[MM1]⋙ PDF Endurance A Year in Space A Lifetime of Discovery Scott Kelly 9781524731595 Books

Endurance A Year in Space A Lifetime of Discovery Scott Kelly 9781524731595 Books

Download As PDF : Endurance A Year in Space A Lifetime of Discovery Scott Kelly 9781524731595 Books

Endurance A Year in Space A Lifetime of Discovery Scott Kelly 9781524731595 Books

I have two paths of reaction to this book. On the one hand, it was extremely interesting to read a first hand account of the path to being an astronaut -- the educational path, the selection process, the training. Also that there are different paths that impact one's interest and role in space: test pilot vs. scientist. I was truly ignorant without a thought about the differences between the space shuttle era, and the space station era. I didn't know anything about the space station or it's development until reading this, nor did I have any interest at all. But after reading this book I spent a few hours watching every video I could find that toured the space station, or demonstrated how astronauts do everyday tasks in space. It was generally a great read, and very engaging -- and we're talking about a reader who generally isn't interested in space. There were a few places where it got bogged down in the technical; and the pattern of alternating chapters of different time periods was distracting. I would have enjoyed it more were it linear.

So that was the good part of the book, and why I recommend it. What I didn't like was the impression I was left with about Scott Kelly himself, and some personal choices he made in the book. I was pre-disposed to like him, but walked away not liking him (dislike might be strong). What bothered me were his comments about his first wife, and not wanting to marry her; as well as subsequent negative comments about her. True or not, it really wasn't necessary to share this -- it had no connection to the rest of the story, and wasn't necessary for explaining their eventual divorce. I could only think of his daughters -- who aren't that old (the oldest was a teenager during the narrative) -- reading this. It may be true, but not something you want to read in print about your parents along with a million other people. (And his attempts as times to make positive comments about her seem really forced -- you can't un-ring a bell.) So he chose to share all of that, but then the Lisa Nowak matter is weirdly handled -- or not handled. She was a classmate, coworker, and someone he knew for a long time. He makes a couple comments about her being obsessive, and getting her moved to another flight team. But the books skips over a big period of time and conveniently does not address her "trip to Florida." It also does not cover his public comments in the aftermath regarding alcohol use among astronauts. Even if for some reason he (or the editor, or legal) didn't want to go into the entire saga, it's weird to pretend like it didn't happen given everything else that was covered. At least an acknowledgement of some kind would have made sense. At any rate, while the editorial decision about the omission might have been someone else's, the editorial decision about including such negative comments about his first wife were his.


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Endurance A Year in Space A Lifetime of Discovery Scott Kelly 9781524731595 Books Reviews

This book has had a lot of advance publicity. Having read many books about the space program, my fear that a book about the ISS would be among the most boring things I've ever read because...well it's just so routine up there. Nevertheless, I was curious because of the routine-ness depicted in "2001 A Space Odessey" and wanted to see what the real thing was like.

I glad to report that my preconceptions were all wrong.

Actually, this is the irreverent, "tell it like it is" almost satirical book about space I've been hoping for. Scott Kelly candidly points out things that annoy him. The body odor. Duct tape. Velcro. About the Nasa decisionmakers who denied him and his fellow astronauts the use of both CDRAs which removes carbon dioxide from the air in the Space Station, as opposed to one. Nor does he sugarcoat his feelings about the somewhat downgraded, reduced meticulousness of his Russian counterparts who are now the only ferry service to and from the Space Station.

We here on Earth probably have the impression that life on the space station, while busy, is somewhat of a vacation with nice view out the window, Kelly sets us straight. When you are on the space station, you have to put up discomforts, inconveniences along with deteriorating health on a daily basis.

At the same time, I am impressed by the man himself. Scott Kelly had an upbringing that is incongruous with what he wound up becoming. In his early years, he was one of those who could have been voted "least likely to succeed.

But once he found his passion, i.e. wanting to fly a jet off an aircraft career, he was on the track that eventually led him join the space program.

This is a very entertaining and irreverent book that big condo orbiting the Earth.
I received an ARC of this book from a giveaway...I originally thought my husband would read it (since he is a space aficionado, follows launches and SpaceX, etc) but when I received the book I was intrigued and decided to read it. I almost never read nonfiction (though am an avid fiction reader), but I'm so glad I read it! I loved it and would definitely recommend, especially if you have an interest in space stuff!

Kelly juxtaposed his life onboard the ISS for the year-long mission with how he became an astronaut and the events leading up to the year-long mission. This was told in alternating chapters the time on the International Space Station was written in present tense while his autobiographical part was past tense. I liked that the chapters alternated, because it prevented me from getting too bored or bogged down with one storyline. Both parts I found fascinating. To become an astronaut is immensely difficult and I have always been curious how that happens, both the selection process and the training, since astronauts are the crème de la crème. Add to that when you discover that Scott Kelly was a horrible student and aimless during his school years; how did this man end up obtaining one of the most difficult jobs ever? And that he and his twin brother were selected at the same time? The chapters about the ISS were equally interesting. Learning about the difficulties of space station life, from the everyday actions of eating and dressing and sleeping to the challenging duties required of the astronauts, was enlightening and made me appreciate my easy life a whole lot more. I was amazed by what he goes through for launches and landings. His whole story is very inspiring.

I gave a five star rating, but the book is not perfect. Overall I found it well written. However (and some of this may change since I did read an ARC after all) there was some repetition in stories or descriptions, though that didn't bother me too much. Also, the book was sprinkled with curse words and some talk of crude things (like diapers and toilets on the ISS). Not too much, but a bit more than I expected. Again, this didn't bother me but it might bother others, or be a bit much for young readers. And I viewed the crude stuff as okay because I realized that it's a part of the everyday challenges in space.
I have two paths of reaction to this book. On the one hand, it was extremely interesting to read a first hand account of the path to being an astronaut -- the educational path, the selection process, the training. Also that there are different paths that impact one's interest and role in space test pilot vs. scientist. I was truly ignorant without a thought about the differences between the space shuttle era, and the space station era. I didn't know anything about the space station or it's development until reading this, nor did I have any interest at all. But after reading this book I spent a few hours watching every video I could find that toured the space station, or demonstrated how astronauts do everyday tasks in space. It was generally a great read, and very engaging -- and we're talking about a reader who generally isn't interested in space. There were a few places where it got bogged down in the technical; and the pattern of alternating chapters of different time periods was distracting. I would have enjoyed it more were it linear.

So that was the good part of the book, and why I recommend it. What I didn't like was the impression I was left with about Scott Kelly himself, and some personal choices he made in the book. I was pre-disposed to like him, but walked away not liking him (dislike might be strong). What bothered me were his comments about his first wife, and not wanting to marry her; as well as subsequent negative comments about her. True or not, it really wasn't necessary to share this -- it had no connection to the rest of the story, and wasn't necessary for explaining their eventual divorce. I could only think of his daughters -- who aren't that old (the oldest was a teenager during the narrative) -- reading this. It may be true, but not something you want to read in print about your parents along with a million other people. (And his attempts as times to make positive comments about her seem really forced -- you can't un-ring a bell.) So he chose to share all of that, but then the Lisa Nowak matter is weirdly handled -- or not handled. She was a classmate, coworker, and someone he knew for a long time. He makes a couple comments about her being obsessive, and getting her moved to another flight team. But the books skips over a big period of time and conveniently does not address her "trip to Florida." It also does not cover his public comments in the aftermath regarding alcohol use among astronauts. Even if for some reason he (or the editor, or legal) didn't want to go into the entire saga, it's weird to pretend like it didn't happen given everything else that was covered. At least an acknowledgement of some kind would have made sense. At any rate, while the editorial decision about the omission might have been someone else's, the editorial decision about including such negative comments about his first wife were his.