No Dream Is Too High

January 11, 2016
Famed astronaut Aldrin (coauthor, with Leonard David, of Mission to Mars) combines leadership lessons with behind-the-scenes stories from his Apollo 11 moonwalk (including the speech President Nixon prepared should the mission have been unsuccessful) in this engaging cross between biography and self-help. Aldrin clearly lays out his principles and mottoes, such as “second comes right after first” (which he has used to get over being known as the second man on the moon) and “maintain your spirit of adventure” (now in his 80s, Aldrin still scuba dives, and he recently caught a ride on the back of a whale shark in the Galapagos Islands). Next, he offers concrete strategies for living up to each principle, candidly admitting where he’s made missteps. His advice is universal: “If you are afraid to fail, you will probably not accomplish much in life,” and everyone, whether a student or a seasoned CEO, will find something to take away from this inspiring work.

February 15, 2016
The astronaut recounts life lessons learned from his historic Apollo 11 moonwalk in 1969 and beyond.In this rambling, loosely structured, and frequently awkward hybrid of memoir and motivational self-help guide, Aldrin (Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration, 2013, etc.) treads heavily on familiar ground touched on extensively in other accounts of the moon mission, such as First on the Moon (1970), co-authored with fellow astronauts Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins, and Aldrin's own previous memoirs, also relating to the Apollo 11 mission and his later struggles with alcoholism and depression. Aldrin attempts to shed light on some of the lessons he learned along the way. The author focuses each chapter on an inspirational message--e.g., "Keep your mind open to possibilities," "Maintain your spirit of adventure," "Keep a young mind-set at every age." The message is sometimes disjointed. In "Second Comes Right After First," Aldrin initially tells of how he came to embrace being the second man to step foot on the moon, following Armstrong, yet he spends much of the chapter asserting his claims for having been "first" in other areas of space exploration. Though the author has remained a dedicated and forceful advocate for the United States to continue planetary exploration, generously participating in fundraisers and providing educational support whenever needed, he has also increasingly applied his celebrity status to numerous guest appearances on TV shows such as 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory, and The Simpsons and as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. A few of his lessons boast of these appearances and his ability to successfully mix with the various talent. A retread of old material repackaged as an inspirational guidebook. Though aiming to inspire readers of all ages, this will likely appeal to an older readership and devoted fans of Aldrin.

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 15, 2016

Iconic astronaut Aldrin (Mission to Mars) collaborates with best-selling author Abraham (More Than Rivals) to deliver an inspirational account of his life. Aldrin uses lessons he learned during his long career in aviation and space exploration to detail the principles that have enabled his personal growth and professional achievements. Anecdotes about brushes with death as a fighter pilot or the ability to remain calm during technical glitches experienced in flight convey why Aldrin is regarded as an American hero. Also described are the many trials Aldrin has faced, including career missteps and struggles with depression and alcoholism. In a candid and no-nonsense style, the author urges readers not to settle for what is easiest but to strive for what seems impossible. His memoir follows the likes of Andrew Chaikin's A Man on the Moon in writing about the lunar space program. VERDICT Aldrin's journey will engage space exploration enthusiasts, and his motivational advice will connect especially well with young adults.--Mary Jennings, Camano Island Lib., WA

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2016
We all knew who was the first man to walk on the moon, but how about the second man? That would be, of course, Buzz Aldrin. Now a very busy 86 years young, Aldrin (Mission to Mars, 2013) here presents a baker's dozen rules to live by. Among them are keep your mind open to possibilities, choose your heroes wisely, write your own epitaph, maintain your spirit of adventure, practice respect for all people, and do what you believe is right even when others disagree. Some lessons reveal Aldrin's sense of humor (second comes right after first, he reminds us). We learn that his mother's maiden name was Moon and that he enjoys movies about space. He writes about what it was like to walk on the moon and comments on the future of the space program. Although there is nothing terribly surprising here, fans of the Apollo space program, readers who admire Aldrin, and those who are just learning about him will all enjoy and benefit from this modest book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)