An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth - Softcover

Hadfield, Chris

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1447257510 ISBN 13: 9781447257516

Publisher: Macmillan, 2013

Synopsis

In An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, Colonel Hadfield takes the readers for journey through his years of training and space exploration. He recalls an instance when had to break into a space station with a Swiss army knife, dispose a live snake while flying a plane and was temporarily blinded while hanging from the exterior of an orbiting spacecraft. The secret to Hadfield's success and survival is a philosophy he learned at NASA, “prepare for the worst and enjoy every moment of it”. In this book, Colonel Hadfield very beautifully describes his different experiences. The stories are mesmerizing and thoroughly entertaining as Colonel Hadfield goes on about the wonder of space walks and his adventures in space.

About this title

About the Author

Chris Hadfield is one of the most seasoned and accomplished astronauts in the world. The top graduate of the U.S. Air Force test pilot school in 1988 and U.S. Navy test pilot of the year in 1991, Hadfield was selected to be an astronaut in 1992. He was CAPCOM for 25 shuttle launches and served as Director of NASA Operations in Star City, Russia from 2001-2003, Chief of Robotics at the Johnson Space Center in Houston from 2003-2006, and Chief of International Space Station Operations from 2006-2008. Hadfield most recently served as Commander of the International Space Station where, while conducting a record-setting number of scientific experiments and overseeing an emergency spacewalk, he gained worldwide acclaim for his breathtaking photographs and educational videos about life in space. His music video, a zero gravity version of David Bowie's "Space Oddity," received over 10 million views in its first three days online.

Review

A Slate Staff Pick for Best Books 2013

"A very human glance into a rarified world.... The vacuum of space is unforgiving and brutal. Life on earth isn't easy, either. Mr. Hadfield has genuinely and refreshingly increased our understanding of how to thrive in both places."―The Wall Street Journal

"Hadfield is a genius, a man of science and technology and no first-timer to the universe."―New York Post

"A satisfying behind-the-scenes look at the life of an astronaut.... A page-turning memoir of life as a decorated astronaut."―Kirkus Reviews

"Houston, we have a superstar."―Washington Post

"This memoir is part fascinating view, part Boy Scout manual."―New York Times

"A satisfying behind-the-scenes look at the life of an astronaut.... A page-turning memoir of life as a decorated astronaut."―Kirkus

"Hadfield proves himself to be not only a fierce explorer of the universe, but also a deeply thoughtful explorer of the human condition, capable of articulating those most universal of inquiries in simple yet profound language.... The book itself is absolutely spectacular."―Brain Pickings

"Lessons from his new book, AN ASTRONAUT'S GUIDE TO LIFE, are so inspiring that it's hard to decide which one to tell you about."―USA Today

"Our planet's one-man ambassador to the universe."―Gothamist

Edition details

• Publisher: Macmillan
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1447257510
• ISBN 13: 9781447257516
• Binding: Paperback