A review by jenjinsf
Spaceman by Mike Massimino

5.0

Let me preface this review with the fact that my grade school dream was to be the first woman astronaut. I remember watching for shooting stars with my dad and him giving me this star chart so I could read the night sky. That dream didn't end because Sally Ride beat me to it by several decades, but really because I was told I had to be in the military first. While I now know that isn't the only way, my studies took me in other directions, but I am still fascinated by space. Having said all that, it should come as no surprise that I LOVED this book. It was equal parts "how to become an astronaut," "why learning about space is important and very cool," and "how to keep striving for your dreams when you run into walls, no matter what they are." That last point really being my biggest take away. It isn't overly technical (nothing like reading "The Martian") but really is about how a normal but pretty great person followed and achieved his (really cool) childhood dream with many bumps along the way and wants to share his experience with the reader.