An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth

author: Chris Hadfield

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.13

book published: 2013

rating: 5

read at: 2014/03/25

date added: 2014/03/25

shelves: non-fiction

review:

Colonel Chris Hadfield and his YouTube videos from the ISS went viral during his 6 months on board. His final video from the station, a version of Space Oddity, was heavily viewed and is the kind of touching and real picture we need to have of life in space. In 'An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth' we learn what got him there. It's incredibly inspiring and Chris Hadfield comes across as hard-working, humble and a genuinely good human.



I am about the same age as Chris Hadfield. We both grew up in the shadow of Mercury and Apollo. We both wanted to be astronauts in that golden land of our youth, but Chris made that dream come true with a lot of hard work and perseverance. The lessons presented in this book seem counter to what we are taught, but they have served Chris Hadfield well. His advice includes always sweating the small stuff, not visualizing success and caring what others think. Unconventional wisdom in a narcissistic age.



Along with the wisdom are stories. Stories of being blinded while doing an EVA outside of the shuttle, finding a snake in the cockpit of a flying fighter plane and what it feels like to launch into space. Colonel Hadfield shows such an immense amount of gratitude for what he's been allowed to do, and his sense of wonder and graciousness is evident throughout the book.



I look forward to seeing what Colonel Hadfield does next. I know there will be a next. He is a man filled with an innate curiosity and drive.



I was given a review copy of this book by Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so very much for allowing me to review this honest and inspiring book.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/1jG8BjD