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Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors

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Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors

By: Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan
Narrated by: Nick Sagan, Ann Druyan, Clinnette Minnis
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About this listen

World renowned scientist Carl Sagan and acclaimed author Ann Druyan have written a Roots for the human species, a lucid and riveting account of how humans got to be the way we are. It shows with humor and drama that many of our key traits - self-awareness, technology, family ties, submission to authority, hatred for those a little different from ourselves, reason, and ethics - are rooted in the deep past, and illuminated by our kinship with other animals.

Astonishing in its scope, brilliant in its insights, and absolutely compelling, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a triumph of popular science.

©1992 Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan (P)2017 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Biological Sciences Environment Evolution Evolution & Genetics Genetics Science Sociology Witty
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Carl Sagan is one of my heroes. Cosmos was foundational in building my understanding of the world, the universe, and the nature of reality. I have read many of his books, and regretted that I did not get a copy of this one when it was published. So I was pleased to find it as an audio book. It's only the second one I have ever bought, and only because it isn't available in Kindle.
So I'm conflicted in having to admit disappointment at this audio book. Not because of its content, but because of the presentation. Carl Sagan is long gone, so the magnificent eloquence of his speech is sadly missed. To my European ears, this audio book is so jarringly *American*. It's grating, for example, to hear a Scottish review of Darwin's Origin of Species spoken in such a nasal faux 19th century north east American accent. It lends the whole experience of listening to this book an air of falsity. Which I never thought I'd *ever* say of anything by or about Carl Sagan.
While I would not recommend against buying this audio book for yourself, I will persevere to get a second hand printed copy to experience Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors the way it was intended.

Conflicted

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Very well written waffle passing for science. Reached chapter 4 and so far there has been a lot of padding. Statements about our connection to our ancestors and placental clouds swirling around the primordial sun are evocative but not illustrative. Mentions of Darwin raised the pulse only to lapse into discussions of the Lunar men. Hoping that we get somewhere at some point. Very disappointing so far.

3 Stars. 4 for the performance and 1 for the content

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