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myyouthsal's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
wintrovia's review against another edition
4.0
This is the life story of astronaut Chris Hadfield, not the lead singer of Metallica James Hetfield, for some reason the two names get mixed up in my mind.
The title is a bit misleading as it’s not really a guide to life on earth, it’s more a biography of his life. This is a definite bonus, as I’d much rather hear about his interesting life rather than bland motivational cliches.
There are moments in the book where Hadfield tries to translate the things he learned in space into broader life lessons but these don’t quite work for me and I was pleased that they were fairly few and far between.
I loved reading about the process he went through from being a kid that dreamed of becoming an astronaut to being the commander on the International Space Station. It makes you realise how many years of dedication and hard work go into preparing for these brief stints that astronauts spend up in space.
Hadfield’s an affable kind of chap and the book is full of self-deprecating humour and he seems like a very nice man. This makes the book good company and his style is very conversational and easy to follow.
It’s a strange criticism to make but one slight weakness of the book is the lack of drama and tension. This isn’t because he’s a poor author and more because he’s an excellent astronaut. So the anecdotes he tells rarely end in disaster or mayhem, it’s usually just a case of things going wrong, they work out a solution, then they put their plan into action. So it’s not a thrill ride of near death escapes, just an enjoyable account of the day to day activity of an astronaut.
The title is a bit misleading as it’s not really a guide to life on earth, it’s more a biography of his life. This is a definite bonus, as I’d much rather hear about his interesting life rather than bland motivational cliches.
There are moments in the book where Hadfield tries to translate the things he learned in space into broader life lessons but these don’t quite work for me and I was pleased that they were fairly few and far between.
I loved reading about the process he went through from being a kid that dreamed of becoming an astronaut to being the commander on the International Space Station. It makes you realise how many years of dedication and hard work go into preparing for these brief stints that astronauts spend up in space.
Hadfield’s an affable kind of chap and the book is full of self-deprecating humour and he seems like a very nice man. This makes the book good company and his style is very conversational and easy to follow.
It’s a strange criticism to make but one slight weakness of the book is the lack of drama and tension. This isn’t because he’s a poor author and more because he’s an excellent astronaut. So the anecdotes he tells rarely end in disaster or mayhem, it’s usually just a case of things going wrong, they work out a solution, then they put their plan into action. So it’s not a thrill ride of near death escapes, just an enjoyable account of the day to day activity of an astronaut.
laureltree13's review against another edition
5.0
Great read if you're interested in space, rocket science and the like. Had I not been interested in Chris Hadfield as a person, either; I might not have not enjoyed it as much. He's a definite character. I admire his passion and strive of having worked passionately and optimistically toward his goal. A great Canadian Astronaut!
spamrisk's review against another edition
3.0
This is ground control
to Chris Hadfield. Read your book.
Welcome back to Earth.
to Chris Hadfield. Read your book.
Welcome back to Earth.
geekwayne's review against another edition
5.0
Colonel Chris Hadfield and his YouTube videos from the ISS went viral during his 6 months on board. His final video from the station, a version of Space Oddity, was heavily viewed and is the kind of touching and real picture we need to have of life in space. In 'An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth' we learn what got him there. It's incredibly inspiring and Chris Hadfield comes across as hard-working, humble and a genuinely good human.
I am about the same age as Chris Hadfield. We both grew up in the shadow of Mercury and Apollo. We both wanted to be astronauts in that golden land of our youth, but Chris made that dream come true with a lot of hard work and perseverance. The lessons presented in this book seem counter to what we are taught, but they have served Chris Hadfield well. His advice includes always sweating the small stuff, not visualizing success and caring what others think. Unconventional wisdom in a narcissistic age.
Along with the wisdom are stories. Stories of being blinded while doing an EVA outside of the shuttle, finding a snake in the cockpit of a flying fighter plane and what it feels like to launch into space. Colonel Hadfield shows such an immense amount of gratitude for what he's been allowed to do, and his sense of wonder and graciousness is evident throughout the book.
I look forward to seeing what Colonel Hadfield does next. I know there will be a next. He is a man filled with an innate curiosity and drive.
I was given a review copy of this book by Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so very much for allowing me to review this honest and inspiring book.
I am about the same age as Chris Hadfield. We both grew up in the shadow of Mercury and Apollo. We both wanted to be astronauts in that golden land of our youth, but Chris made that dream come true with a lot of hard work and perseverance. The lessons presented in this book seem counter to what we are taught, but they have served Chris Hadfield well. His advice includes always sweating the small stuff, not visualizing success and caring what others think. Unconventional wisdom in a narcissistic age.
Along with the wisdom are stories. Stories of being blinded while doing an EVA outside of the shuttle, finding a snake in the cockpit of a flying fighter plane and what it feels like to launch into space. Colonel Hadfield shows such an immense amount of gratitude for what he's been allowed to do, and his sense of wonder and graciousness is evident throughout the book.
I look forward to seeing what Colonel Hadfield does next. I know there will be a next. He is a man filled with an innate curiosity and drive.
I was given a review copy of this book by Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so very much for allowing me to review this honest and inspiring book.