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Cosmos

By: Carl Sagan
Narrated by: LeVar Burton, Seth MacFarlane, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Ann Druyan
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Editorial reviews

Editors Select, June 2017

As a big fan of Neil deGrasse Tyson's recent documentary series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, which honors Carl Sagan's original work from 1980, I was excited to listen to Sagan's companion book - now available in audio for the first time. While I was a bit too young to catch Sagan's docuseries, LeVar Burton's Reading Rainbow did heavily influence my childhood, and this may be why my brain seemed primordially attuned to learn from Burton's voice. He's the perfect narrator for untangling complicated scientific subjects as well as highlighting their moments of majesty. I legit feel smarter for having listened to Cosmos, and I'll also never be able to forget why medieval Catholic monks first domesticated rabbits (hint: it wasn't because they were cute). —Emily, Audible Editor

Publisher's Summary

Cosmos is one of the bestselling science books of all time. In clear-eyed prose, Sagan reveals a jewel-like blue world inhabited by a life form that is just beginning to discover its own identity and to venture into the vast ocean of space. Featuring a new Introduction by Sagan's collaborator, Ann Druyan, and a new Foreword by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos retraces the fourteen billion years of cosmic evolution that have transformed matter into consciousness, exploring such topics as the origin of life, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphics, spacecraft missions, the death of the Sun, the evolution of galaxies, and the forces and individuals who helped to shape modern science.

Includes introductory music: Heaven and Hell by Vangelis from Cosmos: A Personal Voyage used with permission from Druyan-Sagan Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.

©1980 Carl Sagan Productions, Inc (P)2017 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Foreword © 2013 by Ann Druyan. “Reflections on Carl Sagan’s Cosmos” essay © 2013 by Neil deGrasse Tyson.

What listeners say about Cosmos

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

incredible book doesn't translate well into audio

Narration by Burton is overly energised with erratic pauses, and unnecessary dramatization which detracts from the scientific content being conveyed.

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Worth every cent.

Beautiful. Just beautiful. Still relevant after all these years. Wonderfully narrated. A must have audio book for everyone.

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9 people found this helpful

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A humane perspective on our place in the cosmos

Sagan continues to enthral readers with his dessemination of the micro and macro cosmos with exquisite detailing that never dithers near boredom.
If you ever needed your hope restored in humanity, or wanted to know what ego death feels like- this book achieves this all with the right balance of science, history, philosophy and narration.

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5 people found this helpful

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Brillant

Very easy listening, insightful and mostly still relevant today.

Written by a true genius and read by amazing people.

Loved it.

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4 people found this helpful

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horrible

Only listened to 10 minutes. Awful grating voice and repetitive boring rubbish. it may have got more interesting but I couldn't bear any more.

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4 people found this helpful

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Objectively great, but it does show its age.

A brilliant, insightful and deeply poetic story. And it is a story, the most grand story you’ll ever hear, seemlessly intertwining history, politics and science.

It is missing a certain oooomph these days as the cutting edge science discussions have since been surpassed by greater, more recent ventures.

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incredible

an incredible insight into carl sagans cosmic perspective. An absolute must listen for anyone interested in astronomy or science in general.

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3 people found this helpful

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This is a real eye opener.

Loved this book. Audible is the way to read it. Narrated well. Thank you Audible

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2 people found this helpful

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LeVar Burton's narration is a gift to Cosmos

Cosmos, an already captivating and thought-provoking composition, as relevant today as when it was composed by the great Carl Sagan, is enhansed even further by LeVar Burton and his wonderful narration. This Audible edition of Cosmos quite literally brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. Thank you.

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literally out of this world

a stellar performance that blew me away with a big bang. download this now. it's one small click for you but a giant leap for your consciousness' (event) horizon.

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