|
Author
|
Topic: Trying to decide which book to read next?
|
dss65
Member Posts: 1156
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
|
posted 09-17-2003 09:58 PM
   
If anyone out there is trying to decide which book to read next, I'd like to suggest "Carrying the Fire" by Michael Collins. I bought a used paperback copy about a year ago and finally got around to reading it. I found that it more than lived up to its excellent reputation.Clearly, all of the astronauts were (and I'm sure are) of much higher than average intelligence, but I definitely got the impression that Collins was near or at the top of the group in that category. More importantly, in terms of his book, he is an excellent writer with an uncommon ability to take you inside his head and live through his very unique experiences. I often find myself laughing out loud when reading astronauts' books, but mostly when they talk about pranks and gotchas. Collins did little or none of this, but cracked me up with his slightly twisted view of things. Come to think of it, I think it was more his accurate view of things that others tend to take a twisted view of. His footnotes alone are worth the price of the book. His account of his experience on Gemini 10 is the best description of an earth orbit EVA I have yet read. However, I believe his comments about life after Apollo 11 are probably my favorite part of the whole book, giving us a window into the mind of somebody who balanced the life-changing aspects of an incredibly profound experience with the fact that he remained basically himself through it all. His description of how people would--and would not--be changed by the experience of seeing earth from 100,000 miles out gave me goosebumps. If you haven't yet read this book, it's definitely a can't miss. Next for me is "Schirra's Space." Always open to suggestions on what I should read next, too. |
icarkie
Member Posts: 618
From: BURTON ON TRENT /England
Registered: Nov 2002
|
posted 09-17-2003 11:22 PM
Add "DEKE" to your list, as being one of my heroes I also learned a lot about the space programme (crew selection etc). I've read it three times now and like you I'm wondering what to read next. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
|
posted 09-18-2003 12:37 AM
Off the Planet by Linenger is good... one of the few by shuttle astronauts. |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
|
posted 09-18-2003 01:38 PM
Some of my suggestions: - Carrying The Fire - a MUST read!
- Last Man on the Moon - Cernan
- A Man on the Moon - Andrew Chaikin
I still have a bunch in my shelf that I need to read myself. So many books, so little time! |
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
|
posted 09-18-2003 04:28 PM
Yes I agree "Carrying the Fire" is great - it's my personal favorite.If you have not read "Moonwalker" by Charlie Duke it is also good. |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
|
posted 09-18-2003 05:27 PM
I'm in the process of reading "Carrying the Fire" myself at the moment - truly an excellent book by any standards.Whatever he says in his modest introduction Collins is a superb natural writer - intelligent, clear, honest and wryly amusing. I've read many other good books on the space program but for me this is the best so far. I just don't know why I didn't read it before. |
Kevmac
Member Posts: 267
From: College Station, TX
Registered: Apr 2003
|
posted 09-18-2003 07:39 PM
Carrying the Fire is certainly one of the better astronaut-written books. But I think Cunningham's All American Boys provides one of the best behind-the-scenes looks at the early manned space program. |
Rizz
Member Posts: 1208
From: Upcountry, Maui, Hawaii
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 09-18-2003 10:50 PM
Lost Moon was entertaining. Santa brought a signed copy to my 8-year old son last Christmas. I read it out loud to him. There were some humorous parts in it. Great story. |
dss65
Member Posts: 1156
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
|
posted 09-22-2003 11:06 PM
Thanks to all for your replies. I have read and enjoyed most of the books you mentioned and will try to get to the few I haven't. Ian, "Deke" has long been on my wish list, as I find him a fascinating character, too. Maybe more so since we both share a Midwest upbringing. This question might belong more in the "Autographs" section, but does anybody know where I might find a signed copy of "Deke" and/or what I might expect to pay for it? |
hinkler
Member Posts: 573
From: Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Registered: Jan 2000
|
posted 09-23-2003 02:55 AM
You will have a hard time finding a genuine signed copy of Deke as Slayton passed away just before the book was released. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 09-23-2003 05:12 PM
As stated, no copies of 'Deke!' signed by Slayton exist as it was published after his death. The next best thing, of course, is a signed copy by Mike Cassutt, his co-author who had the challenging task of finishing the book after Deke passed away. |
dss65
Member Posts: 1156
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
|
posted 09-23-2003 11:38 PM
Thanks to both of you, as well as those who contacted me via e-mail, for educating me on this. I was aware that Deke had passed away before the publication of "Moonshot", but not that this was true of "Deke!" as well. I'm saddened, but wiser. |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
|
posted 09-24-2003 01:08 PM
My favorites: - Schirra's Space
- Last Man on the Moon
- Carrying the Fire
- The Unbroken Chain
- The Right Stuff
- Men From Earth
- Return to Earth
- Moon Shot
- A Man on the Moon
- Apollo: The Race to the Moon
|
Sy Liebergot
Member Posts: 501
From: Pearland, Texas USA
Registered: May 2003
|
posted 09-24-2003 06:29 PM
Gilbert, hopefully, one day my book will make your list... |
mikepf
Member Posts: 441
From: San Jose, California, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 09-26-2003 07:21 PM
"DEKE" was a very interesting book. Be sure to put it high on your list. I think my next to read will be Stafford's book. I hope to get Sy's book for my birthday next week. |
Carrie
Member Posts: 225
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: May 2003
|
posted 10-11-2003 09:35 AM
I just finished reading Colin Foale's "Waystation to the Stars" and enjoyed it. He provides a lot of good basic information about a Shuttle launch and preparations, a mission, the structure of Mir, what it was like to live there, and how it affected his family. If you've been a space enthusiast for a long time, it may be stuff you already know, but being less informed myself, I really got my eyes opened as to how rough things were on Mir... it was like a months-long Apollo 13! The interaction between Michael, NASA and the Russians is interesting to compare with how relations are going on the ISS today (it seems to run much more smoothly today). If you want a good insight into the background of one of the next ISS crew members, this is a good read. Mike Foale seems like a very patient and insightful guy, but also someone who doesn't suffer fools gladly (but that's probably a good thing). I'll look forward to seeing him on the ISS!I'm just starting Deke! now... I'm not too familiar with types of airplanes, so I'm finding it a little difficult to form a mental picture of the ones he talks about flying, but I do like his writing style. I can't wait until I read his account of working at NASA! |
dss65
Member Posts: 1156
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
|
posted 01-18-2004 09:45 PM
I just finished reading "Deke", and I want to thank all of you who recommended the book so highly. It was every bit as good as you all suggested, and I pass on the recommendation to all who have not read it. |
Jacques van Oene
Member Posts: 861
From: Houten, The Netherlands
Registered: Oct 2001
|
posted 01-19-2004 09:55 AM
Here are some books that are also very good: - Apollo, by Murray and Cox
- Before Lift-Off, by Henry Cooper (about the training of STS-41G)
- Seize the Moment, by Helen Sharman (very good book about her flight to MIR)
|
hlbjr
Member Posts: 475
From: Delray Beach Florida USA
Registered: Mar 2006
|
posted 01-15-2007 09:33 AM
You have got to read "Go for Launch", a new book out by Joel W. Powell and Art LeBrun. It is far and away the BEST information source and photo treasure trove of the history of the launch facilities at Cape Canaveral. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I refer to almost DAILY! No kidding. It is a must for any space library. |
Dwayne Day
Member Posts: 532
From:
Registered: Feb 2004
|
posted 01-16-2007 07:45 AM
I have a lot of respect for Powell's work, but these books are entirely different. The book you refer to is largely a photo collection, not a narrative. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
|
posted 01-16-2007 09:42 AM
So for a good KSC history, if you put aside Joel Powell's and David West Reynolds' books, we must wait for NASA's own history? I don't know when it will be available; it's in the works as far as I know, though. |
Dwayne Day
Member Posts: 532
From:
Registered: Feb 2004
|
posted 01-16-2007 10:21 AM
Yes. Although Moonport does exist.
|
art540
Member Posts: 432
From: Orange, California USA
Registered: Sep 2006
|
posted 01-16-2007 12:26 PM
Moonport is a good book for Saturn facilites and does give some information on the Saturns themselves. Makes for great reading especially when you realize how unique this effort was at the time. After all the expense of 2 pads at LC-37 Pad A was never used for Saturn 1B. |
Mike Z
Member Posts: 451
From: Ellicott City, Maryland
Registered: Dec 2005
|
posted 01-16-2007 04:57 PM
I found "Riding Rockets" By Astronaut Mike Mullane was extremely interesting. He told it like it is in the Astronaut Office. He talks about the politics, John Young, George Abbey. He also mentions his attraction to Judy Resnick. You really feel like you are there in the Astronaut Office waiting to be assigned to a Space Shuttle mission. He also talks about their parties and their games with NASA's T-38 training jets. This book reminded me of the very controversial baseball book by Jim Bouton, "BALL FOUR" from the 70s. |
FutureAstronaut
Member Posts: 372
From:
Registered: Mar 2006
|
posted 01-16-2007 05:07 PM
I agree, "Riding Rockets" is probably the most interesting book I have ever read. I got well into it a few months ago, but never finished it. I don't know how I did it, but I somehow stopped just before his first launch! Gotta get back into it! |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 07-10-2009 12:24 PM
Induldge me with what I am pretty sure is a thick question but are the books Apollo 13 and Lost Moon one in the same but just re-titled? |
spacecraft films
Member Posts: 802
From: Columbus, OH USA
Registered: Jun 2002
|
posted 07-10-2009 01:29 PM
If you are speaking of two publications by Lovell/Kluger, yes, they are the same. They renamed "Lost Moon" to "Apollo 13" when the movie was released. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 07-10-2009 01:34 PM
The only difference I can think of was that there was also a 30th anniversary commemorative edition of Apollo 13 with a new preface by the authors. |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 07-10-2009 01:44 PM
Thanks for the responses chaps. |
advertisement