Contact
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 own.
Stats for nerds
30recommend
106mentions
91people
2007–2026years
34% recommend64% neutral2% critical
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- > Another profitable industry besides mining could be setting up nursing homes on the moon, where wealthy elderly folks could live fuller lives due to the reduced gravity.
That's what SR Hadden did in Contact ;) as always, Carl Sagan is still teaching us to this day
Gave me knowledge about modern Russia.Winter Is Coming by Garry Kasparov
Because it explains how physical geography affects the economic success of countries.Prisoners of Geography
Because it has good opinion on geopolitics.The Accidental Superpower by Peter Zeihan
Great book on theoretically communicating with aliens)Carl Sagan’s Contact
Because it have me advice on how to predict the future.The Art of the Long View by Peter Schwartz
Because it is an interesting opinion on future problems China may have.China Coup by Roger Garside- For anyone like me who is NOT a big fan of Sagan's non-fiction: I've just read his novel, Contact, expecting not to like it, but actually thought it was great. His language is less flowery in the novel than it when he was appearing on TV.
- Does anyone have recommended books or authors for people who like Stephenson?
My primary recommendation is Adrian Tchaikovsky's Children of Time books; their attention to detail is almost on Stephenson's level, although without as much edge in their tone and metaphors. I think most Stephenson fans would like them.
I'd also recommend Carl Sagan's Contact, and any of the Andy Weir books, although these are milder in tone, scope, and world-building.
- hi pol1-5, I don't understand what made you feel this way. Gratitude practice is universally human, in catholic culture Christ is the human ideal and spiritual teacher (apart from divine). You may disagree with the latter personally or think people who are catholic - like me as well - are not to be taken seriously. Fides et Ratio can go hand in hand (see the encyclical or Contact by Carl Sagan).
- I'm hoping for something closer to the ending of Carl Sagan's novel, "Contact". It only mentioned pi on half a page, but it sticks with you.
I won't spoil it, but that book beautifully walked a skeptical / existential / transcendental line and makes you feel a special warmth despite being so immeasurably small.
The book was much better than the (quite adequate) film.
Sagan was an extraordinary communicator.
