Book Review

In the first pages of this lesser-known gem of a book, written late in Sagan's life, the author describes an encounter with a taxi-driver who is widely read and maintains a strong belief in UFO's, the lost city of Atlantis, channeling, etc. Does Sagan dismissively deride this man's irrational and unsupported beliefs in the paranormal? Not at all. Instead, Sagan patiently and sympathetically refutes the so-called 'evidence' for such beliefs and goes on to build a compelling argument that this man's education has somehow failed him. He is, after all, earnestly seeking explanations for his world, yet pseudoscience trumped real science and captured this taxi-driver's attention. And what a tragedy that is, for real science delivers more wonder and inspiration than pseudoscience ever could. Furthermore, science and rational thinking could help shape decision-making, for this man and others, in a manner that would benefit all.

Sagan ties together a broad range of subjects - from 'recovered' memories to faith healing to "The X Files" - to explain why beliefs in mysticism and the paranormal are so intoxicating and compelling. He goes on to demonstrate the value of seeking explanations through skepticism and rational means.

The Demon-Haunted World is beautifully written and exhibits the astonishing range of Sagan's knowledge. In a particularly brilliant chapter, Sagan draws a convincing link between modern-day accounts of alien abduction and stories from the Middle Ages of incubi and succubi, flying demons that were believed to regularly carry people off for sexual purposes. Sagan also populates the book with evocative personal accounts of the role models who shaped his thinking. The Demon-Haunted World is penetrating, thought provoking and a pleasure to read.

~ Barry Logan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology, Bowdoin College