The Ordinary Spaceman: From Boyhood Dreams to Astronaut

Born in rural Nebraska, Anderson fell in love with outer space as a boy and applied to NASA to become an astronaut in 15 consecutive years before hitting the jackpot in 1998. He lived and worked on the International Space Station (ISS) for five-months in 2007, as well as for two weeks in 2010, before retiring in 2013. A debut author, Anderson is at his best when describing his professional life; he covers the interminable training with aplomb, and his section on how to apply to be an astronaut is particularly fascinating. Few will fault the long account of his 167 days in space. He shows less skill in matters involving personal feelings; readers may find it difficult to engage with his tales of courtship, family, friends, admirers, and personal tragedies. It also would have been interesting to hear more about conflicts with superiors. For a more expansive view of recent space exploration efforts, readers should consult Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s Space Chronicles, but Anderson provides a focused picture of how a fiercely dedicated individual became a spaceman. [em](June) [/em]