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No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons from a Man Who Walked on the Moon
Everywhere he goes, crowds gather to meet Buzz Aldrin. He's a world-class hero, a larger-than-life figurehead, and the best known of a generation of astronauts whose achievements surged in just a few years from first man in space to first men on the moon. Now he pauses to reflect and share what he has learned, from the vantage point not only of outer space but also of time: still a nonstop traveler and impassioned advocate for space exploration, Aldrin will be eighty-six in 2016.No Dream Is Too High whittles down Buzz Aldrin's event-filled life into a short list of the principles he values, each illustrated by fascinating anecdotes and memories, such as: Second comes right after first. NASA protocol should have placed Buzz Aldrin on the moon first, but rules changed just before the mission. Buzz discusses how he learned to be proud of being the second man on the moon.Look for opportunities, not obstacles. Buzz was rejected the first time he applied to be an astronaut. Failure is an opportunity to learn to do better.Always maintain your spirit of adventure. For his eightieth birthday, Buzz went diving in the Galapagos and hitched a ride on a whale shark. He stays fit, energetic, and fascinated with life.No Dream Is Too High is a beautiful memento, a thought-provoking set of ideas, and a new opportunity for Buzz Aldrin to connect with the masses of people who recognize his unique place in human history.
1 pages, MP3 CD
First published April 5, 2016
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About the author
Buzz Aldrin
84 books258 followersBuzz Aldrin (born Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Jr., January 20, 1930) is an engineer and former American astronaut, and the second person to walk on the Moon. He was the lunar module pilot on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing in history. He set foot on the Moon at 03:15:16 (UTC) on July 21, 1969, following mission commander Neil Armstrong. He is also a retired colonel in the United States Air Force (USAF) and a Command Pilot.
Aldrin was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, to Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Sr., a career military man, and his wife Marion (née Moon). He is of Scottish, Swedish, and German ancestry. After graduating from Montclair High School in 1946, Aldrin turned down a full scholarship offer from MIT, and went to the US Military Academy at West Point, New York. The nickname "Buzz" originated in childhood: the younger of his two elder sisters (Fay Ann) mispronounced "brother" as "buzzer", and this was shortened to Buzz. Aldrin made it his legal first name in 1988.
Buzz Aldrin graduated third in his class at West Point in 1951, with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force and served as a jet fighter pilot during the Korean War. He flew 66 combat missions in F-86 Sabres and shot down two Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 aircraft.
Subsequent to the war, Aldrin was assigned as an aerial gunnery instructor at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, and next was an aide to the dean of faculty at the US Air Force Academy. He flew F-100 Super Sabres as a flight commander at Bitburg Air Base, West Germany, in the 22d Fighter Squadron. In 1963 Aldrin earned a Doctor of Science degree in astronautics from MIT. His graduate thesis was "Line-of-sight guidance techniques for manned orbital rendezvous", the dedication of which read, "In the hopes that this work may in some way contribute to their exploration of space, this is dedicated to the crew members of this country’s present and future manned space programs. If only I could join them in their exciting endeavors!" On completion of his doctorate, he was assigned to the Gemini Target Office of the Air Force Space Systems Division in Los Angeles before his selection as an astronaut. His initial application to join the astronaut corps was rejected on the basis of having never been a test pilot; that prerequisite was lifted when he re-applied and was accepted into the third astronaut class, the first selection for which he was eligible.
Aldrin was selected as part of the third group of NASA astronauts selected in October 1963. After the deaths of the original Gemini 9 prime crew, Elliot See and Charles Bassett, Aldrin and Jim Lovell were promoted to back-up crew for the mission. The main objective of the revised mission (Gemini 9A) was to rendezvous and dock with a target vehicle, but when this failed, Aldrin improvised an effective exercise for the craft to rendezvous with a co-ordinate in space. He was confirmed as pilot on Gemini 12. Aldrin set a record for EVA, demonstrating that astronauts could work outside spacecraft.
On July 21, 1969, he became the second astronaut to walk on the Moon, keeping his record total EVA time until that was surpassed on Apollo 14. Aldrin's first words on the Moon were "Beautiful view. Magnificent desolation."
After leaving NASA, Aldrin was assigned as the Commandant of the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, California. In March 1972, Aldrin retired from active duty after 21 years of service, and returned to the Air Force in a managerial role, but his career was blighted by personal problems. His autobiographies Return to Earth, published in 1973, and Magnificent Desolation, published in June 2009, both provide accounts of his struggles with clinical depression and alcoholism in the years following his NASA career. His life improved considerably when he recognized and sought treatment for his problems. Since retiring from NASA, he has continued to promote space exploration.
Aldrin was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, to Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Sr., a career military man, and his wife Marion (née Moon). He is of Scottish, Swedish, and German ancestry. After graduating from Montclair High School in 1946, Aldrin turned down a full scholarship offer from MIT, and went to the US Military Academy at West Point, New York. The nickname "Buzz" originated in childhood: the younger of his two elder sisters (Fay Ann) mispronounced "brother" as "buzzer", and this was shortened to Buzz. Aldrin made it his legal first name in 1988.
Buzz Aldrin graduated third in his class at West Point in 1951, with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force and served as a jet fighter pilot during the Korean War. He flew 66 combat missions in F-86 Sabres and shot down two Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 aircraft.
Subsequent to the war, Aldrin was assigned as an aerial gunnery instructor at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, and next was an aide to the dean of faculty at the US Air Force Academy. He flew F-100 Super Sabres as a flight commander at Bitburg Air Base, West Germany, in the 22d Fighter Squadron. In 1963 Aldrin earned a Doctor of Science degree in astronautics from MIT. His graduate thesis was "Line-of-sight guidance techniques for manned orbital rendezvous", the dedication of which read, "In the hopes that this work may in some way contribute to their exploration of space, this is dedicated to the crew members of this country’s present and future manned space programs. If only I could join them in their exciting endeavors!" On completion of his doctorate, he was assigned to the Gemini Target Office of the Air Force Space Systems Division in Los Angeles before his selection as an astronaut. His initial application to join the astronaut corps was rejected on the basis of having never been a test pilot; that prerequisite was lifted when he re-applied and was accepted into the third astronaut class, the first selection for which he was eligible.
Aldrin was selected as part of the third group of NASA astronauts selected in October 1963. After the deaths of the original Gemini 9 prime crew, Elliot See and Charles Bassett, Aldrin and Jim Lovell were promoted to back-up crew for the mission. The main objective of the revised mission (Gemini 9A) was to rendezvous and dock with a target vehicle, but when this failed, Aldrin improvised an effective exercise for the craft to rendezvous with a co-ordinate in space. He was confirmed as pilot on Gemini 12. Aldrin set a record for EVA, demonstrating that astronauts could work outside spacecraft.
On July 21, 1969, he became the second astronaut to walk on the Moon, keeping his record total EVA time until that was surpassed on Apollo 14. Aldrin's first words on the Moon were "Beautiful view. Magnificent desolation."
After leaving NASA, Aldrin was assigned as the Commandant of the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, California. In March 1972, Aldrin retired from active duty after 21 years of service, and returned to the Air Force in a managerial role, but his career was blighted by personal problems. His autobiographies Return to Earth, published in 1973, and Magnificent Desolation, published in June 2009, both provide accounts of his struggles with clinical depression and alcoholism in the years following his NASA career. His life improved considerably when he recognized and sought treatment for his problems. Since retiring from NASA, he has continued to promote space exploration.
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August 29, 2016
(I received a copy of "No Dream is Too High" as a Goodreads giveaway.)
I really wanted to like this book, but I found it a difficult read. The title should have been “Egotistical Maniac Aldrin Pretends to be Just Like You”. To be fair, Buzz Aldrin is an outstanding human being who has achieved a great deal in his lifetime, and he has much to be legitimately proud of, but the tone of this book was pretty horrid and unflattering. I am half convinced that Aldrin is using the piece to push for his Mars Cylinder idea, which according to him, would use existing technology to reach Mars right now. Apparently NASA, Congress, and humanity generally simply do not have the will and imagination Aldrin has.
The life lessons presented in “No Dream is Too High” are good enough as they go, but the examples Aldrin uses are terrible. Be bold. That is a good life lesson. The example Aldrin uses is how he saw design flaws in the Space Shuttle design early on, but he broke his life lesson and kept silent. As a result he could have perhaps prevented both the Columbia and Challenger disasters. I find this hard to believe. Out of the thousands of individuals who worked in the Space Shuttle, Aldrin just so happens to catch a fatal design flaw, but says nothing. Be adventurous. That is a good life lesson. The example Aldrin uses is that he went to the Moon, saw the wreck of the Titanic, and took a submarine through the ice at the North Pole. I cannot relate to that.
Be assertive when trying to attain your goals. That is a good life lesson. The example Aldrin uses is how he really wanted to go aboard Obama’s Air Force One (because he had been aboard Kennedy’s and Nixon’s). So he pressures and bombards Obama’s staff until they ultimately concede to let him aboard. I don’t care how motivated I am, I doubt I will ever be able to talk and bluff my way onto the president’s plane. And of course, once Aldrin is aboard Air Force One, he explains to Obama how the rest of the world has been wrong about space exploration and he, Buzz Aldrin, has figured out how to get to Mars using Phobos. So give him some appropriations.
The most extreme story is how Aldrin was taught humility once at the airport. Apparently Aldrin makes a habit of using private lounges in various airports without paying for them. Once he was refused service because even though he walked on the Moon, the attendant was principles enough to say that nobody is granted access to the lounge without paying a membership fee. And Aldrin felt humbled! I never demand services because of who I am. Was Aldrin really so deluded as to think it was okay to demand free service because of his accomplishments? Agreeing to pay money for services rendered is not humility, not a concession of magnanimity, it is normal human interaction. Aldrin was not exercising humility that day, he was put in his proper place by a women who was willing to stand up to his ego.
Speaking of humility, Aldrin claims that he was never interested in making money or having abundance of material possessions. Easy for him to say when you’re the guy who walked on the Moon, came to maturity in the most prosperous period in United States history, and gets spontaneously invited to black tie events on a regular basis. Buzz Aldrin has not lived a normal life. I have no problem with that. His story is an interesting one. Unfortunately Aldrin seems to be entirely ignorant of how unique he is. The reason most people have not been to the North Pole, or testified before congress, or won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is because those things are not ordinary. Aldrin seems to believe that if we would just stop being narrow-minded we could be just like him. And of course, he has figured out how to reach Mars. If we were not so narrow minded we would have a colony there already. Because Aldrin knows best.
So, “No Dream is Too High” was a rather horrid book. The life lessons are fine, but they are expressed by a man who essentially says “I am an astronaut. You either agree with me, or you are narrow minded and unmotivated. And, if the world was more like me, we would have reached Mars by now.” Even so, there are a few upsides to the book. It is a quick read, and some of the stories about the space program are genuinely interesting, such as how John Houbolt’s innovation saved the program, or how the iodine disinfectant cloths were simply dumped straight into the ocean. By and large though, my appraisal of space exploration was more harmed than helped. What a terrible spokesperson.
The Apollo astronauts have every reason to be proud of their achievements but this does not grant them license to be snobbish egomaniacs.
I really wanted to like this book, but I found it a difficult read. The title should have been “Egotistical Maniac Aldrin Pretends to be Just Like You”. To be fair, Buzz Aldrin is an outstanding human being who has achieved a great deal in his lifetime, and he has much to be legitimately proud of, but the tone of this book was pretty horrid and unflattering. I am half convinced that Aldrin is using the piece to push for his Mars Cylinder idea, which according to him, would use existing technology to reach Mars right now. Apparently NASA, Congress, and humanity generally simply do not have the will and imagination Aldrin has.
The life lessons presented in “No Dream is Too High” are good enough as they go, but the examples Aldrin uses are terrible. Be bold. That is a good life lesson. The example Aldrin uses is how he saw design flaws in the Space Shuttle design early on, but he broke his life lesson and kept silent. As a result he could have perhaps prevented both the Columbia and Challenger disasters. I find this hard to believe. Out of the thousands of individuals who worked in the Space Shuttle, Aldrin just so happens to catch a fatal design flaw, but says nothing. Be adventurous. That is a good life lesson. The example Aldrin uses is that he went to the Moon, saw the wreck of the Titanic, and took a submarine through the ice at the North Pole. I cannot relate to that.
Be assertive when trying to attain your goals. That is a good life lesson. The example Aldrin uses is how he really wanted to go aboard Obama’s Air Force One (because he had been aboard Kennedy’s and Nixon’s). So he pressures and bombards Obama’s staff until they ultimately concede to let him aboard. I don’t care how motivated I am, I doubt I will ever be able to talk and bluff my way onto the president’s plane. And of course, once Aldrin is aboard Air Force One, he explains to Obama how the rest of the world has been wrong about space exploration and he, Buzz Aldrin, has figured out how to get to Mars using Phobos. So give him some appropriations.
The most extreme story is how Aldrin was taught humility once at the airport. Apparently Aldrin makes a habit of using private lounges in various airports without paying for them. Once he was refused service because even though he walked on the Moon, the attendant was principles enough to say that nobody is granted access to the lounge without paying a membership fee. And Aldrin felt humbled! I never demand services because of who I am. Was Aldrin really so deluded as to think it was okay to demand free service because of his accomplishments? Agreeing to pay money for services rendered is not humility, not a concession of magnanimity, it is normal human interaction. Aldrin was not exercising humility that day, he was put in his proper place by a women who was willing to stand up to his ego.
Speaking of humility, Aldrin claims that he was never interested in making money or having abundance of material possessions. Easy for him to say when you’re the guy who walked on the Moon, came to maturity in the most prosperous period in United States history, and gets spontaneously invited to black tie events on a regular basis. Buzz Aldrin has not lived a normal life. I have no problem with that. His story is an interesting one. Unfortunately Aldrin seems to be entirely ignorant of how unique he is. The reason most people have not been to the North Pole, or testified before congress, or won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is because those things are not ordinary. Aldrin seems to believe that if we would just stop being narrow-minded we could be just like him. And of course, he has figured out how to reach Mars. If we were not so narrow minded we would have a colony there already. Because Aldrin knows best.
So, “No Dream is Too High” was a rather horrid book. The life lessons are fine, but they are expressed by a man who essentially says “I am an astronaut. You either agree with me, or you are narrow minded and unmotivated. And, if the world was more like me, we would have reached Mars by now.” Even so, there are a few upsides to the book. It is a quick read, and some of the stories about the space program are genuinely interesting, such as how John Houbolt’s innovation saved the program, or how the iodine disinfectant cloths were simply dumped straight into the ocean. By and large though, my appraisal of space exploration was more harmed than helped. What a terrible spokesperson.
The Apollo astronauts have every reason to be proud of their achievements but this does not grant them license to be snobbish egomaniacs.
May 27, 2016
This book is like sitting down with your grandpa, if your grandpa happens to be Buzz Aldrin. It has some great stories and a nice inspirational message. I'm a huge fan of the space program and.am in favor of increasing its funding so that we can resume manned space exploration. Not just orbit, but putting actual people on the surface of mars. I'm also a huge fan of Buzz Aldrin, so I liked hearing his tales of adventure. I recommend it for those interested in reading about a legendary astronaut discuss his life.
July 5, 2017
Anecdotes and inspiration from Buzz Aldrin, in his own voice and not fed through an editor or made to sound like a Wikipedia page. Why does this book get poor reviews? It never says anywhere that it's a definitive biography or history of the space program or Apollo missions. He talks about his life, doles out some (yes, often cliche) advice, and reflects on his accomplishments. Also, after everything he's done he decided to write a book at age 86 and still has enough zest for life to keep moving and keep doing stuff. I liked this book and the haters can shove it. 4/5 stars
November 15, 2016
Buzz is a fascinating person. I really wanted to like him, and in a lot of ways I do, but in this book he left the impression of being arrogant, entitled, and a little self-absorbed. He's an impressive man-besides walking on the moon, he has participated in countless charities, served his country, and continues to break boundaries. My real problem is that I'm all for "breaking rules" but his discussion about "being persistent" was based on stories where I felt he was just plain rude. For example, he wanted to ride on Air Force One. So he and his manager called and pestered everyone in the Obama administration until they finally got on the flight. He then says "I didn't get to enjoy most of the flight because I was too busy calling everyone I knew to tell them I was calling from Air Force One."
May 31, 2016
The biggest weakness of Buzz Aldrin’s “No Dream is Too High: Life Lessons From a Man Who Walked on the Moon” is also its biggest strength – it follows the pattern of combination inspirational / memoir books in the pattern of “Throw out a short positive message and back it up with anecdotes from the author’s life”.
Normally, I would be extra-critical of such a formulaic book. However, there are two important considerations that lean me against doing such a thing. First, as “Dancing With the Stars” judge Len Goodman pointed out in his critique of Mr. Aldrin’s performances on that show, we cannot lose sight of the fact that we are dealing with an American hero who many of us have looked up to for decades. And secondly, this hero also happens to project warmth, sincerity, and humor in what has truly been an interesting life – one that did NOT come to a standstill after those momentous days in 1969.
The inspirational driving points of this book, for example “Look for opportunities, not obstacles”, are worthwhile points to consider – but they’re not anything you can’t find quickly via a Google web search or even come to realize on your own. However, they DO provide convenient chapter headers to help categorize the many events in Mr. Aldrin’s life. AND let’s face it – it’s one thing to realize that you can’t give up if you want to succeed, BUT it is another to see someone who personifies success to describe his own obstacles AND his own ways of getting around them to achieve great things.
This book proved to be a quick read, and a worthwhile read, and I am honored to have been given the opportunity to review it.
RATING: 5 stars. No significant flaws, and it will stay with me long after I move onto other books.
DISCLOSURE: I received this book in a random draw, a request was made for an honest review (with the implication of “prompt”), but no conditions were placed or provided for acceptance.
Normally, I would be extra-critical of such a formulaic book. However, there are two important considerations that lean me against doing such a thing. First, as “Dancing With the Stars” judge Len Goodman pointed out in his critique of Mr. Aldrin’s performances on that show, we cannot lose sight of the fact that we are dealing with an American hero who many of us have looked up to for decades. And secondly, this hero also happens to project warmth, sincerity, and humor in what has truly been an interesting life – one that did NOT come to a standstill after those momentous days in 1969.
The inspirational driving points of this book, for example “Look for opportunities, not obstacles”, are worthwhile points to consider – but they’re not anything you can’t find quickly via a Google web search or even come to realize on your own. However, they DO provide convenient chapter headers to help categorize the many events in Mr. Aldrin’s life. AND let’s face it – it’s one thing to realize that you can’t give up if you want to succeed, BUT it is another to see someone who personifies success to describe his own obstacles AND his own ways of getting around them to achieve great things.
This book proved to be a quick read, and a worthwhile read, and I am honored to have been given the opportunity to review it.
RATING: 5 stars. No significant flaws, and it will stay with me long after I move onto other books.
DISCLOSURE: I received this book in a random draw, a request was made for an honest review (with the implication of “prompt”), but no conditions were placed or provided for acceptance.
May 24, 2019
This is such a fabulous book and Buzz is such an inspiring man. He speaks about his life events: his aviation/pilot years, his mission to the moon, his landing on the moon and the celebrity events that he has attended. All of these events contain something that we can learn about life. Buzz describes them oh so well! I particularly loved his thoughts on age. I think age is something we all deeply fear, but Buzz brings this subject some lightness, and I will definitely remember his words in this. Read this book and you will find out that the sky really is not the limit! 5 stars (excuse the pun).
January 21, 2018
The book overall is informative, fun and motivating. I liked every story Buzz has said and I liked more the way he makes things easy to comprehend. The only downside is that I sometimes I feel like the story or situation being told has no connection with the chapter's title, but it proves useful, though!
Highly recommended to anyone who needs motivation!
Highly recommended to anyone who needs motivation!
January 28, 2021
Some is good, some is less good. Good anecdotes, pieces of advice that might be useful to me, some that will not.
However, I had a good laugh from time to time and the book is good. And the narrator - Traber Burns - does an excellent job, making this audiobook worth listening to.
However, I had a good laugh from time to time and the book is good. And the narrator - Traber Burns - does an excellent job, making this audiobook worth listening to.
April 25, 2024
I have a new hero in Buzz Aldren what a great book!
March 23, 2023
Sounds a lot like the rumblings of an old man. By the way, I went to the moon.
July 22, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Years ago I heard negative stuff about Buzz - probably about him being outspoken and arrogant - but from this book I can tell he has a great sense of humor to go with his great passion for life! He seems rather quirky! and he has some great advice to go along with his tales of his escapade to the moon. Would certainly recommend to others as an entertaining read. Sure hope he has time to fit in more adventures yet!
October 22, 2018
Space Odessy
A remarkable book, Aldrin attempts to inspire youngsters to reach for all they can and to get older people to enjoy life and to look to the future. He does a great job and encourages others to live and learn.
A remarkable book, Aldrin attempts to inspire youngsters to reach for all they can and to get older people to enjoy life and to look to the future. He does a great job and encourages others to live and learn.
March 1, 2017
It was interesting. Lots of great events in the space race he was a major player in. His personality can be hard to take after a few chapters.
January 27, 2019
I don’t think I’m going to read any more books he wrote. He is super impressed with himself. It’s not fun after awhile
July 26, 2019
I would highly recommend this book , with its fabulous illustrations , to the few middle schoolers who actually read and have an interest in 'real' history .
November 30, 2021
"𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡𝙨, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 "𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚" 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢..."
There are two sides to this book; one is an inspiring reflection that offers great advice for everyone whose ambitions have been doubted. The other is an account crammed with unflattering boasts that shine light on Aldrin's egomaniac personality which can be summarised as "I walked on the Moon, so either you agree with my ideas or you are wrong; and if everyone listened to me, we would be on Mars right now". Aldrin has accomplished many tremendous achievements that humankind will forever remember, but it seems his experience as the second man on the Moon has brought about a ridiculously entitled attitude, making it very difficult to get through this book.
Claiming he saw design flaws in the space shuttle Columbia and Challenger but kept quiet about it - which ultimately ended in the loss of human life - is a heavy statement to make, and also hard to believe since thousands of experienced individuals, some of the best in their field, worked on these missions and didn't spot this unfortunate flaw.
On top of that, insensitive and irresponsible themes are woven throughout. For example the time he spoke to an animal rights and rescue group about how he survived by eating bits of a living iguana daily, which was necessary at the time, but also not an acceptable story to tell to that group. His story about pressuring the White House staff to allow him onto Obama's Air Force One plane after being denied several times, to which they finally gave in and allowed it just for Aldrin to speak with Obama about how the world has the wrong idea of space exploration, and only he knows the right way, was really quite shocking and couldn't have given off a great impression.
Overall the general teachings were good and stories about the space program were interesting; but the examples given were awful and not good steps to follow in by any means. Be proud of what you achieve, but don't let it delude you into thinking it grants you the right to be arrogant and entitled to do whatever you want, even when you are told no.
There are two sides to this book; one is an inspiring reflection that offers great advice for everyone whose ambitions have been doubted. The other is an account crammed with unflattering boasts that shine light on Aldrin's egomaniac personality which can be summarised as "I walked on the Moon, so either you agree with my ideas or you are wrong; and if everyone listened to me, we would be on Mars right now". Aldrin has accomplished many tremendous achievements that humankind will forever remember, but it seems his experience as the second man on the Moon has brought about a ridiculously entitled attitude, making it very difficult to get through this book.
Claiming he saw design flaws in the space shuttle Columbia and Challenger but kept quiet about it - which ultimately ended in the loss of human life - is a heavy statement to make, and also hard to believe since thousands of experienced individuals, some of the best in their field, worked on these missions and didn't spot this unfortunate flaw.
On top of that, insensitive and irresponsible themes are woven throughout. For example the time he spoke to an animal rights and rescue group about how he survived by eating bits of a living iguana daily, which was necessary at the time, but also not an acceptable story to tell to that group. His story about pressuring the White House staff to allow him onto Obama's Air Force One plane after being denied several times, to which they finally gave in and allowed it just for Aldrin to speak with Obama about how the world has the wrong idea of space exploration, and only he knows the right way, was really quite shocking and couldn't have given off a great impression.
Overall the general teachings were good and stories about the space program were interesting; but the examples given were awful and not good steps to follow in by any means. Be proud of what you achieve, but don't let it delude you into thinking it grants you the right to be arrogant and entitled to do whatever you want, even when you are told no.
September 27, 2021
I did not enjoy this book. I went into reading this with all of the excitement of an aspiring astronaut getting a chance to learn from one of their heroes and I left having one less hero. To be fair, some of the advice in this book is genuinely good, but much of it is frustratingly obvious to the point of the detailed explanation coming across as condescending. While Dr. Aldrin spends a considerable portion of the book explaining how he isn't sexist, he is alternating between infantilising and objectifying nearly every woman he mentions. I also disagree with his ideology on several points, but I guess that's a me thing.
I don't think I will read this again.
I don't think I will read this again.
September 5, 2024
This book got better and better as it progressed! I thought it would be a book written more like an autobiography. Instead, it's Buzz's life lessons accompanied by several short stories about his life's adventures. I learned many things I didn't know about his life and laughed my way through all his jokes! The biggest shocker to me is that he's agnostic...
December 10, 2024
3 out of 5.
Note for readers this is less a biography and more a self help book. Though you will still get a lot of interesting tidbits about Buzz’s life. If you’re looking at this to hear more about his journey landing on the moon and his time on the moon this isn’t it. It’s more an inspirational talk that I think would have made more sense as a TedX Talk than a book.
Note for readers this is less a biography and more a self help book. Though you will still get a lot of interesting tidbits about Buzz’s life. If you’re looking at this to hear more about his journey landing on the moon and his time on the moon this isn’t it. It’s more an inspirational talk that I think would have made more sense as a TedX Talk than a book.
July 10, 2018
Nice little anecdotal book about not giving up on your dreams no matter what obstacles you face and keeping your integrity while you do it. Not the most riveting read, but a good way to kill some time.
May 1, 2024
This book is so interesting and inspiring. I love the life lessons that he mentions. I had never read much about Buzz Aldrin before this book. He is definitely an interesting and inspiring man. I will definitely reread this book.
October 24, 2024
It kind of feels like a talk with your grandpa, you know , the ones where they drop some insane lore and you're sitting there like "what the crap?you went to space?" Good life lessons and overall a good book
August 3, 2019
3-3.5 stars
Review to come :)
Review to come :)
August 31, 2019
I read this free via Amazon Prime which is a relief as I think I’d be doubly frustrated if I’d paid for it. I’ve held this man in respect for 50 years since watching him, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins make history with the first moon landing and moon walk ever. I should have left it at that and not read this book. Buzz Aldrin comes across as a very egotisically person with a chip on his shoulder about being ‘second’ and a ‘do you know who I am?’ personality.
The book is basically a series of anecdotes he wants to tell the reader that he thinks will put him in a good light. Maybe they do with some but I just found myself disliking him more and more as the book went on. I’m starting to think that NASA’s unusual decision to make Neil Armstrong, as commander of Apollo 11 (who would usually stay with his ship and send the junior out), to be the first man out to walk on the moon was more about personalities. Maybe NASA wanted the First Man to be someone with who would not seek publicity every second of the rest of his life and keep a fairly low profile. i.e. someone like Neil Armstrong and not someone like Buzz Aldrin.
The anecdotes are told in order to illustrate a life lesson but the connection is often fairly tenuous. Buzz constantly refers to the fact that NASA and the USA need to move forward and embrace his Mars Cycle idea – a system of spacecraft cycling between Earth and Mars, continually carrying people and materials in both directions. It’s his 'bee in a bonnet' which he brings up time and time again in the book. He even bullies his way onto Air Force One at one point to corner President Barack Obama to tell him of this idea. Having got himself on Air Force One at the eleventh hour he then boasts that he spent most of the short flight making phone calls to friends to tell them where he was!
Another of his life lessons was to speak up as if he’d done that the two Space Shuttle disasters, loss of Challenger and Columbia, would not have happened as he could see why both were disasters waiting to happen from the initial design. His arrogance has no end.
To celebrate his 80th he went swimming with whale sharks in the Galapagos and then hitched a ride by clinging to the fin of one despite being specifically told by the dive-master not to touch the sea life. He then hung on for so long that he ran low on air and had to ‘buddy breathe’ to the surface sharing air with the dive master. Talk about irresponsible on many levels.
The bit that made me lose all respect is when he recounts his speech at a gala fundraiser in London for an animal rights and rescue group. He tells them that as part of his survival training in the jungle he learned to capture an iguana, declaw it and then wrap it around his neck so that he could eat bits of it each day while still keeping it alive. To an animal rights group?!!
He says that he is not motivated by money and yet seems to think everyone owns him a freebie because of his fame. Even to the point of saying to the attendant at the private airport lounge who was refusing him entry ‘do you know who I am?’ She calmed confirmed that she did, addressed him by name, and pointed out that he still needed to pay like everyone else if he wished to go in. Just another example of not only his self-importance and egotism by the fact that he thinks that telling the world of his behaviour in this book is a good thing.
I must say that I was not so surprised when I finished the book to go online and find that he has been married several times and just last year was in a legal battle with two of his three children and the main woman in his life for the last 10 years. All of whom he heaps praise on in this book presumably written before this legal action. It makes sad reading. Part of me wishes I’d not read this and still had that childlike hero idea of all the Apollo 11 crew in my head.
The book is basically a series of anecdotes he wants to tell the reader that he thinks will put him in a good light. Maybe they do with some but I just found myself disliking him more and more as the book went on. I’m starting to think that NASA’s unusual decision to make Neil Armstrong, as commander of Apollo 11 (who would usually stay with his ship and send the junior out), to be the first man out to walk on the moon was more about personalities. Maybe NASA wanted the First Man to be someone with who would not seek publicity every second of the rest of his life and keep a fairly low profile. i.e. someone like Neil Armstrong and not someone like Buzz Aldrin.
The anecdotes are told in order to illustrate a life lesson but the connection is often fairly tenuous. Buzz constantly refers to the fact that NASA and the USA need to move forward and embrace his Mars Cycle idea – a system of spacecraft cycling between Earth and Mars, continually carrying people and materials in both directions. It’s his 'bee in a bonnet' which he brings up time and time again in the book. He even bullies his way onto Air Force One at one point to corner President Barack Obama to tell him of this idea. Having got himself on Air Force One at the eleventh hour he then boasts that he spent most of the short flight making phone calls to friends to tell them where he was!
Another of his life lessons was to speak up as if he’d done that the two Space Shuttle disasters, loss of Challenger and Columbia, would not have happened as he could see why both were disasters waiting to happen from the initial design. His arrogance has no end.
To celebrate his 80th he went swimming with whale sharks in the Galapagos and then hitched a ride by clinging to the fin of one despite being specifically told by the dive-master not to touch the sea life. He then hung on for so long that he ran low on air and had to ‘buddy breathe’ to the surface sharing air with the dive master. Talk about irresponsible on many levels.
The bit that made me lose all respect is when he recounts his speech at a gala fundraiser in London for an animal rights and rescue group. He tells them that as part of his survival training in the jungle he learned to capture an iguana, declaw it and then wrap it around his neck so that he could eat bits of it each day while still keeping it alive. To an animal rights group?!!
He says that he is not motivated by money and yet seems to think everyone owns him a freebie because of his fame. Even to the point of saying to the attendant at the private airport lounge who was refusing him entry ‘do you know who I am?’ She calmed confirmed that she did, addressed him by name, and pointed out that he still needed to pay like everyone else if he wished to go in. Just another example of not only his self-importance and egotism by the fact that he thinks that telling the world of his behaviour in this book is a good thing.
I must say that I was not so surprised when I finished the book to go online and find that he has been married several times and just last year was in a legal battle with two of his three children and the main woman in his life for the last 10 years. All of whom he heaps praise on in this book presumably written before this legal action. It makes sad reading. Part of me wishes I’d not read this and still had that childlike hero idea of all the Apollo 11 crew in my head.
November 28, 2020
This book gave me a sense of what it must have felt like to look at Earth from the moon through his own eyes.
July 19, 2016
If it weren't a book by Buzz Aldrin, I'd rate this two stars, because of the cheesy inspirational tone and the repetitiveness. But because it was a book by Buzz Aldrin, I wanted to read it all. The space stories were fascinating, and even though the inspirational life lessons can easily be Googled or realized on your own, they provide a way for Buzz to categorize his remarkable life. The examples he chooses to accompany these lessons are not the best, but perhaps that just goes to remind us that, if the person has an open mind, life lessons can be realized even from minor, seemingly insignificant events (such as having a sock ball stuck in the toe of your shoe all day).
August 22, 2016
An interesting collection of musings.
I found the organization to be a bit lacking, but part of this may be because I always find it harder to follow audiobooks than written texts. But the basic framework consists of Aldrin presenting some life tenet he abides by, and then citing examples from his quite rich life that either demonstrate the wisdom of the tenet or explain how he came to learn it to begin with. I think it's a neat premise for a book, and he executes it pretty well.
I found the organization to be a bit lacking, but part of this may be because I always find it harder to follow audiobooks than written texts. But the basic framework consists of Aldrin presenting some life tenet he abides by, and then citing examples from his quite rich life that either demonstrate the wisdom of the tenet or explain how he came to learn it to begin with. I think it's a neat premise for a book, and he executes it pretty well.
August 20, 2016
The stories and anecdotes are fascinating, which I'd already mostly heard when I attended his author event at The Printer's Row Lit Fest a couple of months ago, but the life lessons are super cheesy and don't necessarily fit in with the particular anecdote. They were also repetitive. It feels super disrespectful to rate a book by Buzz Aldrin this low, but objectively the book itself is meh. Probably would've given it 3 stars if I was hearing these stories for the first time.
May 21, 2020
TBD 3.5/5
Although contained some good stories and inspirational/ motivating tidbits, some parts were a bit rambling, kind of like listen to your grandpa or aging father (depending on your age) get tangential. Overall was good though. Glad I read it and learned more about a historic figure and event, but unlikely I'll read again. Would recommend for space bluffs, military fans, and someone wanting to know more about the life and perspectives of buzz Aldrin.
Although contained some good stories and inspirational/ motivating tidbits, some parts were a bit rambling, kind of like listen to your grandpa or aging father (depending on your age) get tangential. Overall was good though. Glad I read it and learned more about a historic figure and event, but unlikely I'll read again. Would recommend for space bluffs, military fans, and someone wanting to know more about the life and perspectives of buzz Aldrin.
May 1, 2016
Won an advance reader's edition copy through a Goodreads giveaway. Loved the book. Excited about the prospect of the Aldrin Mars Cycler.
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