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verydazedragon's review
slow-paced
3.0
Fascinating. Somewhat philosophical in nature, but then again, isn’t all science?
v_neptune's review
fast-paced
this is like... literally capitalist and colonialist propaganda lol. this book worships elon musk and thinks that european invasion of other countries was a good thing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
adrianwelsh's review
5.0
4.5 stars, rounding up to 5.
There is a new TV series on the National Geographic Channel that is based off this non-fiction book. Some may find it dry and boring but since I enjoy the space opera genre of science fiction books, this is really interesting to me. Since this was initially published in October of 2014, it makes me think that the author was not able to read the book [b:The Martian|18007564|The Martian|Andy Weir|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1413706054s/18007564.jpg|21825181] before getting his own book published (since some of the ideas in The Martian just make more sense in terms of humans having initial success at briefly living on Mars – however, this is discussed in more detail later on in the book… so, never mind…).
It is really interesting to think what our space program might have been like if Wernher von Braun had his way with things (not saying those were bad things, it’s just that I can understand the viewpoint that this space stuff is ungodly expensive and it makes sense why it lost some budget).
Altogether, I really enjoyed this short book and found the optimism was just fantastic! All the things that Petranek mentioned and suggested are all certainly reachable and approachable goals (at least, he made it sound this way). It’s like sci-fi coming to life!
But, like all new endeavors like this, the biggest problem is likely to be humanity itself. In any case, it will be really interesting to see what happens next in the world of space travel. I can see Elon Musk’s ideas towards the extinction of humanity and saying that a colony on Mars is the only way to permanently avoid extinction. But, I think that this is a little extreme and believe there are other ways to avoid this type of catastrophe (and if humans are meant to become extinct from whatever reason, then maybe it is supposed to happen… just saying…).
Tips for the reader: Read this book. And watch the TV series on the National Geographic Channel (it’s only a six-episode miniseries). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_(miniseries)
Audiobook narrator [a:Stephen L. Petranek|14733992|Stephen L. Petranek|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
rating: 4 stars
The author does a decent job of narrating his own book. There isn’t much in terms of dialogue so I can’t judge it there. There is a quick audio intro of Obama during the 2015 State of the Union Address. The end of the book has some really weird Russian-sounding music that I did not understand.
There is a new TV series on the National Geographic Channel that is based off this non-fiction book. Some may find it dry and boring but since I enjoy the space opera genre of science fiction books, this is really interesting to me. Since this was initially published in October of 2014, it makes me think that the author was not able to read the book [b:The Martian|18007564|The Martian|Andy Weir|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1413706054s/18007564.jpg|21825181] before getting his own book published (since some of the ideas in The Martian just make more sense in terms of humans having initial success at briefly living on Mars – however, this is discussed in more detail later on in the book… so, never mind…).
It is really interesting to think what our space program might have been like if Wernher von Braun had his way with things (not saying those were bad things, it’s just that I can understand the viewpoint that this space stuff is ungodly expensive and it makes sense why it lost some budget).
Altogether, I really enjoyed this short book and found the optimism was just fantastic! All the things that Petranek mentioned and suggested are all certainly reachable and approachable goals (at least, he made it sound this way). It’s like sci-fi coming to life!
But, like all new endeavors like this, the biggest problem is likely to be humanity itself. In any case, it will be really interesting to see what happens next in the world of space travel. I can see Elon Musk’s ideas towards the extinction of humanity and saying that a colony on Mars is the only way to permanently avoid extinction. But, I think that this is a little extreme and believe there are other ways to avoid this type of catastrophe (and if humans are meant to become extinct from whatever reason, then maybe it is supposed to happen… just saying…).
Tips for the reader: Read this book. And watch the TV series on the National Geographic Channel (it’s only a six-episode miniseries). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_(miniseries)
Audiobook narrator [a:Stephen L. Petranek|14733992|Stephen L. Petranek|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
rating: 4 stars
The author does a decent job of narrating his own book. There isn’t much in terms of dialogue so I can’t judge it there. There is a quick audio intro of Obama during the 2015 State of the Union Address. The end of the book has some really weird Russian-sounding music that I did not understand.
heatherberm's review
3.0
Good, straight-forward introduction to the likely primary challenges of traveling to and living on Mars as well as some potential solutions. Definitely a good starting place for anyone curious about the reality of humans on Mars.
tmntfan's review
4.0
this is an ongoing interest of mine, space and space travel is hilarious to read about. this is a bit dated already but growing closer and closer to reality. the last bit on how it maybe easier to change the humans who will live on mars then it is to change mars for humans was a bit scary but if that is what happens i suppose its OK. the parts on the economy of mars begin largely self-sufficient and making stuff for earth by mining asteroids and manufacturing goods there means maybe i could build stuff on mars late in my career. Also funny they are still more a less using Von brauns play book on how to get there.
jaybatson's review
3.0
All an average person is looking for on the topic
The author itemizes the various challenges associated with humans inhabiting mars, and the best thinking (to date) on how we'll be able to tackle them. There is some attention paid to the relative difficulty, and readiness to achieve each one.
My personal conclusion is that some of the proposed solutions are unlikely to happen as described. Example: terraforming in order to release oxygen stored in surface ice to create an atmosphere presumes we can control the outcome precisely enough. But we (humans) can't seem to control the greenhouse gas emissions enough to minimize impact on the planet we have; how are we going to be any better at hitting a target on Mars?
But, this was an interesting read nonetheless.
The author itemizes the various challenges associated with humans inhabiting mars, and the best thinking (to date) on how we'll be able to tackle them. There is some attention paid to the relative difficulty, and readiness to achieve each one.
My personal conclusion is that some of the proposed solutions are unlikely to happen as described. Example: terraforming in order to release oxygen stored in surface ice to create an atmosphere presumes we can control the outcome precisely enough. But we (humans) can't seem to control the greenhouse gas emissions enough to minimize impact on the planet we have; how are we going to be any better at hitting a target on Mars?
But, this was an interesting read nonetheless.
leok's review
4.0
While I agree with some of the other reviews posted about this book, that the material is nothing new and its a shallow view on what's required to live on Mars, I do not think it's a complete waste of time. This book is geared more space novices or folks who only just began to think about what it would take to colonize Mars. It's a quick read that covers both the historical desire for humans to explore the unknown, to the future steps required to leave our this little blue planet of ours.
Only read this book because it somehow made it into my queue and its was a short step to get me thinking about space after a brief diversion into Cyber Espionage detour. Some passages in the book, particularity the mining of the asteroid belt, reminded me of the Expanse Series; can't wait for the Babylon's Ashes.
Only read this book because it somehow made it into my queue and its was a short step to get me thinking about space after a brief diversion into Cyber Espionage detour. Some passages in the book, particularity the mining of the asteroid belt, reminded me of the Expanse Series; can't wait for the Babylon's Ashes.
brucefarrar's review
4.0
Humans could go to Mars now, according to Petranek; it’s just a matter of commitment. Wernher von Braun estimated in 1952 that we could be there by 1965, and until Richard Nixon slid that to the back burner of NASA’s priorities in favor of earth orbiting military projects it’s pretty much remained there since. Petranek sees commercial interest in space, especially Elon Musk’s SpaceX company, as reviving interest in the project, which he sees as vital to human survival. He describes how to deal with a planet with a small atmosphere composed mostly of carbon dioxide, great for plants, but not for humans. He anticipates a large supply of water frozen beneath the planet’s surface that could be the oxygen supply that humans would need if they are to subsist on Martian resources alone. He envisions the eventual terraforming of the planet, a process that he expects will take somewhere between three centuries and a millennium.
Outside of catastrophic failure of life to survive on Earth, which he sees as a real possibility, what would tempt humans to move to Mars and live in pressurized buildings and suits? The new “gold rush” will be mining the mineral wealth of asteroids. Because of its small size and lower gravity, Martians will save money on expensive rocket fuel compared to what it would cost if Earth is your home base. Interestingly, one factor Petranek does not speculate on is what the long-term effect of this low gravity (about 38% of Earth’s) will be on future generations of humans, whose ancestors evolved on a planet with much stronger gravity.
Outside of catastrophic failure of life to survive on Earth, which he sees as a real possibility, what would tempt humans to move to Mars and live in pressurized buildings and suits? The new “gold rush” will be mining the mineral wealth of asteroids. Because of its small size and lower gravity, Martians will save money on expensive rocket fuel compared to what it would cost if Earth is your home base. Interestingly, one factor Petranek does not speculate on is what the long-term effect of this low gravity (about 38% of Earth’s) will be on future generations of humans, whose ancestors evolved on a planet with much stronger gravity.
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