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Product Description
Review
"Collins tells what his space journeys meant to him as a human being [and] discusses the role of man amid the multitudinous mechanical marvels . . . Profoundly affecting." --"The New Yorker
""Michael Collins can write . . . No other person who has flown in space has captured the experience so vividly." --Henry S.F. Cooper, Jr., "The New York Times Book Review"
""Michael Collins can write . . . No other person who has flown in space has captured the experience so vividly." --Henry S.F. Cooper, Jr., "The New York Times Book Review"
Product Description
The years that have passed since Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins piloted the Apollo 11 spacecraft to the moon in July 1969 have done nothing to alter the fundamental wonder of the event: man reaching the moon remains one of the great events - technical and spiritual - of our lifetime. In this remarkable book, Michael Collins conveys, a very personal way, the drama, beauty, and humour of that adventure. He also traces his development from his first flight experiences in the air force, through his days as a test pilot, to his Apollo 11 space walk, presenting an evocative picture of the joys of flight as well as a new perspective on time, light, and movement from someone who has seen the fragile Earth from the other side of the moon.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
61 of 61 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've read every available account of project Apollo and I think this is by far the best. Collins is a natural story teller and there's little eveidence of a co-author spoiling the text. Collins self-affacing humour and modesty make this a delight to read. Not only was he a Gemini and Apollo pilot, but he was instrumental in the designing of the pressure suit used for space and moon walks and he gives interesting accounts of this (including the discovery of his own claustraphobia-not a most desireable attribute for an astronaut!). My only disappointment was that Collins retired after being CMP on Apollo 11. He deserved a Lunar Landing and his account would have been electrifying.
I also unreservedly recommend this book-the hardback is especially nice!
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the most entertaining and illuminating account of man's early exploration of space that I have read. Collins tells the story in a witty and often poignant way and is not afraid to provide the reader with a 'warts and all' approach to some of the most momentous events of the 20th century. It will be of interest to both students of the subject as well as those who were not born when man first walked upon the moon. I recommend it without reservation.
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Carrying The Fire is a personal story by the 'third man' of Apollo 11. Michael Collins is often sadly sidelined in many accounts of mankind's greatest adventure. But as command module pilot of Apollo 11 his job was the equal of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's.
Collin's is clearly a natural writer and his account of what it is like to be the only member of humanity to be totally alone is both informative and poignant. During the mission there was little time for him to reflect on the acheivement and significance of Apollo 11, but his retrospective view gives the reader a unique insight into the enormity of the undertaking. Collins' candid comments on his training and preparation for the mission show us at this thirty year remove, just how pioneering the whole of Project Apollo really was. These men were explorers as well as trained astronauts and Michael Collins was fully aware of this.
One particular passage stays in the memory - Collins knew that if anything went wrong on the lunar surface he had to be prepared to come back alone. As he says "I would have had to leave my crewmates to die on the Moon, whilst I flew home to safety. I would have been a marked man for the rest of my life"
As a long time fan of all thing 'spacey' I think Carrying The Fire is perhaps the most personal book I have read by any of the twenty four men who amazed and thrilled us all by journeying to the Moon.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Probably the Best Astronaut Book
I've read pretty much all the Apollo and Mercury astronaut books, along with many other 60s NASA books, and this sticks out as being probably the best balance of readability and... Read more
Published 2 days ago by E. Smith
He was alone
I am fascinated by the whole Apollo program. It is hard to sometimes to break away from the test pilot, jet jock who becomes a space man. This book gives us Collins as a man. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Martin McAdam
Inspiring
A must read for anyone with an interest in space or space missions. Collins tells of his time in the Air Force and his detail of time spent in nasa in a great read
Published 4 months ago by Barry
Very enjoyable
I really enjoyed this book. He tells the full story of his life as an astronaut, building up to the Apollo 11 flight. It's really interesting, and kept me reading right to the end. Read more
Published 8 months ago by squiresy
Simply magnificent!
Simply magnificent! As I've spent the last few days tearing through this engrossing book, I've been mindful of how I might be able to review it once I'd reached its end. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Paul Harris
Wonderful read
If you only ever read one book on the amazing story of the American space programme, read this. It is beautifully written and if I had the time I would have read it cover to cover... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Rustyflyer
Inspiring & superb
An extraordinarily witty, intelligent and revealing book written with humility and great attention to detail. Read more
Published 19 months ago by J. J. Carter
Carrying the fire
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I never knew much about Michael Collins, the third man, but having read and enjoyed his book I think he tells it like it is and I fell I know a... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Andrew Davies
Best biography by an Astronaut, bar none!
I have a a large collection of books about the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs. Mike Collins' book is by far and away the best of the astronaut biographies (and one of... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Islander
Really Good
This book is a great read. It deals with Mike Collins' early life, his days as a test pilot and how he got into the US manned space project. Read more
Published on 29 May 2010 by Sean Murphy
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