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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this audiobook (and story). I found it so fascinating. I have never really been very interested in space, but now I find myself reading news stories about the International Space Station, looking up various things about astronauts and space shuttles, and even watching the NASA channel from time to time! I would highly recommend this book to others.
During the year that Scott Kelly was on the ISS, I followed closely by watching interviews and excitedly checking his Instagram feed everyday. Reading this book brought a whole new level of how real his experiences were throughout his amazing career and during the year in Space. His stories help to bring Space down to Earth - often times as I was reading, I truly felt like I was at the ISS or taking those Space walks alongside him. I also found myself pausing to think about how the ISS is a real place with real people living and carrying on with similar tasks he discussed in the book. I’ve always been fascinated with Space and Space Exploration and this book really fed my soul in that way. I’m so glad I purchased this book, because it’s definitely one I will reread for fun and to just relive what it feels like to be an astronaut too! As a teacher, it really ignites my excitement about encouraging my students to explore STEM and to encourage students who display the same behaviors as the Kelly brothers early in school to help them find their academic passions sooner. MUST READ!!!
Well-written account of what it takes to become an astronaut and what living on the ISS for an entire year entails. This book is rich with information and I learned a ton - how the build-up of CO2 can affect cognition and performance (why the Seedra which eliminates CO2 is so vital on the ISS), how the ISS represents such a feat of international cooperation (including differences between American and Russian space programs (from the meals down to whether astronauts complain)), and how astronauts have to be skilled at problem solving/interpersonal skills with high stakes as they repair machinery that is vital to their survival (whether it is rationing food/water when re-supply missions fail or taking apart complex machinery in zero gravity). Kelly's book is a memoir of his journey from struggling student to pilot to astronaut - showing that with determination, you can achieve your goals. It also brings up various issues to consider as we look ahead to long space flight, including Mars, and also an appreciation for our beautiful planet. It is a must read for anyone who is interested in space travel.
Scott Kelly stuns in his exciting memoir. I followed his instagram account closely during his year in space, and loved seeing his posts about life in the International Space Station. I grabbed this book as soon as I saw it released, and was glad I did. I listened to the audible version (Narrated by himself) and thought it was even more special. I love books that are narrated by the author, especially in the case of memoirs. After all, who knows the story better? It was like sitting down for coffee with an American hero while he told me the story of his life.
The story effortlessly switches between the story of his life, and his space mission. Almost like a movie that starts in the middle and both moves forward and tells the history in flash backs. Most authors would not be able to pull this off well, yet Kelly does. The story is easy to follow and both narratives move along effortlessly.
Overall, a gripping story of true courage and discovery. The story of a man who works hard to achieve his dreams, and comes closer that many of us ever will to touching the stars.
The story effortlessly switches between the story of his life, and his space mission. Almost like a movie that starts in the middle and both moves forward and tells the history in flash backs. Most authors would not be able to pull this off well, yet Kelly does. The story is easy to follow and both narratives move along effortlessly.
Overall, a gripping story of true courage and discovery. The story of a man who works hard to achieve his dreams, and comes closer that many of us ever will to touching the stars.
Fascinating account. The author provided the narration, and his voice took some getting used to.
4 1/2 stars.
This was an infinitely fascinating book. I was surprised I enjoyed it so much because I never really cared about space exploration all that much. I was a young child when man first walked on the moon and of course I remember the hoopla and celebration. It was on every channel, all 5 of them, on the tv. I could hardly escape it. Everything was space food "like the astronauts eat" TANG! But since I was a young child, I just didn't care, I don't know why not. Maybe I was too preoccupied by my Barbies and swimming that summer. Maybe I thought it was "boys stuff", idk. At any rate, it didn't capture my imagination, then or now. Which is weird because I do like watching shows and reading books about space and my mind become boggled by the "billions and billions" of galaxies, etc. I did major in chemistry so I am interested in science.
So, yes, this book was quite interesting. There are so many things I never bothered to contemplate about space travel and the International Space Station. What it feels like to blast off. How quickly one reaches orbit. How the ISS travels at 17,500 mph. Like, huh? It's in free fall. Okay but huh? I never bothered to give much thought to how the human body deals with weightlessness. How the fluids shift, how the muscles and bones weaken. How it feels to try to sleep in weightlessness. How hard it is to do EVERY SINGLE SIMPLE THING. On and on. There was one point where mice were sent to the ISS and I chucked to myself imagining mice trying to deal with weightlessness. Like, what happened?
I've only ever been off the mainland of the US, one time, when I went to Hawaii. I remember feeling so far away from loved ones, in the middle of a vast ocean. How alien the landscape. It made me feel insecure and anxious to know if something terrible happened, like a terrorist attack, and planes were grounded, it would be so hard to get back home. I couldn't just take a train back home. Or rent a car, worse case scenario. Imagine being off the PLANET!?! To see it from orbit, spinning around down there, people oblivious. Home, planet earth! I would feel so lonely. What if something went wrong and you couldn't get back home? Ah, and the thought of a space walk... don't get me started. I was a nervous wreck reading about that. No thanks! I am not an adventurous person, I guess is the reality. Not now, not as a child. That's probably how I managed to not care about the astronauts and their great achievement back then.
So read this just because it's about something extraordinary few human beings will ever experience. Wonder at the bravery, the fortitude, the intelligence, the sacrifice. Your mind will boggle, I promise.
This was an infinitely fascinating book. I was surprised I enjoyed it so much because I never really cared about space exploration all that much. I was a young child when man first walked on the moon and of course I remember the hoopla and celebration. It was on every channel, all 5 of them, on the tv. I could hardly escape it. Everything was space food "like the astronauts eat" TANG! But since I was a young child, I just didn't care, I don't know why not. Maybe I was too preoccupied by my Barbies and swimming that summer. Maybe I thought it was "boys stuff", idk. At any rate, it didn't capture my imagination, then or now. Which is weird because I do like watching shows and reading books about space and my mind become boggled by the "billions and billions" of galaxies, etc. I did major in chemistry so I am interested in science.
So, yes, this book was quite interesting. There are so many things I never bothered to contemplate about space travel and the International Space Station. What it feels like to blast off. How quickly one reaches orbit. How the ISS travels at 17,500 mph. Like, huh? It's in free fall. Okay but huh? I never bothered to give much thought to how the human body deals with weightlessness. How the fluids shift, how the muscles and bones weaken. How it feels to try to sleep in weightlessness. How hard it is to do EVERY SINGLE SIMPLE THING. On and on. There was one point where mice were sent to the ISS and I chucked to myself imagining mice trying to deal with weightlessness. Like, what happened?
I've only ever been off the mainland of the US, one time, when I went to Hawaii. I remember feeling so far away from loved ones, in the middle of a vast ocean. How alien the landscape. It made me feel insecure and anxious to know if something terrible happened, like a terrorist attack, and planes were grounded, it would be so hard to get back home. I couldn't just take a train back home. Or rent a car, worse case scenario. Imagine being off the PLANET!?! To see it from orbit, spinning around down there, people oblivious. Home, planet earth! I would feel so lonely. What if something went wrong and you couldn't get back home? Ah, and the thought of a space walk... don't get me started. I was a nervous wreck reading about that. No thanks! I am not an adventurous person, I guess is the reality. Not now, not as a child. That's probably how I managed to not care about the astronauts and their great achievement back then.
So read this just because it's about something extraordinary few human beings will ever experience. Wonder at the bravery, the fortitude, the intelligence, the sacrifice. Your mind will boggle, I promise.
Read (listened to) this just after Mike Massimino's Book, Spaceman, and it was a nice follow on to that. Similar to that one, a lot of the technical details were glossed over much more than I would have liked, and things were similarly oversimplified, but I expect that may be unavoidable with a general audience book like this, even though I think that there's a middle ground that could be struck. Still, it was another great look at the life and work of a modern astronaut, and it was fun to see things from the other side, a pilot where Mike Massimino is a PhD mission specialist. It was also very interesting to see how much the space program has changed between these two books, even though the time periods overlap. With the end of the shuttle program pilots have taken on roles previously reserved for mission specialists, and the whole flavor of that separation has changed drastically. I also enjoyed the narration by the author, and it provided a nice additional layer of detail.
I learned so much from this book written by Scott Kelly, an American astronaut who went on four space missions, including a continuous year at the International Space Station (ISS). I was especially surprised to learn about the differences between the US and Russian launches, equipment, etc. I knew that Russia and the US are the primary supporters of ISS, but I didn't realize that Russian cosmonauts work and reside in a separate area of the station.
Kelly smartly intermixes his background story with his experience on ISS. I would have been anxious to get to the "space stuff" if he had written the book in chronological order.
I am especially interested in this topic because I have a loose connection to another US astronaut who is mentioned in the book several times. I was so thrilled to learn interesting things that I started sharing a "Space Fact of the Day" with my family and coworkers. I won't share them here because you really should read the book. It become a bit of a joke, but it was fun conversation starter...well, at least it was fun for me!
Easily 5 stars. Well done!
Kelly smartly intermixes his background story with his experience on ISS. I would have been anxious to get to the "space stuff" if he had written the book in chronological order.
I am especially interested in this topic because I have a loose connection to another US astronaut who is mentioned in the book several times. I was so thrilled to learn interesting things that I started sharing a "Space Fact of the Day" with my family and coworkers. I won't share them here because you really should read the book. It become a bit of a joke, but it was fun conversation starter...well, at least it was fun for me!
Easily 5 stars. Well done!
Scott Kelly's astronaut memoir takes the reader through his year on the ISS, alternating with chapters on his journey to becoming a fighter pilot and eventual astronaut. He does not hesitate to get real and tell it like it is, while also sprinkling in some humorous moments. The details and procedures required for just daily living on the space station are incredible. Highly recommended!
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced