The Sagan Series: A Pale Blue Dot

A very few people leave an impression so great that the lives they change go on to change the world.

Carl Sagan is one of those people.

The young people he inspired to choose careers in science, or just to have a love of science that makes our society stronger, are innumerable.

I hope that kids growing up today have role models as amazing as Dr. Sagan.

I was in high school when I got the news that he had died. Having grown up treasuring a hardback copy of Cosmos that my parents had got for me when I was 5 or so (still on my bookshelf today of course), I had fallen immediately in love with the phenomenal PBS series of the book and looked up to Carl Sagan as someone very special indeed. It was no wonder that my parents helped me to become a member of Carl Sagan's Planetary Society back in grade school, a membership I held all through high school.

In utter shock and disbelief when I received his news, I remember I had been walking to our school's computer lab. By the time I reached it, my brain was numb and I just sort of walked aimlessly to a computer along the south wall. As I approached the desk, I told our lab teacher what I had just learned, sat down, put my head in my hands, and cried.

Looking back on it now, I'm still not entirely sure why news of his death had so profound an effect on me, but I suspect it had something to do with Carl Sagan's "real talent for being profoundly inspiring on a deeper level," as burke so eloquently pointed out.

EDIT: Just finished watching the three videos. Absolutely blown away. And no, it's not really a mystery why he had so profound an effect on so many: between the eloquence of his words and his hypnotic speech and diction, who couldn't help but we swept away by his lessons? Only he could render in such convincing detail "the view that Kepler dreamed of," (if you have a copy of Cosmos lying around, you'll recognize that particular caption's stunning photo), and so much more in the universe beyond.

If you like this, I would highly recommend the "Carl Sagan Tribute Series" by callumCGLP: http://www.youtube.com/user/callumCGLP#p/c/0/pxlPVSAnWOo

It similarly uses quotes from Sagan's audiobooks, but combines it with the Lost soundtrack (which fits surprisingly well), and footage from Discovery and the BBC. Really great stuff!

Perspective: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p86BPM1GV8M

The most important section of Sagan's book I believe. Put it on when you have had a bad day or are struggling with a task.

I cannot count the number of times I have posted this on HN!

His book "The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark" is a must read. It's the best advocate for critical thinking.

Everyone needs to see this.

I have at least a dozen times already and it's always as inspiring as the last.

Nice project.

I was lucky to have come across Carl Sagan and his books in my early 20s. The amount of positive inspiration this has provided me couldn't have originated anywhere else. He's definitely one of the writers who influenced my world-views the most.

Contact is my favourite book.. cancellation of the SETI project is like a part of that book turning to dust.. fantasy.. sad, really

Awesome. What an amazing, inspiring human being.

Awesome site. Thanks a lot.

Although it helps, I think Carl Sagan is still turning in his grave because of the cancellation of the SETI project..

These videos were edited by rgower, a redditor, in an attempt to reinvent Nasa's marketing : http://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/ez5xe

I just love the first video. It is really inspiring, and I re-watch it often.

I also like this version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djnGjm-BfdI . Sunshine's OST, Adagio In D Minor ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQXVzg2PiZw ), goes really well with the message. Of course, some might say that this song could make any video "epic"... They used a remixed version of it in Kick-Ass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dQMunLEXHA (warning: SPOILER!).