The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence

Carl Sagan is one of my favorite authors. This book fills everyone one of my expectations. He neatly wraps so many ideas together, while bringing this intense enthusiasm for learning and knowledge.I particularly love the way he discusses chimps teaching other language over time "Would the Gardners and the workers at Yerkes primate center be remembered dimly as legendary folk heroes or gods of another species."- Carl Sagan. Although this book was written a good many years ago I feel that a lot of his hypothesis are still valid. He makes connections and sees patterns in things that I could never hope to see. As one reads this book they seem to gain the same passion that he posses for the wonder of life. It is immensely impressive that an astronomer writes a book completely outside of his subject and yet he did a better job than someone who is specialized in that field. Overall this book is a must read if you in anyway want to experience a true sense of wonder and beauty for the world we live in.

This book was the beginning of a thirst for knowledge for me, I occasionally will read it again just to reminisce my awakening.

This book was very popular when it came out, and to an extent it still serves as a useful overview of the science of our brains and how we think. The beginning on chapter on the "cosmic calendar," comparing the history of the university to a 365-day calendar (we're sitting at 11:59 pm before New Year's Day) is now a classic way to look at time. Overall, however, this book is seriously dated. The chapter on artificial intelligence is quaint. Carl Sagan is a gifted writer who explains science well, but there are better books today to consult on these same topics.

I loved this book! Fascinating ideas about our evolution. I think he hits it right on the head with some.

Sagan is as great as ever in this one too.
Evolution of Human Intelligence along with Sagan's awesome speculations. Loved It.

Remember that Carl Sagan is neither a psychiatrist nor a neurologist. But he has throughly explained the mechanism of the human mind here as well as our hidden fears that "could be" traced from our ancestors and their former rivalry with reptiles. One interesting part is his topic on the "three-tiered brain" (R-complex, Limbic System, and the Neo Cortex) and he explained how we differ from the rest of the Vertebrates.

Sagan endeavors to relate human culture such as mythology to the evolutionary development of the brain. Speculative, easily readable, and thought-provoking.

Great tidbits on the evolution of biology and especially the brain, i learned something new on every page!

An amazingly dense book that offers insight to not only the human brain but also the extent to which previous generations have understood so much.

I was tempted to write "If you read only one scientific book in your lifetime," make it the Dragons of Eden. Simply amazing.