Space: A thrilling human history by Britain’s beloved astronaut Tim Peake
£9.99
*OUT NOW* From bestselling author and British astronaut Tim Peake, an inspirational human history of space travel, from the Apollo missions to our future forays to Mars. The Right Stuff for a new generation.
‘This book is brilliant – once in a blue moon. A book for the whole family.’ Chris Evans, Virgin Radio
‘An extraordinary book. For anyone – even if you’re not interested in Space. If you’re interested in human stories and the human character – this is delightful.’ BBC Breakfast
‘A fascinating, detailed, playful book drawn from extensive research – Peake met seven Apollo astronauts, Russian cosmonauts and various other space technicians – as well as his considerable personal experience. Lifts the lid on what space is like: the dedication and sacrifice; the politics and pantomime; the practicalities and the peril; the glory and fame; the adjustment back to normal life.’ iPaper
‘A thrilling human history of space’ Daily Mirror
‘The bible of space travel’ Chris Moyles, Radio X
As seen in the major TV series Secrets of Our Universe with Tim Peake.
Only 628 people in human history have left Earth. This is their story.
Astronaut Tim Peake traces the lives of the remarkable men and women who have forged the way for humanity beyond Earth, from Yuri Gagarin to Neil Armstrong, from Valentina Tereshkova to Peggy Whitson.
Full of fascinating insight into our greatest pioneers and unsung heroes, and astonishing detail only an astronaut would know, Peake’s book is the first of its kind to chronicle the human evolution of space exploration over sixty years, from our first forays to now. In the process, Peake reveals what spaceflight is really like: the wondrous view of Earth, the surreal weightlessness, the extraordinary danger, the surprising humdrum, the unexpected humour, the new-found perspective, the years of training, the psychological pressures, the gruelling physical toll, the thrill of launch and the trepidation of re-entry.
In the next few years, NASA will send the first woman and the first person of colour to step on the lunar surface. What will separate these upcoming moonwalkers from the legendary Apollo crews? Does it still take a derring-do attitude, super-human fitness, intelligence, plus ‘the right stuff’ – a fabled grace under pressure? And how will astronauts travel even further – to Mars and beyond?
Space: The Human Story reveals all.
‘Space enthusiasts will snap up Peake’s compelling book in their droves, but his account of courage,
camaraderie and the determination to go where few have gone before deserves to be read by a much wider audience too’ – Daily Express
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Additional information
| Publisher | Penguin (26 Oct. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 16673 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 330 pages |
by steve
Really enjoyed reading this book, which, as the title says, covers the human story of the history of manned spaceflight. I have been interested in this subject for many decades, and therefore have acquired a reasonable level of knowledge over the years, but still found the book fascinating, and of course it helps that the author has first hand experience of riding a rocket and living in space, and he injects his humour and personality in his writing.
Don’t like to nit pick, but if you are reading this Tim, may I respectively point out a few errors that perhaps can be corrected before the paperback edition comes out. Pg 25. The distance to Proxima Centuri, our nearest star, is not 6 trillion miles as stated, but over 24 trillion miles. 6 trillion miles is the approximate distance light travels in one year, and Proxima Centuri is over 4 light years distant.
Pg 88. Apollo 1 did not involve the Saturn V rocket, but the Saturn 1B.
Pg 135 Gemini 6 did not dock with Gemini 7. They got very close, but there was no docking.
by john hamilton
This book is not how it was described, certainly not worth the money they ask
by M. J. Alexander
This is a present either birthday or Xmas, but the person will love the book I know
by Peter
Tim Peake is marvellous advocate for human spaceflight, and this comes out from his new book just published – Space : A Human Story.
Being one of those lucky to journey into the heavens in 2015 to the International Space Station, Peake gives the history of such missions a very personnel touch. This gives the accounts within this tome special meaning for the Earthbound reader, whether they are a space buff or a reader with little interest in the subject.
Manned space exploration is a rich history starting with the flight of Yuri Gargin and those who followed him over the last sixty years. Peake has used his words wisely in telling the stories of these past flights.
He also uses the book to looks forward towards new era in space, especially return to the Moon.
Peake’s book is a must to understand the need for humans in space as more are set to take that path to new series of cosmic adventures.
by Teesside Traveler
Loved the book found very interesting to read I couldn’t put the book down. I’m not one for reading books but this book I enjoyed
by bobwill
Teading
by C. P. F. Flux
This book is extremely well written. The fact Tim has a way with words, as well as all the physical, emotional and mental qualities to make a great astronaut seems like he has an unfair advantage in life. His warm personality really shines through the text.
Tim takes the reader through the history of manned space flight in a way that is exciting without being overdramatic and educational without being overwhelming. Tim personalises the story of individual astronauts, yet also puts them into the bigger picture. The book can be very humorous at times, yet also deeply somber when appropriate. (I.e when talking about astronauts who died in action)
I definitely recommend this book!!
by Matt
Allow me to precede this review with the explanation that I am a huge space enthusiast, my job involves teaching primary school children about space in a mobile planetarium, I have read so many books about space (and specifically the Apollo era of spaceflight) that I lost count a long time ago, I have read everything else Tim Peake has written so far, and I have seen him speak twice, and met him once, however briefly, at a book signing. In short, I am a huge space AND Tim Peake fan.
That said, I was actually not sure if I was going to enjoy this book. I knew what the subject would be, as I assumed Tim would be taking us through some of the more notable events in the history of spaceflight up to this point. That being the case, would there be anything new here for me? I know from his previous books that he will take his time getting to the point in a way that seems to make sure that no-one is left behind by jargon or unfamiliar situations/circumstances. When Tim writes, he does it very well in a way that almost everyone should find accessible.
Was there anything in this book that I didn’t already know about? Not really. In broad strokes, I’ve heard of all of the events he outlined here. If he mentioned a particular mission (Gemini VIII, Salyut 1, the Columbia Shuttle etc) I knew what was coming next. Still, Tim has really done his homework and the level of detail he adds, the anecdotes that might have been otherwise left out, have been included to make a story that even someone like me will still find refreshing and interesting.
If you’re new to reading about space, this book is perfect for you. Don’t expect a linear narrative. You’re going to be jumping around the timeline quite a bit, but Tim makes it work.
There is some repetition here from his other books Ask An Astronaut and his autobiography Limitless, but the amount of crossover is kept to a minimum (and if you read this book and enjoy it, you really must read Limitless next. It’s fantastic).
If you enjoy reading about space you’ll definitely get something from this book and if it’s a subject you’ve not read about before, this would be a great place to start.