Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Spaceman: An Astronaut's Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe

Top positive review

Launch was awesome!

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024

Gripping. Inspirational. Funny. Heartbreaking. Moving. What else can I say? JUST READ IT! Launch was awesome, indeed!

One minor problem is the grammar. Even with those minor issues (probably a dozen or so that I noticed), it was still great. Plus, it added an authenticity to the author's story.

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

JBK

One Falsehood Undermines the Whole

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2017

It's not a bad book, but it is unashamedly a promotion for NASA and manned spaceflight. I can live with that, and Massimino seems like an okay guy. However, he lost credibility with me when he lied on page 100 about how Elliott See and Charles Bassett died. It was common knowledge that it wasn't a weather-related accident, but there's no need for me to recite here what really happened. Because the truth is so widely known, Massimino had the option of just not going into the details and leave it at the tragedy it was. The problem is that one big lie like that one makes me as a reader question everything else he wrote. I just wish he'd kept his integrity intact and not mentioned See and Bassett at all. Otherwise, it's a good read of the ilk of Horatio Alger.

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1,444 total ratings, 372 with reviews

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From the United States

wiz_programmer

Launch was awesome!

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024

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MSalsgiver

One of the best astronaut memoirs

Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2017

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Put this one right up there with Mike Collins' "Carrying the Fire."

As a nearly-life long space freak, I soak in everything related to human space flight. I have wanted to be an astronaut since I was six years old. Like many out there who are intensely interested in the space program, I've met many astronauts (one of my claims to fame is that I have shaken hands with every human who has so far walked on the Moon!), and even come to know a few.

Mike Massimino is definitely one I want to get to know.

Besides being a terrific autobiography, this is one of those books that makes you really feel like "you're there." When Mike writes of being selected to be an astronaut, I actually teared up -- he wrote in a way that made me feel like I was the person being selected by NASA. Massimino's description of his first extravehicular activity (EVA -- "spacewalk") is one of the best "what-did-it-feel-like-and-what-were-you-thinking" descriptions ever. I felt like I was actually out there with him, being a "Hubble Jedi" right beside him.

The book is funny, informative, entertaining, moving, and educational. Massimino's writing style almost perfectly emulates the way he speaks. He is a normal kid from Brooklyn who, by skills, capabilities, intelligence, persistence and sheer luck, went on to do extraordinary things. After reading this book, I had an intense desire to meet Massimino and sit down over dinner and drinks and talk until he kicks me out.

At 344 pages, "Spaceman" is an average-sized book. It is not an average life story. I read it over the Christmas break in seven hours and did not want it to end. If you have even one-tenth the interest I have in the space program, buy Massimino's "Spaceman."

This book is that good.

35 people found this helpful

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CB in AK

Inspiring, exciting, moving. Human.

Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2024

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Massimino takes us for a ride. We learn about his journey. He is a humble hero who reminds through his exciting story that luck and skill are necessary, but inspiration and drive are as well. He is like the mountain climber who knows that the quality of the journey is as significant as the goal. He understands the prime value of teamwork and a good sense of humor. He is an excellent writer.

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bxm 5

Interesting perspective of the SSP from the Astronauts point of view.

Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2024

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Interesting and disappointing to read about Mike's path from childhood through NASA and his great human space flight adventures. Interesting in how he achieved his goals and did amazing things. Disappointing in his (and others) view of how the SSP did not meet it's objectives and was a Disappointment.
This is from my perspective from someone who worked on the SSP from 1980 through its end in 2011.

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Robert S. (Bob) Delaney

A most readable astronaut memoir

Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2021

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Two weeks ago, I started reading this book by former US astronaut Mike Massimino, who flew as a payload specialist on two Space Shuttle missions in the early 2000s. He tells his life story--from growing up wanting to be an astronaut, through his education, early work, and selection as an astronaut candidate. Mike writes of his life and career--from training through two missions where he helped service the Hubble Space Telescope--in a most easy to grasp style, with jargon kept to a minimum. It feels like you are sitting across a table from Massimino as he tells his story, through good times and bad. I really enjoyed reading this book, and highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in space travel and to motivate anyone to follow one's dreams.

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A. Murphy

Lots of great lessons!

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2017

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I purchased this book for my 14 year-old son to read on our summer road trip, but after reading the prologue was thoroughly intrigued. Books about space and astronauts are not usually in my wheelhouse, but this was a good reminder to go outside my comfort zone once in a while, because it can be so rewarding.

Massimino is an interesting guy and humble too. His peculiar mix of earnestness, self-deprecation and gratitude were a winning combo that came across throughout the book. Massimino’s writing made this book a pleasure to read because he was so inspiring, but I also found it fantastically interesting. I learned a lot about space and space travel from this book that I did not know. I love it when a book can expose me to whole new worlds and give me a new perspective.

I gleaned so many wonderful lessons from this book that I wrote a piece on it over on LinkedIn. I was particularly glad that my son read this book and got those lessons too. Namely, that there are multiples paths to your goal, get outside your comfort zone, learn from your failures, rely on your team and most importantly that attitude is everything. Mike Massimino restores my faith in the ideas of hard work, optimism and gratitude. We could all learn a lot from his can-do attitude.

9 people found this helpful

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Wjr2

Insightful!

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024

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Great ride with Massamino on his journey to space…Never say never!

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D. J. Klein

amazing adventure

Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2024

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Massimino goes beyond explaining his life and adventure becoming an astronaut. Mike’s story gives so much proof that skills and willingness are enormous strengths.

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Maria A Perez

So much more than an Astronaut's story

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2023

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As a lover of all things space, of course, I was mesmerized by the author's experiences. I didn't expect to also be inspired by his uplifting story of overcoming obstacles to achieve his dream. I think anyone can enjoy and relate to his story of perseverance. The author's writing engaged me throughout the book. I'm so glad I decided to read it.

One person found this helpful

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Tobiwan1731

So inspiring

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2023

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Couldn't put this book down. Easy to read but an incredible story of perseverance and how we all help each other; and reinforcing the need to keep problem-solving a solution, even when it looks like it's done and there's no hope. Highly recommended for Hubble Geeks everywhere.

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