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7th out of 69 books
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Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon
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 unalterably changed by the ico...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
June 23rd 2009
by Harmony
(first published January 1st 2009)
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This was probably my least favorite of the astronaut bio's that I've read so far, primarily because it often dives rather deeply into some tedious details of Aldrin's personal life. Sometimes, in these kinds of books we are left craving for more, but in this one I found a little bit too much and in some cases it got awfully syrupy and other cases overly self-serving.
Still, I have to credit Buzz for telling the other side of the story as well, being frankly honest about how useless h...more
Still, I have to credit Buzz for telling the other side of the story as well, being frankly honest about how useless h...more
For most of us, whether we want to admit it or not, the highlight of our lives, the event which we define ourselves, the successful summit to the Mt. Olympus of our existence, happened before we were 25.
For an aerospace engineer with an inquisitive and fertile mind it seemed a disappointment that it happened at age 39.
This book is divided into three parts.
Part 1: Getting to the moon and back.
A fascinating first hand account which I, for one, cannot get eno...more
For an aerospace engineer with an inquisitive and fertile mind it seemed a disappointment that it happened at age 39.
This book is divided into three parts.
Part 1: Getting to the moon and back.
A fascinating first hand account which I, for one, cannot get eno...more
I'm a big fan of Buzz Aldrin and the space program in general, but I was disappointed by this book. The first part about the moon landing was interesting, and there were some interesting tidbits about how he felt during the whole thing.
The second part about his struggles back on Earth, and the end of his first marriage, are also interesting, although somewhat flat. That period of his life had to be deeply emotional for him, yet he relays the story as if he was reading the weather...more
The second part about his struggles back on Earth, and the end of his first marriage, are also interesting, although somewhat flat. That period of his life had to be deeply emotional for him, yet he relays the story as if he was reading the weather...more
The first two-thirds of this book are riveting, and there are some GREAT scenes on the moon. But Buzz's real struggle started when he got back—where do you go once you've walked on another celestial body? For Buzz, it was the bottle, and his alcoholism, combined with crushing depression and his mother and grandfather committing suicide, easily could have led him to taking his own life—it did for my father.
But Buzz took the hard road. Especially in the '70s, seeking treatment for ment...more
But Buzz took the hard road. Especially in the '70s, seeking treatment for ment...more
I listened to the audiobook but I didn't realize when I bought it that it was so new, until I saw Buzz on the TV. Actually, I must have downloaded it on the first day of the release.
It's an interesting story as it shows the depths to which Buzz sank before he dealt with his alcoholism after being catapulted to fame in the NASA astronaut program. It is also a testament to marriage and partnership and how both partners worked to overcome their problems and changed their lives for the ...more
It's an interesting story as it shows the depths to which Buzz sank before he dealt with his alcoholism after being catapulted to fame in the NASA astronaut program. It is also a testament to marriage and partnership and how both partners worked to overcome their problems and changed their lives for the ...more
I will echo the comments of many other reviewers. The first three chapters are compelling, describing in some detail the Apollo XI flight. I would recommend to other readers that they stop at this point. I carried on to page 260 before finally finding something more interesting to read.
From the fourth chapter on, the story becomes flaccid. This is a little surprising because Aldrin's life after NASA sounds quite interesting. He suffers from depression, partly because he struggle...more
From the fourth chapter on, the story becomes flaccid. This is a little surprising because Aldrin's life after NASA sounds quite interesting. He suffers from depression, partly because he struggle...more
For the most part, this book was really interesting. I loved reading about the moon landing and Aldrin's current endeavors in space exploration and tourism. It got a little dry (ironically) when he delved into his spiraling depression and alcoholism, and the writing was very repetitive. When I'm reading books written by people who aren't writers, I actually appreciate when the writing isn't great. That means that they're focusing on telling me their experience, that they actually lived, instead ...more
Buzz Aldrin is perhaps the most colorful astronaut in history (thus far). And this memoir shows off Buzz in all his quirkiness. As the book depicts, within three years of returning from the moon, Buzz was already far-removed from the proverbial no nonsense, cool-headed image of an astronaut.
Don't expect a detailed, epic recounting of the Apollo 11 flight. Buzz and his collaborator Ken Abraham dispense with the legendary mission in the first three chapters. This is a book about Buzz'...more
Don't expect a detailed, epic recounting of the Apollo 11 flight. Buzz and his collaborator Ken Abraham dispense with the legendary mission in the first three chapters. This is a book about Buzz'...more
I liked the first part of this book, a lot! However, the latter half felt more like a commercial pitch than a story, it faded a little as the book drew to a close. Don't get me wrong, I agree with the author that NASA has stalled somewhat, and that cooperation with private companies is a good idea from both a research and financial point of view, I just felt that this particular point could have been made in fewer chapters without it damaging the overall integrity of the story.
That sai...more
That sai...more
Having read Neil Armstrong's autobiography some months ago this one just leapt off the bookstore shelf into my hand. It is easily one of the most honest and open biographies I have evr read. Aldrin, Armstrong and Collins (Apollo 11) were my boyhood heroes and remain among my heroes even now. So to see the pain Buzz went through after the moonlanding was shocking and horrible, but to see how he battled and came through it, well I have immense respect for him.
Just to finish this review...more
Just to finish this review...more
Boy, this guy sure likes to name drop. If you took out all instances similar to "Me and wife went to <<insert expensive location>> with our good friend <<insert famous person>>" you wouldn't have the last third of the book. He may suffer from depression, but luckily he's so damn awesome he doesn't need drugs or anything. The first third was interesting, the middle was blah, and the last third was gouge your eyes out boring.
One thing I did learn was to ...more
One thing I did learn was to ...more
The early chapters of this book are really interesting, as Apollo 11 blasts off, the astronauts deal with the challenges of the voyage and the landing on the moon and return to earth.
Unfortunately, Buzz Aldrin then goes into a real tailspoin in his personal life, dealing with depression, alcoholism, marital infidelity and ultimately divorce.
The later chapters deal with his recovery, and his striving for a role in life that will utilize his astronaut's training and experie...more
Unfortunately, Buzz Aldrin then goes into a real tailspoin in his personal life, dealing with depression, alcoholism, marital infidelity and ultimately divorce.
The later chapters deal with his recovery, and his striving for a role in life that will utilize his astronaut's training and experie...more
Magnificent Desolation by Buzz Aldrin is a great autobiography of a pilot and engineer who found coming home from the moon harder than getting there. In only 316 pages he gives a good account of his life up to July 1969, then talks about a lot of little details of the actual lunar trip, and then the final 2/3rd about the crushing depression, the undetected alcoholism, and finally the long, rocky road to recovery and life purpose.
Buzz says people love to tell him where they were when Bu...more
Buzz says people love to tell him where they were when Bu...more
 This book was a very interesing book. It showed me a part of Buzz Aldrin's life that I hadn't known about. After coming home from the moon he had two divorces and an addiction to alchol.The book I think was for adluts but I read it any way. I was interested because when I grow up I want to be an astronaut. Â
I learned what it was like to be famous and the toll it can take on you.Also it taught me that astronauts don't always have a lot of money and are famous all the time after commin...more
I learned what it was like to be famous and the toll it can take on you.Also it taught me that astronauts don't always have a lot of money and are famous all the time after commin...more
Bryan
rated it
This is an autobiography of Buzz Aldrin that takes you from the moon though the depths of depths of depression and alcoholism. But like most stories he pulls it together. The rest of his book is his life pushing for the future of space travel. His argument is that until space travel is privatized we won’t reach the next level in space travel and research.
I enjoyed the book but I would recommend skimming it for the good parts because there is way to many depressing moments to slow yo...more
I enjoyed the book but I would recommend skimming it for the good parts because there is way to many depressing moments to slow yo...more
Other than knowing that Buzz Aldrin was on the first moon landing, I didn't know much about his personal life. I wouldn't have guessed that an astronaut, a PhD engineer from MIT, an Air Force Officer, and an American hero from the Apollo XI flight would have ended up suffering from depression and alcoholism after the moon landing. Aldrin bared it all, showing that it's not the unfortunates struggling through life who can be suffering on the inside. Lots of insights into Aldrin's life, NASA, t...more
Aldrin must be the genuine article if this memoir is to be believed. He must also have been a bag of snakes after his historic trip. In fact, it appears the real trip came after the moon landing. Made me wonder if there isn't something to the green cheese theory. But a great read nonetheless, filled with much lunar-trivia, and selenological data I never knew. Plus, Aldrin is truly the master of orbital mechanics. Slow down to catch up? Who knew?
Disappointing. The first part of the book contains Buzz's account of the first moon-landing -- that part was great. The rest of the book is about his struggles to deal with fame and what to do with the rest of his life. While it is true that we rarely think about what happens to people after they reach the pinnacle of their lives, this book seems to wallow in his struggles with alcoholism, marriage and career. I felt like it would never end.
I have been waiting for this book since last July as we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. I expected to read more about the actual flight and time ON the moon, but discovered that it was a book primarily about Buzz Aldrin's life after Apollo 11 returned home. I should have figured that out since the title says "The long journey home from the moon", but silly me I thought it was about coming home literally from the moon.
While perhaps i...more
While perhaps i...more
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An interesting account on the first moon landing, life with new-gained fame, and alcoholism, by one of the icons of the so called "Golden Age" of space flight, Buzz Aldrin. Being absolutely human and insightful (although only to a certain point), Aldrin has delivered a book that's awe-inspiring, enlightening, tragic, funny, and a lot of other things at the same time.
I love memoirs.
And I enjoyed this one but not as much as I had hoped. Early in the book when he's talking about walking on the moon, it's great. Later, when he's describing the adjustment to being a superstar back on earth, it's not as good and when he delves into his personal problems, less. It's like he's revealing a lot about himself but becomes more guarded, or less descriptive, as the book goes on.
And I enjoyed this one but not as much as I had hoped. Early in the book when he's talking about walking on the moon, it's great. Later, when he's describing the adjustment to being a superstar back on earth, it's not as good and when he delves into his personal problems, less. It's like he's revealing a lot about himself but becomes more guarded, or less descriptive, as the book goes on.
Mia Kitty
is currently reading it
I have been 'skipping' all around this book, reading different passages and what not and have really enjoyed it. Buzz's candor about his alcohol and depression issues are really inspiring. Even someone who has set foot on the moon can have alcohol/depression issues. We are all frail, we are all human...an inspiring read!!
Interesting. And I'm perhaps even more inspired by the fact that he went public in the 70's with his major depression and alcoholism, after struggling back from its depredations in his life than I am by him stepping on the moon (the moon was a huge team effort & I'm awed by the team, but coming back from alcoholism & then going public to help others, at a time when folks just didn't, is a personal fight). But the last 1/4 of the book was mostly an ad (fairly heavy handed ad) for his Share Space ...more
I originally purchased this book to have Buzz sign it at the Austin Book Festival on 10/31/09 and secondly to read it. I had no idea at the time of purchasing this book that it was not just about Buzz's trip to the moon but Buzz's trip through life since he was standing on the launch platform. I had no idea how much he had/has/is done/doing!
As I am a HUGE fan of space, space programs (both here and foreign), and everything to do with the two, I am grateful there is someone with ser...more
As I am a HUGE fan of space, space programs (both here and foreign), and everything to do with the two, I am grateful there is someone with ser...more
I really enjoyed this book. It's one thing to read about the landing on the moon by one of the first men to do it, but I found it even more fascinating to read about Aldrin's life after that moment. Where do you go after walking on the moon? What do you do when you achieve all you set out to do at the age of 39?
First part of the book is about the moon landing, the part of Aldrin's life most are familiar with. The rest deals with his battles with depression and alcohol while struggling to find out what to do with himself post NASA. Interesting but somewhat repetative.
I actually didn't finish it. This may come off as calloused, but I got really depressed reading about his depression. The book started off interesting enough but then it got taxing to the point where I found myself saying "Sheesh, how many times can you fall into the same self-destructive pattern?" I'm sure the answer is plenty more, and worth introspection, but I didn't find anything in the book that helped me learn possibly how to avoid the situation myself either. It didn't feel...more
I'm a huge fan of Mr. Aldrin, but someone should've gotten him a co-writer. In wrongly assuming he was capable of writing a book, Aldrin took a captivating story and marred it with every writing mistake imaginable. Truly unfortunate.
Interesting to see how his life went down the tubes after he returned from the moon and how he managed, eventually, to put it back together again. The book was overwritten in terms of style and could have used some pruning content-wise.
For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. There are some excellent descriptions of depression and alcoholism, and it's interesting to hear the unanticipated effects that landing on the moon had on Aldrin. He's certainly not shy about talking about his personal life either. The part that bothered me a bit is that his second wife is a lapsed Mormon, and there are some subtle references to the church that bugged me--nothing blatant though.
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Buzz Aldrin (born Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Jr.930) is an American mechanical engineer, retired United States Air Force pilot and astronaut who was the Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing in history. On July 20, 1969, he was the second human being to set foot on the Moon, following mission commander Neil Armstrong.
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