Moondust: In Search of the Men who Fell to Earth
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Product Description
Craig Brown in THE MAIL ON SUNDAY
**** RECOMMENDED [A] fascinating book... Smith is certainly no techo-geek and does not shy away from the more personal questions
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Mark Ellen in WORD MAGAZINE
Moondust is an inspired idea, immaculately executed: witty, affectionate, completely captivating.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If anyone wants to re-awaken their interest in the Apollo moon landings then this book is a must read. I found it easy to follow, written with emotion and a dash of humour. It's full of stories from the astronauts who the author meets on his travels across the US. Nothing really new is revealed, but it gives an insight about what the Apollo programme was all about and how it changed the lives of the men who took part. The only thing missing I felt was some photographs perhaps of the astronauts then and now, or even of the moon landings themselves just to remind us of the pure magic of it all.
The most intriguing aspect of the book is the mystery surrounding the "first man on the moon", Neil Armstrong. I feel I can understand a little better about why he remains so distant. When my sons asked me what it was like to watch it all live on TV back then, I feel as daunted by that question as the astronauts must feel themselves when asked what it was like to "stand on the moon". Something not easy to put into words because it's a moment in time that passes so quickly and difficult to take in. This, I feel, is what most of the "moonwalkers" find the hardest question to answer. Moondust raises those un-answerable questions.
A fantastic read, Mr Taylor - A fascinating, intriguing book that really makes you think!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - having read Andrew Chaikin's 'A Man on the Moon' a few months earlier.
Smith's book gives a real sense of the people involved, and the way in which he weaves stories of the various missions contributes to a holistic view of the whole program.
I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed this without Chaikin's book, as that supplied the factual underpinning that allowed me to enjoy a more free form approach.
Anyway no point theorizing - this book gives a good alternative perspective and contains lots of information that you might not find elsewhere ( e.g. Aldrin refusing to photo Armstrong on the moon ! ). His sense of wonder at the entire project is infectious, and his diagnosis of type A maledom a lesson some of us might do well to take to heart.
This book never flags, and is never dull.
Smith's book gives a real sense of the people involved, and the way in which he weaves stories of the various missions contributes to a holistic view of the whole program.
I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed this without Chaikin's book, as that supplied the factual underpinning that allowed me to enjoy a more free form approach.
Anyway no point theorizing - this book gives a good alternative perspective and contains lots of information that you might not find elsewhere ( e.g. Aldrin refusing to photo Armstrong on the moon ! ). His sense of wonder at the entire project is infectious, and his diagnosis of type A maledom a lesson some of us might do well to take to heart.
This book never flags, and is never dull.
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have a friend who knows everything there is to know about the Apollo programme and I asked him if he'd read the book. Naturally he had, but he didn't like it. In his view there were far too many observations and recollections by the author and not enough hard facts.
I have to disagree. 'Moondust' is an unashamedly subjective evocation of the Space Age that is both extremely interesting and often very poignant. Whether you remember the Apollo missions or not, it is facinating to read about an era that felt as if it was the dawn of a new 'Space Age' (indeed, many people quiet reasonably assumed that if we could land a man on the moon in 1969, we'd have bases there by 2001).
In 'Moondust' author Andrew Smith has interviewed many of the surviving astronauts who went to the moon and instead of asking the obvious question - 'What was it like to be on the moon?' - he is more interested in how they coped with returning to their lives on earth, knowing that the highpoint of their lives was probably behing them.
That said, 'Moondust' has many fascinating facts about the Apollo missions, ranging from some humorous accounts of the difficulties in going to the loo in zero gravity to a description of how pilots often had to assume manual control to stop their craft from crashing into the lunar surface. But for me, the most memorable thing I learned was that NASA only paid the astronauts a few dollars a day while they were in space and actually deducted bed and board from their pay cheque!
When I discovered that this book was included in Richard and Judy's Book Club it seemed an odd choice, but now I've read it I can understand why. This is a fascinating, very readable book that most people should, I think, be able to enjoy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Highly entertaining and thought provoking
This is the account of Andrew Smith's journey to discover what the legacy of the Apollo missions is. Read more
Published 2 months ago by C. Barnes
Moondust
An exciting, engrossing read for all those who are interested in the men who have walked on the moon. Read more
Published 3 months ago by M. Howitt
Moondust
This is an incredibly thought-provoking read that smacks you round the head with a goalpost and invites you to open your eyes and ponder the realms outside of society, jobs,... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Calum
Confusing
Interesting, but confusing at the same time. Seemed to dot all over the place.
Needed to keep referring back to previous information. Read more
Needed to keep referring back to previous information. Read more
Published 7 months ago by vmb
Funny and fascinating
An interesting exploration of the weird three years when America shot people up to the moon. Only 12 people actually walked on the moon, and only 9 of them are still alive. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Frootle
An astonishing read
I think that the people that have criticised the author, suggesting he is `self indulgent' by tying his own story and thoughts into those of the astronauts themselves have entirely... Read more
Published 11 months ago by J. W. Treadaway
Makes you want to put the book down, go outside and just wonder..
This is an interesting book: part travelogue, part collective biography of the nine remaining men who set foot on the moon and what happened to them after that life-changing... Read more
Published 12 months ago by C. Ball
Moondust
A fasinating insight to the lives of the men who walked on the moon.
The behind the scenes of the most famous event of last century. Read more
The behind the scenes of the most famous event of last century. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Pebble
A brilliant subjective review that asks some compelling questions
There are those that criticise this book for the author's own personal reflections and contemplations but they are completely wrong as this is what really makes this book come... Read more
Published 18 months ago by N. Lightfoot
disappointing
There is some interesting stuff about the astronauts, but the author seems more interested in his own personal 'journey'.
Published 21 months ago by Tom White
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