Forty years ago, Buzz Aldrin became the second human - minutes after Neil Armstrong - to set foot on a celestial body other than the Earth. The event remains one of mankind's greatest achievements and was witnessed by the largest worldwide television audience in history. In the years since, millions more have had their earth-centric perspective changed forever by gazing at the iconic photograph of Aldrin standing on the surface of the Moon with the blackness of space behind him. He described what he saw as 'magnificent desolation'. The flight of Apollo 11 made Aldrin one of the most famous people on the planet, yet few people know the rest of the story. In Magnificent Desolation, Aldrin not only gives us a harrowing first-person account of the lunar landing that came within seconds of failure, as well as the ultimate insider's view of life as one of the superstars of America's space program, he also opens up with remarkable candor about his more personal trials - and eventual triumphs - back on Earth. From the glory of being part of the mission that fulfilled President Kennedy's challenge to reach the Moon before the decade was out, Aldrin returned home to an Air Force career stripped of purpose or direction, other than as a public relations tool that NASA put to relentless use in a seemingly nonstop world tour. The twin demons of depression and alcoholism emerged - the first of which Aldrin confronted early and publicly and the second of which he met with denial until it nearly killed him. As an adventure story, a searing memoir of self-destruction and self-renewal, and as a visionary rallying cry to once again set our course for Mars and beyond, Magnificent Desolation is the thoroughly human story of a genuine hero.
Magnificent desolation
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`A compelling account not only of the [Apollo 11] mission and its impact on the world, but also the effects of becoming one of the most important figures of the 20th century overnight'
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About the Author
On 20 July 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong landed their lunar module on the Sea of Tranquility and became the first humans to walk on the Moon. Aldrin has since been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and more than 50 other awards and medals from the United States and other countries. He holds a doctorate in astronautics from MIT. Since retiring from the US Air Force and NASA, Dr Aldrin has remained at the forefront of efforts to ensure a continued leading role for America in manned space exploration. He founded a rocket design company, Starcraft Boosters, Inc., and the ShareSpace Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to opening the doors to space tourism for all people. Buzz and his wife, Lois, live in Los Angeles. Ken Abraham is a New York Times bestselling author, known around the world for his collaborations with celebrities and high-profile public figures.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Neutral
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
It's remarkable that less than 70 years after the first heavier than air flight in 1903, human beings were able to fly to the moon. It's even more remarkable to realise that many of today's mobile phones have more computing power than the Apollo 11 which took them there. Yet what brings everything together is the vision, courage and determination of the human race to explore more facets of their existence. For anyone who recognises that America's victory in the space race was about politics not peace then Buzz Aldrin's book is testament to the human condition.
Of the three astronauts who travelled on Apollo 11 Neil Armstrong lives in relative obscurity in Ohio, where he was born, following a successful career in education and business. Michael Collins worked for the US government and then the Smithsonian Institute before going into business on his own account while Aldrin went through two divorces, depression and alcoholism. If Aldrin has a beef with NASA it's that while they had rigorous physical examinations (which Aldrin still undertakes annually) no-one seems to have devised post space psychological tests. This is even more surprising seeing as both Armstrong and Aldrin had seen active service as fighter pilots during the Korean war.
Autobiographies are essentially self-centred otherwise they are fictitious. In Aldrin's case he finds a balance between the mission which brought him fame and the rest of his life. That life was already in a mess (along with that of several other astronauts) because of the demands of his training and work. His marriage had been drained of emotion and was in decline. It wasn't helped by his depressive personality which expressed itself in a need to set and achieve goals.... Read more ›
Of the three astronauts who travelled on Apollo 11 Neil Armstrong lives in relative obscurity in Ohio, where he was born, following a successful career in education and business. Michael Collins worked for the US government and then the Smithsonian Institute before going into business on his own account while Aldrin went through two divorces, depression and alcoholism. If Aldrin has a beef with NASA it's that while they had rigorous physical examinations (which Aldrin still undertakes annually) no-one seems to have devised post space psychological tests. This is even more surprising seeing as both Armstrong and Aldrin had seen active service as fighter pilots during the Korean war.
Autobiographies are essentially self-centred otherwise they are fictitious. In Aldrin's case he finds a balance between the mission which brought him fame and the rest of his life. That life was already in a mess (along with that of several other astronauts) because of the demands of his training and work. His marriage had been drained of emotion and was in decline. It wasn't helped by his depressive personality which expressed itself in a need to set and achieve goals.... Read more ›
43 of 46 people found the following review helpful
By Delta Sigma
Format:Hardcover
Having worked on Apollo at Kennedy, I am always eager to read the latest books about space history. While I realize that the bulk of this book has to do with Aldrin's problems he endured (and overcame) after the mission, I was quite surprised at the number and magnitude of the technical errors I noticed regarding the mission. It made me wonder just how much input Aldrin really had in the writing of this book. Surely he knows better.
A few examples: the book states that Alan Shepard's Freedom 7 reached an altitude of 62 miles (it went up 116 miles). The book repeatedly refers to multiple engines on the LM descent and ascent stages as well as on the Service Module; each of the 3 only had one engine. The book refers to the "dark side" of the moon; (there is no "dark" side, only a "far" or "back" side). Even the text on the LM commemoration plaque is misquoted. There are many more.
There is a photo whose caption states it is taken after Aldrin's Gemini 12 EVA. If this is true, who took it from outside the spacecraft? It is actually a photo (JSC image S66-59907) taken prior to liftoff. (The visor protective cover is still in place.)
All in all, I still enjoyed the book, but I am always suspect about the rest of the book when I am able to find so many errors in the parts I am familiar with. But these errors in no way detract from my admiration of the man.
A few examples: the book states that Alan Shepard's Freedom 7 reached an altitude of 62 miles (it went up 116 miles). The book repeatedly refers to multiple engines on the LM descent and ascent stages as well as on the Service Module; each of the 3 only had one engine. The book refers to the "dark side" of the moon; (there is no "dark" side, only a "far" or "back" side). Even the text on the LM commemoration plaque is misquoted. There are many more.
There is a photo whose caption states it is taken after Aldrin's Gemini 12 EVA. If this is true, who took it from outside the spacecraft? It is actually a photo (JSC image S66-59907) taken prior to liftoff. (The visor protective cover is still in place.)
All in all, I still enjoyed the book, but I am always suspect about the rest of the book when I am able to find so many errors in the parts I am familiar with. But these errors in no way detract from my admiration of the man.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By C. Lynch
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
First of all, it has to be said that Buzz is not a modest kind of guy. There is a certain amount to commend in this book, namely the first two thirds concerning the Apollo 11 training and landing and the subsequent unravelling of Buzz's life. However, the latter third is a homage to his third wife, Lois. An entire chapter is dedicated to her life story and Buzz makes much of her wealthy family connections. A lot of this is contained in very schmalzy and saccharine prose. I don't know how the publisher let this through as it greatly takes from the overall book and does not reflect well on the man himself. If you are interested in the Apollo 11 moon landing, there are other worthier books to peruse.
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By R. Mumford
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Starting at the moon landing of Apollo 11 and moving on from there Buzz Aldrin's book shows the impact the being the second man on the moon had on his life and those around him. Never wavering from the truth Buzz talks in honest and open fashion about his personal problems with depression and alcohol abuse and his long slow recovery to again play an active role in shaping American space policy and inspiring the youth of today to take up the space challenge.
After reading some other astronauts books it's refreshing to see someone be so honest about being a hero with feet of clay, rather than quietly displaying the right stuff in every situation, but that only makes you warm to Buzz even more and make you realise that the astronauts were first and foremost human beings. Buzz's love of space exploration and his hope for the future of space travel are also fascinating and you can tell that here is a man who clearly loves the future and wants us all to go there with him.
If I have one criticism it's that we don't get to know much about pre-Apollo 11 Aldrin. There is a brief mention of time in the war in Korea and a few remarks about early times in NASA but it would have been interesting to read an account of Buzz's earlier Gemini 12 mission with that other great space hero Jim Lovell (who has also written a great biog) or some of the training which the astronauts went through as part of the moon project.
Overall through this is a great book about a unique event in history and the impact it had on one of the key participants I'd recommend it to anyone, not just space junkies, as a riveting insight into one of the key events of the late 20th century as well as a moving and supportive account of a man coming to terms with his own daemons and living to tell the tale.
After reading some other astronauts books it's refreshing to see someone be so honest about being a hero with feet of clay, rather than quietly displaying the right stuff in every situation, but that only makes you warm to Buzz even more and make you realise that the astronauts were first and foremost human beings. Buzz's love of space exploration and his hope for the future of space travel are also fascinating and you can tell that here is a man who clearly loves the future and wants us all to go there with him.
If I have one criticism it's that we don't get to know much about pre-Apollo 11 Aldrin. There is a brief mention of time in the war in Korea and a few remarks about early times in NASA but it would have been interesting to read an account of Buzz's earlier Gemini 12 mission with that other great space hero Jim Lovell (who has also written a great biog) or some of the training which the astronauts went through as part of the moon project.
Overall through this is a great book about a unique event in history and the impact it had on one of the key participants I'd recommend it to anyone, not just space junkies, as a riveting insight into one of the key events of the late 20th century as well as a moving and supportive account of a man coming to terms with his own daemons and living to tell the tale.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A star who stumbled and rose again
An excellent and revealing account of Buzz Aldrin's life since he walked on the moon with Neil Armstrong. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Marty M
3.0 out of 5 stars
a complex man
As a space nut with a special interest in the Mercury and Apollo programs I have always been fascinated by the personalities of the men who risked everything to race to the moon. Read more
Published 1 month ago by yvonne waterston
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buzz book
I will never get to ask Buzz in person, i feel I don't need to now. A good read.
Will look at other space biographies.
Will look at other space biographies.
Published 2 months ago by James Revill
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great
It was purchased to assist my son with his GCSE Drama project. It provided all the information that was needed.
Published 3 months ago by Susan Bates
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book
Only read a couple of chapters so far - not quite sure if it was written by Mr Aldrin though!
Published 5 months ago by Mr. Gj Wade
3.0 out of 5 stars
A tale of three thirds
This book started marvellously but then steadily deteriorated. Essentially, it splits into three parts. Read more
Published 7 months ago by History Geek
5.0 out of 5 stars
MOON WALKER BEARS HIS SOUL
I have always been fascinated by the Apollo Space Missions, I recall growing up in those momentous years &
watching the exploits of these Men as they pushed the Boundaries of... Read more
watching the exploits of these Men as they pushed the Boundaries of... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mr. R. J. Myers
3.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewer
I appreciate that this is not a book restricted to the moon mission and I thought the chapters dealing with Buzz's depression and alcoholism were well written. Read more
Published 21 months ago by a person
2.0 out of 5 stars
Desolation in the middle.
Buzz's description of his youth, early career and problems after Apollo was informative but as the book proceeded I became increasingly aware of a void, a desolation in the middile... Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2011 by Book Mite
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not so Magnificent
I eagerly awaited this book's release. What a disappointment. It gets 3 stars for the first two thirds of the book, as it was really interesting stuff i.e. Read more
Published on 24 July 2010 by A. Hobbs
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