Cosmos
The broadest and most accessible introduction to Sagan's scientific worldview and cosmic perspective.
Author guide
Carl Sagan Books in Order
Carl Edward Sagan (1934–1996) was an American astronomer and planetary scientist whose research addressed planetary atmospheres, the origin of life, extraterrestrial intelligence, and nuclear winter. He became one of the most influential science communicators of the twentieth century through books including The Dragons of Eden, Cosmos, Contact, Pale Blue Dot, and The Demon-Haunted World, as well as the television series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage.
popular scienceastronomyplanetary sciencescience essaysscience fictiontechnical nonfiction
Catalog record updated .
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
An award-winning exploration of human intelligence, evolution, and the brain.
Contact
Sagan's sole novel and a readable introduction to his ideas about extraterrestrial intelligence.
Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space
A reflective synthesis of space exploration, planetary responsibility, and humanity's future.
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
A foundational guide to scientific skepticism and critical thinking.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (17)
- Intelligent Life in the Universe
nonfiction · 1966
- Planets
nonfiction · 1966
- The Air War in Indochina
nonfiction · 1972
- The Cosmic Connection: An Extraterrestrial Perspective
nonfiction · 1973
I came across this when i was watching cosmos by Neil. Its mentioned as the book which was given to him by the legend himself, sagan.
- Other Worlds
nonfiction · 1975
- The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
nonfiction · 1977
Presents an overview of human evolution and discusses human and animal intelligence, the mechanisms of the brain, memory, sleep, myths and legends about evolution, and the possibility of intelligent extraterrestrial life.
- Murmurs of Earth: The Voyager Interstellar Record
nonfiction · 1978
In 1977, two extraodinary spacecraft called Voyager were launched to the stars. Affixed to each Voyager craft was a gold-coated copped phonograph record as a message to possible extra-terrestrial civilizations that might encounter the…
- The Martian Landscape
nonfiction · 1978
- Cosmos
nonfiction · 1980
This book is about science in its broadest human context, how science and civilization grew up together. It is the story of our long journey of discovery and the forces and individuals who helped to shape modern science, including…
- The Fallacy of Star Wars: Why Space Weapons Can't Protect Us
nonfiction · 1984
- The Cold and the Dark: The World After Nuclear War
nonfiction · 1984
“The scientific discoveries described in this book may turn out . . . to have been the most important research findings in the long history of science.” —Lewis Thomas, from the Foreward
- Contact
novel · 1985
In December, 1999, a multinational team journeys out to the stars, to the most awesome encounter in human history. Who -- or what -- is out there? In Cosmos, Carl Sagan explained the universe. In Contact, he predicts its future -- and our…
- Comet
nonfiction · 1985
- A Path Where No Man Thought: Nuclear Winter and the End of the Arms Race
nonfiction · 1990
Discusses the theory of nuclear winter, its predicted consequences, and what can be done to prevent a war.
- Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors: A Search for Who We Are
nonfiction · 1992
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “Exciting and provocative . . . A tour de force of a book that begs to be seen as well as to be read.”—The Washington Post Book World World renowned scientist Carl Sagan and acclaimed author Ann Druyan have written a…
- Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space
nonfiction · 1994
In Cosmos, the late astronomer Carl Sagan cast his gaze over the magnificent mystery of the Universe and made it accessible to millions of people around the world. Now in this stunning sequel, Carl Sagan completes his revolutionary…
- The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
nonfiction · 1995
A prescient warning of a future we now inhabit, where fake news stories and Internet conspiracy theories play to a disaffected American populace “A glorious book . . . A spirited defense of science . . . From the first page to the last,…
Essays and speeches (6)
- Planetary Exploration: The Condon Lectures
lecture-collection · 1970
- Mars and the Mind of Man
essay-collection · 1973
- Life Beyond Earth and the Mind of Man
essay-collection · 1973
- Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science
essay-collection · 1979
A fascinating book on the joys of discovering how the world works, by the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Cosmos and Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors. “Magnificent . . . Delightful . . . A masterpiece. A message of tremendous hope for…
- Billions and Billions
essay-collection · 1997
- The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God
essay-collection · 2006
From the Publisher: Carl Sagan's prophetic vision of the tragic resurgence of fundamentalism and the hope-filled potential of the next great development in human spirituality. The late great astronomer and astrophysicist describes his…
Edited works (5)
- Planetary Atmospheres
edited-volume · 1971
- Space Research XI
edited-volume · 1971
- UFOs: A Scientific Debate
edited-volume · 1972
- Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence
edited-volume · 1973
- The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
edited-volume · 1977
Other (2)
- The Atmospheres of Mars and Venus
technical-report · 1961
- Machine Intelligence and Robotics: Report of the NASA Study Group
technical-report · 1979
Frequently asked questions about Carl Sagan
Who was Carl Sagan?
Carl Sagan was an American astronomer, astrobiologist, educator, author, and science communicator who helped bridge academic science and popular culture.
Source: loc.gov (opens in a new tab)
When and where was Carl Sagan born?
He was born on November 9, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York.
What did Carl Sagan do during his scientific career?
Sagan taught at Harvard before joining Cornell in 1968, where he became a full professor. He also contributed to NASA’s Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo missions.
What inspired Carl Sagan’s interest in astronomy?
His childhood science-fiction reading and visit to the 1939 New York World’s Fair helped shape his fascination with astronomy and the possibilities of science.
Source: loc.gov (opens in a new tab)
What awards did Carl Sagan receive, and what is his legacy?
He won the 1978 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction for The Dragons of Eden. His legacy also includes co-founding The Planetary Society, which continues to advance space science and exploration.
Sources: pulitzer.org (opens in a new tab)planetary.org (opens in a new tab)