Title: Cosmos: Possible Worlds
Author: Ann Druyan
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: National Geographic
Publish Date: February 25, 2020
Source: TLC Book Tours
What's the Story?:
From Goodreads.com: "This sequel to Carl
Sagan's blockbuster continues the electrifying journey through space and
time, connecting with worlds billions of miles away and envisioning a
future of science tempered with wisdom.
Based on National
Geographic's internationally-renowned television series, this
groundbreaking and visually stunning book explores how science and
civilization grew up together. From the emergence of life at deep-sea
vents to solar-powered starships sailing through the galaxy, from the
Big Bang to the intricacies of intelligence in many life forms,
acclaimed author Ann Druyan documents where humanity has been and where
it is going, using her unique gift of bringing complex scientific
concepts to life. With evocative photographs and vivid illustrations,
she recounts momentous discoveries, from the Voyager missions in which
she and her husband, Carl Sagan, participated to Cassini-Huygens's
recent insights into Saturn's moons. This breathtaking sequel to Sagan's
masterpiece explains how we humans can glean a new understanding of
consciousness here on Earth and out in the cosmos--again reminding us
that our planet is a pale blue dot in an immense universe of
possibility."
My Two Cents:
"Cosmos: Possible Worlds" is the sequel to Carl Sagan's book, "Cosmos" and it is a worthy follow-on. This book explores so many corners of our universe and highlights many people who took scientific exploration further than it has ever gone before and tried to figure out this big, amazing world.
Sometimes you just want a book that totally sucks you in and makes you mull over so many different things that you've never thought of before. This is that book. The book opens with the story of a young Carl Sagan being captivated by the World's Fair and how that experience set off a lifelong journey to explore the furthest most corners of the universe. I love the intimate picture that you get of Sagan through various life stages: this book was written by his wife, a noted scientist and scientific writer in her own right.
This is one of those books that can be read straight through or story-by-story. There is so much to ponder here and while Druyan gives the reader tons and tons of detail, the stories still feel accessible. The book also has some really gorgeous pictures in it that bring the stories even more to life. In a time where I am constantly looking for books that are fully engaging and take me away, this book certainly fit the bill. This book would be perfect for readers who love science and know all the doors that just having the willingness to explore can open!
