Review of "Billions and Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millenium," by Carl Sagan

 Review of

Billions and Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millenium, by Carl Sagan, ISBN 0679411607

Five out of five stars

Musings about the universe from a top intellect

 While Carl Sagan is known for his high level involvement in space science and has written popular works in that area, this is not totally about space. Sagan has also written speculations on other areas of science, including the evolutionary development of human intelligence. Humans are the first living creatures that we know of that developed the capability to dramatically alter their environment and even destroy it. 

 Although this book was published in 1997, Sagan demonstrates an understanding of the evolution of climate change and the consequences that have and continue to take place. He covers the issues of ozone depletion, the consequences of even a limited nuclear war and the absurdity of the existence of  massive nuclear arsenals. 

 One of the chapters deals with abortion and Sagan approaches it from a nuanced perspective using the two poles of “pro-choice” and “pro-life.” Using solid scientific reasoning, he points out that there has to be some point where a fetus late in gestation should not be aborted except in the most extreme circumstances. He also moves the evaluation backward to examine the position that life begins at conception. Since the ovum is fertilized in the Fallopian tubes, then that position is unrealistic, for the ovum is only potential until it implants in the uterus. Since some versions of birth control prevent this, the extreme position that life begins at conception introduces many complications. 

 The last chapter deals with the serious illnesses that Sagan was experiencing in the last months of his life. Written in a very objective way, he faces his demise maintaining his scientific approach to the world. 

 Sagan was one of the towering figures in science in the late twentieth century. In this book he demonstrates this again as well as his ability to think clearly and objectively about the great social problems of the world. 


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