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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I thought the story, the progression, and the lessons were incredibly interesting, although not the most moving memoir I’ve read, the writing was just okay!
Notes:
Notes:
- training is an end in itself
- attitude is direction of spacecraft, if you lose control the vehicle starts to tumble and spin and sent it off course
- be ready, work (hard), enjoy it
- nothing great was ever accomplished sitting down
- enjoyment, learning, advancement
- you have to be competent and prove to others that you are before you can be extraordinary
- if you really are a +1 people will notice (someone who adds value)
- you need to savour the small stuff, bot just sweat it
- even trained to take photographs
- no wonder babies cry in protest when they are born (coming back to earth)
- faceless dummy as a symbolic representation of one of the most important lessons: to value the wisdom of humility and the sense of perspective it gives you.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
I'm addicted to astronaut memoirs. They're my comfort reads, something fun and typically though-provoking to make the day a little better.
Hadfield has absolutely nailed the genre in a way that few others have. I came out of this feeling inspired, encouraged, and newly hopeful about the world in a way that is rare especially at the time of writing.
Hadfield understood that much of the astronaut experience has been summed up by previous memoirs, and he does an excellent job of balancing tales of time in orbit with truly thoughtful commentary on everyday life. Many of the lessons learned in becoming an astronaut are remarkably applicable to everyday life.
Unlike some others (cough cough Scott Kelly), he seems genuinely excited and grateful for his experiences, and never gives the impression that he is owed anything he's gotten. His humility makes him an easily-respected narrator, and you just can't help but be excited along side him.
A spot of light in this truly horrendous week, this book was excellent and just what I needed.
Hadfield has absolutely nailed the genre in a way that few others have. I came out of this feeling inspired, encouraged, and newly hopeful about the world in a way that is rare especially at the time of writing.
Hadfield understood that much of the astronaut experience has been summed up by previous memoirs, and he does an excellent job of balancing tales of time in orbit with truly thoughtful commentary on everyday life. Many of the lessons learned in becoming an astronaut are remarkably applicable to everyday life.
Unlike some others (cough cough Scott Kelly), he seems genuinely excited and grateful for his experiences, and never gives the impression that he is owed anything he's gotten. His humility makes him an easily-respected narrator, and you just can't help but be excited along side him.
A spot of light in this truly horrendous week, this book was excellent and just what I needed.
I came into the Commander Hadfield craze a bit late, mostly hearing from other people about this guitar-playing, tweeting, mustachioed astronaut. And I think some of the magic of the book may work better if you'd ridden along with him on his adventures in the International Space Station (ISS). As such, it's still pretty magical, but much less familiar.
Ostensibly an autobiography, it provides a very short, whirlwind overview of Hadfield's first 50 years, dips persistently into Dale Carnegie-style Tips On Living, and then spends a looong time going into gritty details about his last ISS mission. It's incredibly readable, with breezy, simple language that made me think it'd be useful also as an "introductory" text for younger readers (e.g. middle school, high school).
Inevitably, it made me think of Red Mars, which is a wonderful, realist look at a long mission to Mars. Hadfield's personality - disciplined but good-humored, intelligent but not intellectual - rang true, both in terms of the Air Force people I have met and the characters in Red Mars and other "hard" sci fi books.
Ostensibly an autobiography, it provides a very short, whirlwind overview of Hadfield's first 50 years, dips persistently into Dale Carnegie-style Tips On Living, and then spends a looong time going into gritty details about his last ISS mission. It's incredibly readable, with breezy, simple language that made me think it'd be useful also as an "introductory" text for younger readers (e.g. middle school, high school).
Inevitably, it made me think of Red Mars, which is a wonderful, realist look at a long mission to Mars. Hadfield's personality - disciplined but good-humored, intelligent but not intellectual - rang true, both in terms of the Air Force people I have met and the characters in Red Mars and other "hard" sci fi books.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
Truly amazing bio about this Canadian astronaut. It was full of humanity and humility. This book will stay with me for a long time.
In case it’s not clear yet, I really enjoy books about space travel and the lives of astronauts. It’s one of my favorite genres. I read Spaceman earlier this year and absolutely loved that, and this book was a close second. I so appreciated Col. Hadfield’s transferable concepts, like being a -1, a 0, or a 1, and his thoughts on focusing on dozens of small victories in a day rather than one or two large ones every decade. I like books about astronauts because they are generally can-do, creative problem solvers with exceptional curiosity and intellect. They seem to have a good sense of ambition balanced with humility, and more often than not, a good sense of humor. They’re also always prepared. I’d like to think more like an astronaut in my everyday life, and this book was a great start to doing so.
I am a musician who is a space science fanatic. Chris Hadfield is an astronaut who is a music fanatic. I have taken in countless books, articles, and videos over the years to feed my obsession with astronomy, planetary science, astrophysics, and space exploration, but it turns out that I did not know nearly as much about space exploration as I thought I did.
Hadfield shares his perspective from a space shuttle mission to add a docking port to the Mir Space Station, a space shuttle mission to install a robotic arm to the International Space Station, and a 5-month mission to the ISS via the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. He shares fascinating details about life in zero-g and about the life of astronauts before, after, and between their missions to space. Hadfield weaves in important life lessons from his experiences that can be relevant to anyone, including musicians!
Hadfield explains some unconventional keys to success, such as why "sweating the small stuff" isn't always a bad thing. The most important take from the book for me is how trying to make a positive impact to a new environment can often result in making a negative impact instead. Hadfield encourages readers to strive to be a "zero," by "trying to have a neutral impact, to observe and learn from those who are already there, and to pitch in with the grunt work wherever possible."
Hadfield shares his perspective from a space shuttle mission to add a docking port to the Mir Space Station, a space shuttle mission to install a robotic arm to the International Space Station, and a 5-month mission to the ISS via the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. He shares fascinating details about life in zero-g and about the life of astronauts before, after, and between their missions to space. Hadfield weaves in important life lessons from his experiences that can be relevant to anyone, including musicians!
Hadfield explains some unconventional keys to success, such as why "sweating the small stuff" isn't always a bad thing. The most important take from the book for me is how trying to make a positive impact to a new environment can often result in making a negative impact instead. Hadfield encourages readers to strive to be a "zero," by "trying to have a neutral impact, to observe and learn from those who are already there, and to pitch in with the grunt work wherever possible."
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I hope I get to meet Col. Hadfield someday. Before I became enthralled with engineering, I wanted to be an astronaut. I can clearly see my own ongoing passion for space flight, aeronautics, science, and engineering in Hadfield's voice as I read his book about his life in the astronaut corps. This book is inspiring, practical, and wise. It contains the joy of a 9-year-old and the lessons of a retiring astronaut who's been on orbit thrice.
Hadfield breaks his book into three main parts: Pre-Launch, Liftoff, and Coming Down To Earth. In each, he both explains a main takeaway of an astronaut's approach to life and a slice of his own life. He includes many lessons learned as well as trivia and tidbits that only an insider to the space programs in which he's a member could share. While many of his lessons are things you've heard from leaders of many fields (emphasis on preparation, attention to detail, humility, and perspective), his take on them is unique and his writing style is perfect for this type of book. He is clear and concise without feeling robotic. He is able to express deep wonderment and describe incredible sights and experiences in a way that is both technical and incredibly personal.
This book is a look at the space programs of Canada, the United States, and Russia and can be an inspiration if you choose to absorb its wisdom and message. Chris Hadfield has inspired me anew in an area I've always loved, and at a time where scientific research done by these organizations is somewhat under siege this book felt doubly important. I recommend this book to everyone, not just science nerds like me. It has lessons and ideas that are universal to all people, and it does a wonderful job of somehow being a primer for life on Earth while speaking extensively about life off its surface.
Hadfield breaks his book into three main parts: Pre-Launch, Liftoff, and Coming Down To Earth. In each, he both explains a main takeaway of an astronaut's approach to life and a slice of his own life. He includes many lessons learned as well as trivia and tidbits that only an insider to the space programs in which he's a member could share. While many of his lessons are things you've heard from leaders of many fields (emphasis on preparation, attention to detail, humility, and perspective), his take on them is unique and his writing style is perfect for this type of book. He is clear and concise without feeling robotic. He is able to express deep wonderment and describe incredible sights and experiences in a way that is both technical and incredibly personal.
This book is a look at the space programs of Canada, the United States, and Russia and can be an inspiration if you choose to absorb its wisdom and message. Chris Hadfield has inspired me anew in an area I've always loved, and at a time where scientific research done by these organizations is somewhat under siege this book felt doubly important. I recommend this book to everyone, not just science nerds like me. It has lessons and ideas that are universal to all people, and it does a wonderful job of somehow being a primer for life on Earth while speaking extensively about life off its surface.