AN ASTRONAUT'S GUIDE TO LIFE ON EARTH
by Chris Hadfield
This is not the kind of book I would normally pick out for myself, but my husband Dan saw Hadfield speak and brought his memoir home. His high praise of the man’s message and the book itself put it at the top of my list, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Hadfield dreamed of being an astronaut from the time he was 9 years old when Canada didn’t even have a space program. But even though the goal looked impossible, he used his dream to structure all of the major decisions in his life. He became a pilot at a very young age. He studied engineering and did some time in the army flying fighter jets. Eventually Canada did begin training their own astronauts, and Hadfield doubled his focus and his training. It’s no secret that he did eventually make it into the space program, and over his career traveled to space three times including one months-long stint at the International Space Station.
Throughout the book, Hadfield takes the lessons and skills he's learned then translates and applies them in a helpful way for us earth-bound readers. I occasionally found this theme of the book a bit pedantic, but when a life is as incredible as his, I’m willing to listen and maybe even take a little inspiration. His stories about training and space travel are fascinating and I really enjoyed getting to know a life so unlike my own. (Lily)
