I can't believe I hadn't read this before now. I'd read Cosmos and Pale Blue Dot and been a science-loving critical thinker as far back as I can remember. This is a choice overview of the importance of having a balance between skeptical thinking and a sense of wonder. You want to keep your mind open, says Sagan, but not so far open your brains fall out. And you want to be skeptical, but not a close-minded dismissive. He pleads for more and better scientific literacy and logical thinking. In a chapter called The Baloney-Detection Kit he literally gives you the basic logical tools needed to help you evaluate fantastic claims. Just remember:"Extrodinary claims require extrodianary evidence."
