The Ordinary Spaceman

July 1, 2015

When Anderson submitted his first application to NASA's space program, he didn't realize that his odds of acceptance were around 0.6 percent. He would later learn that, between 1959 and 2013, more than 50,700 Americans had applied to become astronauts, while only 338 were accepted. Fifteen attempts later, in 1998, Anderson was brought aboard NASA as a mission specialist. Here he recounts his journey from "normal kid" in Nebraska to an astronaut who logged 167 days in space. The author distinguishes this book from other astronaut autobiographies by his desire to be completely honest about the highs and lows of his career with NASA. Indeed, he provides an intimate account--how the suit feels, what it's like to travel 850 mph, what it means to use a toilet in zero gravity, how Earth reentry feels after five months in space, what it's like to comfort an astronaut's family members after a deadly accident. Anderson doesn't shy away from details, crediting hard work, serendipity, and divine providence for his extraordinary experiences. VERDICT Recommended for readers of science biography, autobiography, and popular science.--Talea Anderson, College Place, WA

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April 13, 2015
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.

April 15, 2015
An astronaut's memoir from "a small-town boy from Nebraska-nothing special, just an ordinary American." Retired astronaut Anderson spent more than 38 hours spacewalking and five months on the International Space Station ("ISS"-acronyms proliferate at NASA and in his book). The athletic former Boy Scout from Nebraska, previously employed as an engineer at the Johnson Space Center, finally landed the coveted job as astronaut after 15 years of annual applications. After his acceptance, Anderson underwent rigorous preparation in jets, on mountainside treks, and in prolonged periods underwater. He learned Russian and trained in Star City, located outside Moscow, in order to work on the ISS. The stressful, rigid toil paid off, and the author delivers graphic descriptions of the sensations experienced during liftoff into space and life in orbit, including annoyances that were expressed perhaps a bit too freely to colleagues on Earth. He was not listed for future long-duration flights. Better were conversations in space with his wife and children who, throughout the book, receive heartfelt expressions of his enduring love. The author also frequently registers his Christian faith. Some NASA arcana, like mission commemorative patches, will interest true space buffs, and Anderson seems eager to answer predictable questions regarding bodily functions in space. He announces, more than once, his pride in the "incredible opportunities" to "poop in four different spacecraft!" He goes into considerable detail about that opportunity and natural human bowel movements in general. Indeed, the author is prideful in several areas, including his modesty and humanity in the face of stresses and dangers. Throughout, Anderson seeks to maintain an upbeat tone. However, underneath the brave bonhomie, there is occasional snarky, artificial gravitas, and the geniality sours just a bit. A spaceman delivers an overlong chronicle of his adventures that may prove engaging to ardent space fans.

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