What is your favorite spaceflight book?

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What is your favorite spaceflight book? (Page 1)

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Author	Topic: What is your favorite spaceflight book?
ASCAN1984 Member Posts: 1049 From: County Down, Nothern Ireland Registered: Feb 2002	posted 03-04-2006 03:17 PM What is your favourite spaceflight book?
heng44 Member Posts: 3386 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001	posted 03-04-2006 03:32 PM "A Man on the Moon" by Andrew Chaikin.
ASCAN1984 Member Posts: 1049 From: County Down, Nothern Ireland Registered: Feb 2002	posted 03-04-2006 04:03 PM That gets my vote too. The first spaceflight book I have ever read. So far I have read it four times and I have read chapters more that that. Second place to Dragonfly.
mdmyer Member Posts: 900 From: Humboldt KS USA Registered: Dec 2003	posted 03-04-2006 04:27 PM I agree. "Man on the Moon" is the best. I read the single volume copy then I purchased the three volume set and I read it. My plans are to donate my single volume copy to the local library.
Philip Member Posts: 5952 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001	posted 03-05-2006 03:41 AM Any of the NASA SP (Special Publication) books!
1202 Alarm Member Posts: 436 From: Switzerland & France Registered: Nov 2003	posted 03-05-2006 05:46 AM A Man On The Moon... three volume. It's so brilliant, you can read it again and again with the same pleasure. A real masterpiece.
Matt T Member Posts: 1368 From: Chester, Cheshire, UK Registered: May 2001	posted 03-05-2006 01:58 PM "Carrying The Fire" Mike Collins. Still the best Apollo autobiography by a long way; perfectly balanced between narrative and technical detail, insightful, opinionated without serving his own ego and frequently funny. The historical record of the Apollo program is poorer for Collins missing out on a moonwalk. I'd love to have read about the experience of visiting the lunar surface in the words of such an articulate and thoughtful man. Plus I just love it when he speaks to Armstrong and Aldrin as "cats" and "baby." Far out man...
DChudwin Member Posts: 1096 From: Lincolnshire IL USA Registered: Aug 2000	posted 03-05-2006 04:28 PM It depends on the era: Pre-Apollo: "The Right Stuff" by Tom Wolfe (while it has been criticized, it is still the classic) Early-Apollo: "If the Sun Dies" by Oriana Fallaci (an impressionistic view of the beginning of the Apollo program) Apollo Missions: "Carrying the Fire" by Michael Collins (the best Apollo autobiography) Shuttle Era: "Riding Rockets" by Mike Mullane (Mike lets it all hang out!)
John K. Rochester Member Posts: 1292 From: Rochester, NY, USA Registered: Mar 2002	posted 03-05-2006 08:28 PM Another vote for Andrew Chaikin's book. I read about the particular missions almost every year around their anniversaries, just to keep the history fresh. A close second however is Murray and Cox "Apollo" ...still the best book on what went on in the background of the Apollo Program.
OV-105 Member Posts: 816 From: Ridgecrest, CA Registered: Sep 2000	posted 03-05-2006 10:11 PM I have three. Mike Collins' "Carrying The Fire," Mike Mullane's "Riding Rockets" and for great photos, Joe Allen's "Entering Space." I have my hardcover first issue autographed.
A.Pelago Member Posts: 34 From: Canada Registered: May 2005	posted 03-06-2006 10:21 AM I agree with all of the others already mentioned, but must add a couple more: "The All American Boys" Walt Cunningham: still the most candid astronaut autobiography from the early years. "Fallen Astronauts" Colin Burgess: a great book on the neglected and too-often- forgotten fallen astronauts and cosmonauts. "Red Star in Orbit" Jim Oberg: a number of things may have been corrected, clarified or debunked since this was written, but it's still a great read and for most of us remains the first honest glimpse of the space programme behind the Iron Curtain.
Moltke Member Posts: 63 From: United Kingdom Registered: Dec 2005	posted 03-06-2006 11:03 AM One stands out from all the others: "Carrying The Fire" Mike Collins If you haven't read it yet, I guarantee you will want to read it more than once.
ColinBurgess Member Posts: 2031 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2003	posted 03-07-2006 01:31 AM quote: Originally posted by A.Pelago: "Fallen Astronauts" Colin Burgess: a great book on the neglected and too-often- forgotten fallen astronauts and cosmonauts. Many thanks for including "Fallen Astronauts" in such fine company. It's always marvellous and gratifying for an author to know that all the hard work and sacrifice is appreciated by others, especially when it was a very emotional project from the outset.
Jim Member Posts: 73 From: San Antonio TX Registered: Mar 2006	posted 04-24-2006 08:49 AM Andy Chaikin's "Man on the Moon" three-volume set followed closely by Gene Kranz "Failure is Not An Option".
tegwilym Member Posts: 2331 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000	posted 04-24-2006 02:32 PM "Carrying the Fire," followed closely by "Man on the Moon." Mike Mullane's book "Riding Rockets" suddenly jumped way up on my list recently. Excellent book!
canyon42 Member Posts: 238 From: Ohio Registered: Mar 2006	posted 04-24-2006 07:18 PM Chalk up another vote for Chaikin's book. I've got both the one-volume and three-volume versions — I read the earlier and save the latter for looking at the photos. I agree that Collins' book is also outstanding. I just finished Mike Mullane's — very good overall, although there were a few spots where the "irreverence" brought me up a bit short.
paul prendergast Member Posts: 429 From: crawley west sussex UK Registered: Apr 2004	posted 04-25-2006 01:06 PM I have to admit Andrew Chalkin's book, it is like the ultimate reference book and a good read. The book is spot on about all of the missions a wonderful insight to a golden age.
Dwayne Day Member Posts: 532 From: Registered: Feb 2004	posted 04-25-2006 02:18 PM Too many astronaut memoirs. I vote for Murray and Cox's history of Apollo.
Blackarrow Member Posts: 3118 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002	posted 04-25-2006 05:47 PM My favourite spaceflight book? "Apollo Expeditions To The Moon." It helps that my copy is signed by eight Apollo astronauts, including five moonwalkers. However, I would rate "Carrying the Fire", "A Man on the Moon", "The Right Stuff", "Moonwalker", "The Last Man on the Moon" and "Apollo" very highly (and not necessarily in that order). And a special mention for "The Golden Book of Astronomy" which is signed "To Geoffrey from Daddy, 9th May, 1961." That book fanned a flame that had been lit on 12th April, brightened further on 5th May and now roars like a furnace.
trajan Member Posts: 109 From: Chester, Cheshire, UK Registered: May 2004	posted 04-27-2006 03:02 PM I go for joint winners - "A Man on the Moon" and "Riding Rockets." But, in the spirit of Blackarrow's poignant tribute above, I recommend Patrick Moore's "Story of Astronomy" (autographed by the great man), and a particular treasure, an ex-library book called "Stars Shown to the Children", first published in 1910, where Pluto was unheard of and the origin of "shooting stars" was still uncertain.
Naraht Member Posts: 232 From: Oxford, UK Registered: Mar 2006	posted 04-27-2006 03:22 PM quote: Originally posted by Dwayne Day: I vote for Murray and Cox's history of Apollo. Agreed! I think that Murray and Cox are sadly underrated by a lot of spaceflight buffs because they eschew the usual myopic focus on the astronauts. "Apollo" is insightful, written with great style, and is one of my favourite history books on any topic. Having said that, I did like "Carrying the Fire" too, but it's the only astronaut memoir that I have any time for.
FutureAstronaut Member Posts: 372 From: Registered: Mar 2006	posted 04-29-2006 02:21 PM "The Right Stuff" "Lost Moon" "Riding Rockets"
capoetc Member Posts: 2169 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005	posted 04-29-2006 02:50 PM It is interesting that "First Man" has not been mentioned here (unless I missed it). "Carrying the Fire" is an outstanding memoir, and "A Man on the Moon" is a great read as well. To throw in something a little different, I like Milt Thompson's "At the Edge of Space" a lot too.
clifford Member Posts: 233 From: Maplewood, nj, 07040 Registered: Aug 2000	posted 05-01-2006 05:34 PM My vote goes to "Carrying the Fire." But also very high on my list would be SP-350 "Apollo Expeditions to the Moon" and from the NASA history series "Before This Decade is Out." These last two have chapters from astronauts, controllers and support folks.
Naraht Member Posts: 232 From: Oxford, UK Registered: Mar 2006	posted 05-02-2006 04:51 AM "Before This Decade is Out" is a very good book. If you liked it, you also ought to enjoy Johnson Space Center's comprehensive collection of oral histories, from which many of the chapters in the book were taken.
ApolloAlex Member Posts: 390 From: Yeovil, England Registered: Oct 2004	posted 05-02-2006 05:09 AM Mine has to be "A Man on the Moon", I even have two copies, one at home in my collection and one at work, where I can pick it up time and time again, when I am not busy I hasten to add. And also the NASA Mission Reports edited by Robert Godwin have my vote too, very good for reference.
kyra Member Posts: 583 From: Louisville CO US Registered: Aug 2003	posted 05-03-2006 08:21 AM Jenkins "Space Shuttle: The First 100 Missions" is highly recommended. "Carrying the Fire" and "Riding Rockets" balance the above out with the human factor.
kyra Member Posts: 583 From: Louisville CO US Registered: Aug 2003	posted 05-08-2006 12:49 AM I should also add David Baker's "History of Manned Spaceflight", the 12 pound wonder that has flattened out many crinkled art projects when not in use. I'm not so much into the political history, but this is a first rate reference with few competitors to this day.
Naraht Member Posts: 232 From: Oxford, UK Registered: Mar 2006	posted 05-10-2006 03:14 AM On Amazon, Jerry Bostick, who was a Flight Dynamics Officer during the Apollo program, has listed his favorite books on spaceflight. I thought that his list might be of interest: "Apollo: The Race To The Moon" by Charles Murray and Catherine Cox "Flight" by Chris Kraft" "Failure Is Not An Option" by Gene Kranz "Carrying The Fire" by Mike Collins "The All-American Boys" by Walt Cunningham
Frederic Janik Member Posts: 320 From: Helsinki, Finland Registered: Jul 2000	posted 09-19-2010 03:14 PM Although "A Man on the Moon" is a fantastic book, my favourite remains "Apollo" by Murray and Bly Cox. Fantastic book about the people who "made it happen".
irish guy Member Posts: 287 From: Kerry Ireland Registered: Dec 2001	posted 09-20-2010 01:43 PM Entering Space by Dr Joe Allen
alanh_7 Member Posts: 1252 From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Registered: Apr 2008	posted 09-20-2010 02:13 PM "Apollo" by Catherine Bly Cox and Charles Murray "A Man on the Moon" Andrew Chaiken 'In the Shadow of the Moon' Francis French and Colin Burgess Favourite autobiography "Carrying the Fire" Mike Collins.
jasonelam Member Posts: 691 From: Monticello, KY USA Registered: Mar 2007	posted 09-20-2010 02:53 PM "Entering Space" — I think I checked this book out 10 times from the library! "History of Manned Spaceflight" "Into that Silent Sea" "Fallen Astronauts" "A Man on The Moon" Honorable Mention: "Flying to the Moon and Other Strange Places" by Mike Collins. The first space book I ever read.
Dwight Member Posts: 576 From: Germany Registered: Dec 2003	posted 09-21-2010 04:33 AM Without a doubt mine is "Live TV From the Moon."
heng44 Member Posts: 3386 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001	posted 09-21-2010 07:47 AM "The History of Manned Spaceflight" by David Baker, immediately followed by "A Man on the Moon".
Gilbert Member Posts: 1328 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003	posted 09-21-2010 09:28 AM I like "We Seven" and "First on the Moon" for the nostalgia the books evoke when reading them so many years after the events they describe took place.
onesmallstep Member Posts: 1310 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007	posted 09-24-2010 06:09 PM Since I began my interest in the space program in the '60's as a young boy (hint on my old age...), I would have to choose three books by Gene Gurney, all in the Landmark series: 'Americans in Orbit' (Mercury) 'Walk in Space' (Gemini) 'Americans on the Moon' (Apollo) ...plus any illustrated space-themed books authored by C.B Colby. For me, they will always be 'classics', introducing a young mind to the wonders of spaceflight.
robsouth Member Posts: 769 From: West Midlands, UK Registered: Jun 2005	posted 09-24-2010 06:37 PM I'm not saying these are the best books but before the explosion of words and pictures available on the internet I read and re-read: "Manned Spaceflight Log" by Tim Furniss "All We Did Was Fly To The Moon" by Richard Lattimer "Deke" by Slayton and Cassutt "LIFE in Space" by LIFE Magazine "One Small Step" by Tim Furniss Two other books well worth mentioning are: "Exploring The Moon" by David Harland "Tracking Apollo To The Moon" by Hamish Lindsay The best book, in my opinion, is "A Man On The Moon" by Andrew Chaikin.
GoesTo11 Member Posts: 1309 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 2004	posted 09-24-2010 09:00 PM quote: Originally posted by robsouth: I read and re-read... Wow... That's like you stole a peek at my bookshelf in the mid-'80s! Here are my own favorites: "The Right Stuff," Tom Wolfe Absolutely magical. So brilliant on so many levels: As history, as journalism, as social commentary, as purely iconic prose. This is one of the handful of books that I still periodically pull off my shelf and read my favorite passages from just for pleasure... I even know the page numbers. "A Man on the Moon," Andrew Chaikin, and "Apollo," Charles Murray and Catherine Bly Cox The two essential books one has to read to begin to understand Apollo. As I posted on another thread, I refuse to commend one over the other... they complement each other perfectly, and both are indispensable. "Carrying the Fire," Michael Collins Still the best astronaut-penned memoir. "Riding Rockets," Mike Mullane The second best. Though as a child of the Shuttle era, I freely admit I may be biased. "The History of Manned Space Flight," David Baker Both a huge, beautiful production AND an authoritative reference. How often do we see that? "Moonfire," Norman Mailer The best true coffee-table book out there. Epic prose, fantastic illustration, state-of-the-art production. "Apollo 13" ("Lost Moon"), Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger Constructed like a suspense novel; shifts seamlessly between viewpoints. We know they're going to make it, but the tension still never lets up. That's a story well told. No one does a Top 8 list, but after that it just gets murky for me, and "favorites" become delineated by subject, such as unmanned/planetary exploration, historical studies, NASA publications, art books, etc. So that's my "desert island" list.
Dietrich Member Posts: 67 From: Registered: Jul 2009	posted 09-25-2010 05:33 PM I would definitely include "Truth, Lies, and O-Rings" by Allan McDonald into the list of favorite spaceflight books.

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