Carl Sagan and mankinds origins....

I was first introduced to Carl Sagan back in the early 80's when I read his book The Dragons of Eden. Ever since that time I have remained a fan. I've posted a wiki entry about that particular book which had a profound impact on me and has to be one of my all time favourites.

''The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence is a Pulitzer Prize winning 1977 book by Carl Sagan. In it, he combines the fields of anthropology, evolutionary biology, psychology, and computer science to give a perspective of how human intelligence evolved. Other topics mentioned include the evolution of the brain (with emphasis on the function of the neocortex in humans), the evolutionary purpose of sleep and dreams, demonstration of sign language abilities by chimps and the purpose of mankind's innate fears and myths. The title "The Dragons of Eden" refers to man's early struggle for survival in the face of predators, and how fear of reptiles may have led to cultural beliefs and myths about dragons and snakes''

Sagan was an incredibly intelligent man who was the voice of reason. Such a pity that his life was cut short.