I was unprepared for the final chapter and afterwards. Less than a month ago I lost my father to cancer, and Carl and Annie's hopeful but unflinching accounting of Carl's own battle and death broke me down. There are so many facets to this work which expand it beyond the scope of Cosmos, Demon Haunted World, and his others, but together they relate a way of see the universe and its inhabitants with the greatest compassion and humility. I wish we had his clear voice still, but grateful for what we do have recorded. Highly recommended.

remlezar's review against another edition

4.0

More like a collection of essays as opposed to a traditional non-fiction book with an overall goal, Billions and Billions spends a little bit of time on a whole bunch of different things. Pretty fitting, I think, as the last book Sagan wrote before he died. Not my favorite of his, but still fantastic enough for me to feel bad about giving it any less than five stars.