Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-27-2018 05:08 PM
Michael Cassutt will be discussing and signing copies of "The Astronaut Maker" at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, California at 7 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2018.
Dave Shayler Member
Posts: 127 From: Halesowen, West Mids, UK Registered: Dec 2009
posted 09-03-2018 04:49 AM
I really enjoyed Mike's account of the enigmatic George Abbey. I learned a lot about the man behind the myth, his early years, his attempt at astronaut selection for the 1966 group and his later career.
In eagerly turning over the pages, chapter by chapter, George Abbey seems to have been present at key events and decisions in NASA human spaceflight history over a 35 year period extending from Apollo to ISS.
I feel that this was the most interesting story in the book, of how Abbey was at the forefront of American human spaceflight in the 1980s and 1990s yet remained in the background, away from the limelight.
There were challenges and obstacles to address and at times overcome. Some of these benefited the future careers of certain astronauts and at times, for others, they did not.
It is interesting to compare the accounts Mike has written on the careers and influences of Deke Slayton, Tom Stafford and now George Abbey. In doing so you only begin to understand what a complex and intriguing story the history of Flight Crew Operations and the Astronaut Office at JSC are.
It is clear that only the surface of these organizations has been explored and this book helps to dig a little deeper into that story. Hopefully, other works will appear in the future to fill more gaps in the research into both offices and their operations.
ColinBurgess Member
Posts: 2031 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2003
posted 09-07-2018 07:26 PM
Like so many of you, I have just finished reading "The Astronaut Maker" and was enthralled throughout. This is a book that will be read more than once by me, and as with Michael's "Deke," will become the definitive source of information on a truly enigmatic and powerful man, and how his timely and far-reaching influence became the stuff of legends (and rumours) throughout NASA and especially the astronaut corps. It becomes increasingly evident as his career progresses within the book that NASA would have become a totally different space agency with totally different directions and programs had his early ambitions to join the astronaut corps come to fruition.
I found myself continually surprised at the many concepts and innovations George Abbey brought to the space program and other ancillary projects during his career with NASA. Like so many authors and researchers I always find myself trolling through those amazing JSC Oral Histories whenever a first-person account or quote is needed. But I had absolutely no idea before reading the book that this was a George Abbey initiative. He independently recognised the need for NASA's history to be preserved for current and future generations, and set this oral history program in motion, which today gives access to around a thousand one-on-one interviews with people from every realm within NASA, from astronauts through to upper-level management, suit technicians and secretaries.
The depth of the man is amazing, and whilst we all had (and have) our own expectations as to just how deep the book should go in relating his personal and agency life, his involvements and ambitions, and how much power he wielded in his many appointments within NASA, this remains a critically important telling of his story, as always masterfully researched and compiled by Michael Cassutt. Well done, sir.
Daugherty54 Member
Posts: 591 From: Cabot, Arkansas, USA Registered: Sep 2010
posted 09-08-2018 06:24 PM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: Michael Cassutt will be discussing and signing copies...
I just ordered a signed copy from Vroman's Bookstore. They might still have a couple signed copies if anyone else is looking.
fredtrav Member
Posts: 1673 From: Birmingham AL Registered: Aug 2010
posted 09-26-2018 11:26 AM
Michael you had mentioned that you would be doing a signing with George Abbey. Is that still on. Did it happen and not posted?
Michael Cassutt Member
Posts: 358 From: Studio City CA USA Registered: Mar 2005
posted 09-27-2018 01:16 PM
The latest news, as of yesterday, is that there are two upcoming joint signings — one at the Seattle Museum of Flight on Saturday, December 7, the other at the James Baker Institute at Rice University, Houston, on Wednesday, December 12. Thanks!
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3118 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 09-27-2018 05:18 PM
I am (quite literally) in the middle of reading this book, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I will provide a more detailed review when I have finished the book, but for the record I heartily recommend it.
dss65 Member
Posts: 1156 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
posted 09-27-2018 08:19 PM
Michael, I am interested in attending the joint signing event in Seattle. Does this event require you to purchase the book onsite, or can you bring one in that was purchased elsewhere?
Henry Heatherbank Member
Posts: 244 From: Adelaide, South Australia Registered: Apr 2005
posted 09-28-2018 06:38 AM
quote:Originally posted by Blackarrow: ...but for the record I heartily recommend it.
Same. Great book.
Michael Cassutt Member
Posts: 358 From: Studio City CA USA Registered: Mar 2005
posted 10-03-2018 05:20 PM
quote:Originally posted by dss65: ...can you bring one in that was purchased elsewhere?
The MoF just informed me that they do not require books-to-be-signed to have been purchased on site, though they encourage support for their efforts...
dss65 Member
Posts: 1156 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
posted 10-04-2018 06:23 PM
Thanks so much for your effort to answer my question, Michael. I do visit and support the MoF on occasion (I have family living nearby), so maybe I'll purchase the book there on a visit prior to the signing. I want to read it as soon as possible, but I can't really afford to buy it twice.
PJ Downunder New Member
Posts: 7 From: Lancefield, Victoria Australia Registered: May 2015
posted 10-11-2018 03:12 AM
I am intrigued about the subject. I'm still waiting to hear from my favourite local bookshop if they can get me a copy. Amazon will be my second port of call.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-17-2018 10:57 AM
For those in the Houston area, George Abbey will be signing autographs (and presumably copies of "The Astronaut Maker" if asked) at the Wings Over Houston Airshow on Saturday (Oct. 20).
dom Member
Posts: 855 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 10-21-2018 03:09 PM
Whilst watching the movie 'First Man', I thought actor Ciaran Hinds was playing George Abbey - as there is a striking physical resemblance. I was disappointed to discover he was actually portraying Bob Gilruth!
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3118 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 10-21-2018 03:24 PM
"The Astronaut Maker" was a good read. A VERY good read, and also surprising in many ways.
I expected to learn a lot about George Abbey's massive contribution to the space shuttle and ISS (and I did!), but I also learned a great deal about his involvement in the early years of NASA through Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and ASTP. I think the point which comes across most clearly is that, along with other key NASA figures, Abbey put his heart and his soul into his work, and without that workaholic determination to get the job done, NASA would have been a much less successful organization.
Congratulations to Michael Cassutt for shining a light on a career which thoroughly deserves this detailed and very readable examination. This book certainly deserves a place on the bookshelf of any true space enthusiast.
p51 Member
Posts: 1642 From: Olympia, WA Registered: Sep 2011
posted 10-21-2018 06:37 PM
quote:Originally posted by Michael Cassutt: ...one at the Seattle Museum of Flight on Saturday, December 7
Great, I will likely be able to be in the Seattle area that weekend. I'll be sure to come out to this.
dss65 Member
Posts: 1156 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
posted 11-18-2018 01:24 PM
When I first heard that this book was coming out, I was less than enthusiastic about it for at least a couple of reasons. First, although I certainly have not read all of the books about the Space Race (my largest area of interest in this field), I have read enough of them to have become skeptical that new ones will add significantly to my appreciation of the era. Secondly, I've read enough negative about Mr. Abbey that I didn't think I would be that interested in learning more about him.
I was wrong on both counts. This is a very important book that grabs and holds your attention. I definitely recommend it.
Skylon Member
Posts: 274 From: Registered: Sep 2010
posted 12-09-2018 08:39 AM
I am about a third of the war through the book and am finding it a fascinating read. Earlier in this thread there was a comment about how a lot of the historical information used isn't that new. That's fair, however I think Michael Cassutt has put together an excellent contextualizes of that information, and Abbey's significance of Abbey within the narrative of crewed U.S. spaceflight.
Honestly, I feel any flaws in the book, are due to likely Abbey himself. Abbey seems like someone who seldom opened up to anyone, and it seems like to Michael, he just opened the door just enough to peak inside. But that peak has made for an interesting read so far.
fredtrav Member
Posts: 1673 From: Birmingham AL Registered: Aug 2010
posted 12-13-2018 04:37 PM
Just got my signed copy that I ordered from the Seattle Museum of Flight signing earlier this week. Looking forward to reading this.
Tyler_Peterson New Member
Posts: 8 From: Cedar Falls, Iowa Registered: Nov 2016
posted 01-07-2019 01:16 AM
Here is the review I wrote for this book. I'm really glad to have read it, and rate it as one of the three best spaceflight books released in 2018 (along with Bringing Columbia Home and Rocket Men).
Michael Cassutt has has written an outstanding biography of George Abbey, covering his life from his birth on August 21, 1932 in Seattle, Washington through his time at the Naval Academy, the Air Force, NASA employee in Houston working on Apollo, JSC Director of Flight Operations, special assistant to the NASA Administrator in Washington, D.C., JSC Director, to his continued passion for human spaceflight in his mid eighties.
Since the previous accounts of Abbey in print have been somewhat negative, Cassutt does well to highlight the positive influences he had on the space agency. I was especially struck by Abbey's knowledge of personnel, his willingness to accept women and minorities at NASA, and his willingness to reach out to the Houston community to keep them engaged in JSC's work. It's clear that he inspired younger generations in particular through his outreach to students in the 1990s and 2000s. He even helped historians like myself by suggesting the creation of the JSC Oral History Project, which has really benefited me personally. All of us who feel the zeal for human spaceflight owe a debt of gratitude to him and now historians will know much more about him thanks to this book.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3118 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 01-07-2019 04:02 PM
Yes, you make a particularly good point about the JSC Oral History Project, which is an invaluable tool for historians.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-05-2019 10:08 PM
George Abbey and Michael Cassutt gave two talks in Houston this week: on Monday (March 4), the two were hosted by the Baker Institute at Rice University and today (March 5), they were at Space Center Houston. John Charles served as moderator for both events.
Rice University recorded their event and it is available to watch here:
I attended the Space Center Houston discussion and book signing, where Abbey and Cassutt discussed how "The Astronaut Maker" came about and offered Abbey's insights into leadership and the need for such to advance further into space, and, in response to a question I posed, a high-level view on his approach to crew selection (essentially finding the right skills to meet the mission while balancing the need for astronauts to fill technical assignments on the ground).
Kite Member
Posts: 831 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
posted 03-06-2019 12:23 PM
What great timing. I have just finished reading this great book and then find this discussion with the author and his subject.
Good to see Mr. Abbey is still able to recall many events and people so clearly, certainly living up to his reputation for being able to when in such powerful positions within NASA.
Thank you Michael for such a well researched and readable book on a man I knew little of and who was such an important figure in shaping space history, and the future. His forward planning for minorities and involving other countries will be surely his legacy. How he managed to handle many roles at once, and so well, was remarkable.
It is disappointing after four attempts to get former Administrator Dan Goldin to contribute that he didn't respond as it appears he owed much to Mr. Abbey. Tom Stafford comes out as a great influence and friend to him and of course Michael's work on his autobiography obviously persuaded Mr Abbey to let his story be told. I am so glad it did.
posted 08-27-2018 05:08 PM
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