Sample
  • Contact

  • By: Carl Sagan
  • Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow
  • Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (5,590 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Contact

By: Carl Sagan
Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $22.49

Buy for $22.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The future is here...in an adventure of cosmic dimension. In December, 1999, a multinational team journeys out to the stars, to the most awesome encounter in human history. Who - or what - is out there? In Cosmos, Carl Sagan explained the universe. In Contact, he predicts its future - and our own.

©1997 Carl Sagan (P)1997 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Contact deals with issues...worth pondering. The range and depth of ideas is quite uncommon." ( New York Times Book Review)

"Like a good mystery, Contact keeps us curious to the end...ingenious and satisfying." (Newsweek)

Featured Article: The best audiobooks about aliens for curious humans


Throughout the history of storytelling, we humans have been curious about the possibility of worlds beyond Earth and its inhabitants. Thanks to our endless fascination with extraterrestrial life, there is a mountain of literature, from novels to memoirs, exploring the potential outcomes of interacting with creatures from other planets. Without further ado, here are 20 of our favorite listens about alien life.

What listeners say about Contact

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,784
  • 4 Stars
    1,262
  • 3 Stars
    394
  • 2 Stars
    99
  • 1 Stars
    51
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,398
  • 4 Stars
    1,184
  • 3 Stars
    333
  • 2 Stars
    69
  • 1 Stars
    50
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,483
  • 4 Stars
    1,070
  • 3 Stars
    346
  • 2 Stars
    81
  • 1 Stars
    54

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story!

What made the experience of listening to Contact the most enjoyable?

The balance of character building and scientific explanation was perfect.

Any additional comments?

The religious thread throughout the book was at first off-putting until I realized that most new scientific developments are often met with push back from the "Holy Community."

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

the movie was good, this was better!!

What did you love best about Contact?

Carl Sagen's writing, and his masterful reconciling of the tension between science and religious fanatics. The story and characters are believable and true to form. seeing the movie first, enabled me to visualize the Machine and, enhanced my enjoyment of the story

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book opened up a universe of thought, (bad pun), but really makes you think as Carl says, "Billions and billions of stars, what a waste if we're the only intellegent ones out there".

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Better than the Movie

What did you love best about Contact?

Carl Sagan's writing style. He added enough scientific detail to make the story believable but not enough to bury the average reader.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ellie was my favorite. She was a lot more sympathetic in the book than in the movie.

Have you listened to any of Laurel Lefkow’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first listen to Ms. Lefkow and I enjoyed her style very much.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Movie very good; book great!

Well narrated and portrayed. Incredible story.. CS offers incredibly detailed glimpses into a possible future for mankind. I love the way it makes you think.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Hard to follow. Way over analytical of characters.

Hard to follow. Way over analytical of characters and feelings of the main character. The science of the story was cool though.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story

I'm not a sci fi fan but I really enjoyed this book. It has a good mix of science, philosophy, religion, and relatable human relationships. The ending was very satisfying and I'm sure I'll continue to ponder this story for a while. It really piques your curiosity and creativity! The narrator did a good job, too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Book

I thought the movie great, and in its way it is. But once you read ( or listen) the book, well it is much richer in every way. A must for all who saw the film if you want Carl’s truth.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Sagan's Ode to Curiosity

You'll fall in love with the main character, Ellie, stand in awe of nature and science, and be humbled in contemplation of how small you are and how vulnerable you are to the dangers of irrational thinking. Sagan begins every chapter with a few apt quotes, which I found beautiful and inspiring. Occasionally a little long winded, but mostly wonderful. Highly recommended for lovers of science, sci-fi, and the numinous.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Smart, beautiful and engaging!

The book is a beautiful story interspersed with science which makes the reader (me) look things up and enhance my knowledge of the universe and it’s laws.
Highly recommended

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Companion to the Movie

This was the first Carl Sagan book I have read. Having attended Cornell University back in the early 80's, I knew where his house was (but he was on sabbatical when I was there). I had seen this movie several years ago and loved it. When this book was listed as a daily special, I picked it up and listened during a recent backpacking trip. This book provides more substance than the book. The movie was very true to the book for most of the story. I actually liked the ending of the movie better (but I will have to rewatch the movie now). Vilifying the Christian right in the movie was another change from the book. This book certainly gives fodder for thought.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!