Rating: 4/5 billion stars
Author: Carl Sagan
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/2LX8x6J
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Sagan's final book reflects on the things that many of us consider when we know our lives are near their end. The text is both a heartwarming reminder of the eloquent prose that Sagan is capable of, as well as his capacity for addressing some of the most profound questions that humanity must ask itself as we continue to move into the future. Billions and Billions ended up taking a longer period of time for me to read, due to a number of life events getting in the way, but I was able to pick it up after a break and easily climb back into the narrative. I was very happy with the book overall and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Sagan or wishes to explore his viewpoints on the topics covered in the book.
The book covers a number of topics, and approaches fundamental questions about mortality, morality, and the human experience. Sagan reflects on the awesome scale and possibilities of the universe around us in the first part of the book, probes the reasoning and justification behind a number of social questions in the second part of the book, and digs into some very sensitive subjects and provides profound advice for living a good life in the final part of the book. The text covers an amazing amount of ground, from investigating the justification and practice of abortion, to the question of whether intelligent life exists outside our own planet. Sagan is perhaps the only author that can handle such a variety and differing scale of questions without missing a beat. Sagan's classic conversational style is present, and is refined at this point in his career. The book is an excellent demonstration of work that is approachable without sacrificing academic depth. His dictation is as calm and reasoned as it always has been; I like to imagine him reading the text in an armchair in front of a flickering fireplace, calmly explaining the universe to those of us who are prepared to listen.
Sagan's personal story is entwined into the narrative, which both grounds the text in real experience and provides an emotional thread that left me with a lump in my throat and a sense of respect for his enduring perspective and the strength of his family as his life came to an end, near the end of the text. The final chapter is written by his wife, as she reflects on his impact and life of work spent answering questions that have proved to be difficult to approach, even today. It speaks to the gravity of the topics discussed, that we still struggle with many of these in our modern society. Perhaps if we still had Sagan with us, he would be able to help us to further deconstruct these complex questions, but I suspect that him being forced to consider his mortality somehow allowed him to see some of these topics more clearly.
The discussion is notably apolitical, something which is both refreshing and discouraging considering how our current politically charged social climate has only gotten more extreme with time. Sagan was interested in finding the truth of the matter, even with questions that many would gladly accept some more comforting narrative as opposed to a more sober, realistic understanding.
Considering that Sagan's legacy can be measured by the effect on our modern culture, it is clear that he lives on through his thoughtful words and positions. His cutting observations will shape our dialog for years to come, as a man of his intellect and social statue deserves.
We miss you Carl, thank you for all you have done for us.