Likable guy, great storyteller

Normally nonfiction books don't keep me listening late into the night, repeatedly adding "just 15 more minutes" to the sleep timer for hours. This one did. Mike describes his path from being a boy on Long Island playing in a homemade astronaut costume through the series of choices, challenges, and lucky breaks that culminated in his two spacewalks to perform maintenance on the Hubble telescope. His story is by turns moving and thoughtful and funny and suspenseful.

Mike did a fantastic job with the narration; his humor and humility shone through the whole time.

I don't normally write reviews and fear I haven't done this book justice, but I'm pretty much going to be encouraging everyone I know to read or listen to it, so why not start here?

92 people found this helpful

the most amazing, inspiring book I've ever read

this has to be one if not "THE" most amazing, inspiring book I've ever read in my life. half way through it I put it down and called my university to set up a start date to go back to school and finish my degree. it is so easy to find and excuse to just give up but that's all it is, just a whole bunch of excuses, hearing Mike talk about how an average person much like us "normal people" not geniuses with the perfect health or wealthy family can overcome every obstacle and full feel his dream makes you stop and rethink your self and say hey its time act, it's time stop "just making it by" it's time to get up and start pushing forward, this is the feeling I got when I read this book.

hope to some day I get to meet him and thank him in person for giving me the push I needed, that ray of hope that I lost so many years ago, or to put it in his terms, that kindle that light my dreams once more.

Thank you Mass.

73 people found this helpful

Engrossing Memoir

As a child Massimino was fascinated and preoccupied with space exploration. He gathered information about his heroes, Buzz Aldrin, John Glenn and Neil Armstrong. He wanted to grow up and be an astronaut. Massimino graduated from Columbia and MIT with an engineering degree and then he went to work for NASA.

Massimino tells in detail about his life as an astronaut and the various missions he was on. I was most interested in the work he did to correct the problem with the Hubble Telescope. He goes into detail about what life in space was like and all the problems he and other astronauts had to overcome. Massimino had obstacles he had to overcome to achieve his goal and how he went about overcoming them is inspiring.

The book is well written in an affable, conversational style prose. It is great to read about someone achieving their childhood dream. I also found the fact he maintained an unwavering obsession with space all his life absolutely great. The book has humor and is easy to read. It leaves the reader with an upbeat feeling. This is a good book for a young person to read, who is trying to decide on a career choice. Now there is a choice of not only NASA but dozens of private corporations all working in space exploration.

Mike Massimino did a good job narrating his own book.

42 people found this helpful

Truly inspiring!

I was born and raised on Long Island not far from where "Mass" is from. I am a lifelong NASA fan, Amateur Astronomer and space exploration enthusiast.

Listen to/read this book. Mass tells it like it is; like a real guy from Long Island. He really gives you an amazing perspective about just what it means to strive for and to become an Astronaut.

Bravo! Mass!!!!

15 people found this helpful

This book is Out of this World!!

Would you listen to Spaceman again? Why?

This book is captivating - especially if you love NASA's space program. Mike Massimino has a special talent and passion for bringing us along on his historic journeys - both on earth and in space.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Spaceman?

Mike's drive to overcome all hurdles to become one of America's most memorable astronauts.

What about Mike Massimino’s performance did you like?

Mike Massimino's patriotism and passion for following in the footsteps of some of America's greatest heroes is clearly articulated by this amazing storyteller.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Taking passion and perseverance out of this world.

Any additional comments?

I would give almost everything to meet and / or get an autographed picture and book from this great American astronaut.

14 people found this helpful

Good parts; too long

This astronaut memoir had many interesting parts, but it was too long and too repetitive. It is badly in need of editing. The author, Massimino, is a very likable guy, which makes it easier to tolerate the slower chapters. This book follows the author from childhood, where he dreamed of space, to his career as a Space Shuttle astronaut. If you have an interest on the space program, there are enough parts to hold your interest. This is read by the author. That was a mistake. He reads in a monotone, which is funny given he writes like an extremely enthusiastic guy.

5 people found this helpful

Truly--A Man With The Right Stuff!

"Mass" as he was dubbed given his size, celebrates the 7-year old boy dreaming to the man he's become: open and optimistic about the future. "Spaceman" chronicles every hurdle, every opportunity taken along the way to becoming a top astronaut. From thinking he had the wrong major to battling qualifications about his eyesight, from struggling through a Shackleton-like endurance camp to the challenges of robotics, everything is covered. You want to know about the wonders of a spacewalk, about the glories of the Hubble telescope, here you go, all written in exciting prose and narrated by the man himself. And you feel like you're right there, in his shoes, experiencing it for yourself. Even the deathly silence after the Columbia disaster, the grief of the families and friends.
Definitely worth the time, worth the price.
You'll be flying in the science fiction space-monster, hurtling through space, viewing the Earth we live on far, far above.

46 people found this helpful

Inspirational and fascinating

This is a wonderful biography that provides insight into Space travel and the people involved. Author as reader makes it even better.

10 people found this helpful

Spacestory For Us Who Dreamed of Going

This book is terrific. It's emotional and allowed me to imagine what it would have been like to be an astronaut.

10 people found this helpful

Fantastic!

Mass,

What an incredible journey! Thank you for sharing your story. You are a true inspiration!

4 people found this helpful