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A review by princesspersephone
Endurance: A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly
4.0
I remember being in college when Scott Kelly was on his year long journey in space. One of my professors was working at NASA on one of the many scientific experiments that Kelly was helping to conduct. It was THE COOLEST THING to me. It was an exercise physiology class and we had a special unit on extreme environments on physiology - including zero gravity. These astronauts quite literally donate their body to science. It was really great to hear Scott Kelly's personal account of just how he felt and the unique descriptions of different sensations, smells, sounds, and visions of space.
He didn't go into quite so much detail about what experiments he was doing, or the exact physiological changes that happen in space. But he does talk about the physical toll he takes and the different things that play a part in that. In terms of the psychological toll, I think that is what he weighed most heavily on in the book. To me this was a book of reflection on his life and how he got here while he was stuck, literally, as far away from humanity as possible for an entire year.
what would you miss most if you were that far away? what little things would you suddenly realize you have taken for granted? how would you navigate complex relationships, made that much more complex by this strange circumstance? What is it like being in such close quarters all the time with no personal space? how do you pass the time? how do you make the most out of this experience? What the first thing you would do when you come back to earth? what is the one thing you hope doesnt happen on earth while you are in space? How TF did you get here in the first place?
Scott Kelly answers these questions, and so much more. With a militaristic bluntness and sense of humor filled with candor and absurdity, he comes across as someone you would want to sit down and grab a drink with.
He didn't go into quite so much detail about what experiments he was doing, or the exact physiological changes that happen in space. But he does talk about the physical toll he takes and the different things that play a part in that. In terms of the psychological toll, I think that is what he weighed most heavily on in the book. To me this was a book of reflection on his life and how he got here while he was stuck, literally, as far away from humanity as possible for an entire year.
what would you miss most if you were that far away? what little things would you suddenly realize you have taken for granted? how would you navigate complex relationships, made that much more complex by this strange circumstance? What is it like being in such close quarters all the time with no personal space? how do you pass the time? how do you make the most out of this experience? What the first thing you would do when you come back to earth? what is the one thing you hope doesnt happen on earth while you are in space? How TF did you get here in the first place?
Scott Kelly answers these questions, and so much more. With a militaristic bluntness and sense of humor filled with candor and absurdity, he comes across as someone you would want to sit down and grab a drink with.