For Small Creatures Such as We

Rituals for Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World

By: Sasha Sagan

Narrated by: Sasha Sagan

"A charming book, ringing with the joy of existence." -- Richard Dawkins

"This lyrical exploration of how we can find beauty in the natural world comes from the daughter of Carl Sagan . . . A wonderful gift for your favorite reader." --Good Housekeeping

The perfect gift for a loved one or for yourself, For Small Creatures Such as We is part memoir, part guidebook, and part social history, a luminous celebration of Earth's marvels that require no faith in order to be believed.

Sasha Sagan was raised by secular parents, the astronomer Carl Sagan and the writer and producer Ann Druyan. They taught her that the natural world and vast cosmos are full of profound beauty, that science reveals truths more wondrous than any myth or fable.

When Sagan herself became a mother, she began her own hunt for the natural phenomena behind our most treasured occasions--from births to deaths, holidays to weddings, anniversaries, and more--growing these roots into a new set of rituals for her young daughter that honor the joy and significance of each experience without relying on religious framework.

As Sagan shares these rituals, For Small Creatures Such as We becomes a moving tribute to a father, a newborn daughter, a marriage, and the natural world--a celebration of life itself, and the power of our families and beliefs to bring us together.

Absolutely beautiful!

I enjoyed this book SO MUCH that I finished it in just a few days. Absolutely beautiful, moving, inspiring.... thank you Sasha Sagan!

Deep and moving!

Having been raised deeply religious and spending most of my life a member of the Amish/Mennonites, but am now an atheist, I found this book of Sasha Sagan poignant and moving. Sometimes I had tears in my eyes! The inflections and feeling in her voice made it so much more touching and real to me.

While the printed book is I’m sure good, listening to her read it was like sitting on my parents lap and being gently soothed and taught. I would highly recommend the audible version to everyone.

One of the best books I’ve ever read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After deconstructing from Christianity, I found myself feeling a deep sense of loss in some parts of my life where I felt the rituals and traditions of my childhood could no longer be enjoyed. This book changed all of that and filled me with such joy and excitement.

A thoughtful way for rationalists to find meaning

Sagan shares with us her attempt to live her life with the kind of meaning offered by religion while accepting a scientific outlook. To do this, she takes us on a tour of topics and life events, looks at how religions deal with them, finds the good, and offers applications. What is especially nice is hearing how she personally does this, which goes beyond simple abstract advice into concrete modeling.

Profoundly Beautiful

Sasha Sagan’s words are a gift to anyone who might be lost in a world filled with pressure to be religious. I am agnostic and her words calmed my spirit. It is ok to have tradition and still have reservations. Her words are thought provoking and echo her father’s philosophy. We are a here on Earth, and this is profound, yet we are also a very tiny speck in the cosmos. Her book is a beautiful account of her grateful soul. Life is a gift, from the universe. ✨