jazzy_dave (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jazzy_dave) wrote2018-11-07 11:48 pm
jazzy_dave) wrote2018-11-07 11:48 pm
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Book 81 - Chris Hadfield "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth"
Chris Hadfield "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth" (Pan Macmillan)
Retired astronaut Chris Hadfield is undoubtedly best known for the video of him playing the guitar and singing David Bowie's "Space Oddity, " while actually in space. He's also made a bunch of other videos and maintains a fantastically popular Twitter feed, and is just generally terrific at putting a likeable, human face on the space program for the public at large while stirring up some of that good old-fashioned sense of excitement and wonder.
In this book, he talks about how he achieved his ambition to become an astronaut, his accomplishments in space, the fascinating details of life on the International Space Station, and the often-overlooked realities of the 95% of the astronaut job that takes place on the ground. He also talks a lot about the attitudes and philosophies that got him where he is, and the principles and strategies he believes are essential to success in an environment that can all too easily kill you. (In very brief summary, these more or less boil down to being crazy-prepared and highly detail-oriented, and not letting your ego get in your way.)
The anecdotes he tells from his years of training, his adventures aboard the space station, his EVAs (extra-vehicular activities), and the gruelling physical manoeuvres and changes he goes through, before, during and after his 5 months up there - you can't make this stuff up! Hadfield's positive attitude, good humour and work ethic, though, are the really impressive part of his story; I don't think a person could accomplish what he has without that type of personality.
His open, honest, clear style and concise, sharp mind make this book a wonderful pleasure to read from start to finish, as well as being utterly fascinating.
Retired astronaut Chris Hadfield is undoubtedly best known for the video of him playing the guitar and singing David Bowie's "Space Oddity, " while actually in space. He's also made a bunch of other videos and maintains a fantastically popular Twitter feed, and is just generally terrific at putting a likeable, human face on the space program for the public at large while stirring up some of that good old-fashioned sense of excitement and wonder.
In this book, he talks about how he achieved his ambition to become an astronaut, his accomplishments in space, the fascinating details of life on the International Space Station, and the often-overlooked realities of the 95% of the astronaut job that takes place on the ground. He also talks a lot about the attitudes and philosophies that got him where he is, and the principles and strategies he believes are essential to success in an environment that can all too easily kill you. (In very brief summary, these more or less boil down to being crazy-prepared and highly detail-oriented, and not letting your ego get in your way.)
The anecdotes he tells from his years of training, his adventures aboard the space station, his EVAs (extra-vehicular activities), and the gruelling physical manoeuvres and changes he goes through, before, during and after his 5 months up there - you can't make this stuff up! Hadfield's positive attitude, good humour and work ethic, though, are the really impressive part of his story; I don't think a person could accomplish what he has without that type of personality.
His open, honest, clear style and concise, sharp mind make this book a wonderful pleasure to read from start to finish, as well as being utterly fascinating.
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