Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UFOs)

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the renowned astronomer and author of Cosmos comes a “powerful [and] stirring defense of informed rationality” (The Washington Post Book World) in a world where fake news stories and Internet conspiracy theories play to a disaffected American populace.LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE WINNER • “Glorious . . . A spirited defense of science . . . From the first page to the last, this book is a manifesto for clear thought.”—Los Angeles Times How can we make intelligent decisions about our increasingly technology-driven lives if we don’t understand the difference between the myths of pseudoscience, New Age thinking, and fundamentalist zealotry and the testable hypotheses of science? Casting a wide net through history and culture, Pulitzer Prize–winning author and distinguished astronomer Carl Sagan argues that scientific thinking is critical not only to the pursuit of truth but to the very well-being of our democratic institutions. He examines and authoritatively debunks such celebrated fallacies as witchcraft, faith healings, demons, and UFOs. And yet, disturbingly, in today’s so-called information age, pseudoscience is burgeoning, with stories of alien abduction, “channeling” past lives, and communal hallucinations commanding growing attention and respect.  As Sagan demonstrates with lucid eloquence, the siren song of unreason is not just a cultural wrong turn but a dangerous plunge into darkness that threatens our most basic freedoms.

The New York Times bestseller. Impeccably researched by veteran journalist Leslie Kean, this fascinating journalistic endeavor reads like the best science fiction and investigates the existence of--and government reactions to--UFOs.

A deep dive into the world of Ufology--the study and search for extraterrestrial life--with a fun, informative, humorous look at the history of this strange world of conspiracy.

This beautifully illustrated book is both an engaging memoir of the author's intensive involvement with one of the great enigmas of contemporary times and a thrilling prediction of imminent extraterrestrial contact. It is sure to gain wide recognition among both crop circle devotees and those interested in the evolution and future of humanity.

From aliens or ghosts to the djinn, electric-voice phenomenon and UFO abductions, this book is the most comprehensive and enlightening survey ever made of encounters with the Others.