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Rocket Men
- The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon
- Narrated by: Ray Porter, Robert Kurson
- Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
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Rocket Men
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Summary
New York Times best seller
The riveting inside story of three heroic astronauts who took on the challenge of mankind's historic first mission to the moon, from the best-selling author of Shadow Divers.
"Robert Kurson tells the tale of Apollo 8 with novelistic detail and immediacy." (Andy Weir, number one New York Times best-selling author of The Martian and Artemis)
By August 1968, the American space program was in danger of failing in its two most important objectives: to land a man on the moon by President Kennedy's end-of-decade deadline and to triumph over the Soviets in space. With its back against the wall, NASA made an almost unimaginable leap: It would scrap its usual methodical approach and risk everything on a sudden launch, sending the first men in history to the moon - in just four months. And it would all happen at Christmas.
In a year of historic violence and discord - the Tet Offensive, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, the riots at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago - the Apollo 8 mission would be the boldest, riskiest test of America's greatness under pressure. In this gripping insider account, Robert Kurson puts the focus on the three astronauts and their families: the commander, Frank Borman, a conflicted man on his final mission; idealistic Jim Lovell, who'd dreamed since boyhood of riding a rocket to the moon; and Bill Anders, a young nuclear engineer and hotshot fighter pilot making his first space flight.
Drawn from hundreds of hours of one-on-one interviews with the astronauts, their loved ones, NASA personnel, and myriad experts, and filled with vivid and unforgettable detail, Rocket Men is the definitive account of one of America's finest hours. In this real-life thriller, Kurson reveals the epic dangers involved and the singular bravery it took for mankind to leave Earth for the first time - and arrive at a new world.
"Rocket Men is a riveting introduction to the [Apollo 8] flight.... Kurson details the mission in crisp, suspenseful scenes.... [A] gripping book." (The New York Times Book Review)
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Critic reviews
"With Rocket Men, Robert Kurson tells the tale of Apollo 8 with novelistic detail and immediacy, expertly capturing the urgency and suspense behind the mission that gave America the lead in the Space Race." (Andy Weir, number one New York Times best-selling author of The Martian and Artemis)
"Rocket Men is a riveting introduction to the [Apollo 8] flight.... Kurson details the mission in crisp, suspenseful scenes.... [A] gripping book." (The New York Times Book Review)
"Kurson effectively recreates the era, recalling the tumult of a changing nation, as well as the tension felt by those involved both on Earth and in space, of a mission with little margin for error.... Fans of explorers and adventurers will enjoy Kurson's vibrant, accessible history." (Publishers Weekly)
What listeners say about Rocket Men
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- N. Kennedy
- 03-06-19
A must for any space fan.
Loved it. For any Apollo fan or any space fan. It's a must! I couldn't get enough.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Alan Grehan
- 28-11-19
Fantastic
An amazing book on what is probably the most daring adventure mankind has ever undertaken.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Courtney Pitcher
- 08-04-21
Captivating narrative history of Apollo 8
The narrative style of the book is enthralling and had me glue to my phone from start to finish.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mr. J Holton
- 26-10-23
phenomenal
Spine tingling, hairs on the back of the neck moments. Well told and authentic.
human's greatest achievement. if we all worked together like this team did what on or out of this earth could we achieve.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Skippy the Magnificent
- 16-05-21
Absolutely brilliant
This reads like a very, very well constructed novel. Except, it isn’t. It all actually happened. Incredible.
As many others have said, this is certainly the best Apollo book that I have come across. A criminally under-told story written (and narrated) in a way that makes you feel as though you were there. Could not recommend this highly enough.
An incredible book, about the most spectacular voyage humankind has ever undertaken, performed by the greatest narrator of all time. What more can you ask for?
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- Darrin Bowen
- 27-05-22
Fantastic
Brilliant work, fantastically detailed insight into the most important, daring, risky and amazing mission to the moon.
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- M. K. Slaughter
- 16-05-18
a fascinating insight into the Apollo program
having been a young boy in the 1960s, I can recall watching the Apollo 11 moon landings on the TV at strange hours of the day, and I'm aware of the story of Apollo 8, but this book is a fascinating insight into the build up to the moon landings and the preparation and the whole Apollo program. Both well written and told, this book gives a good insight into not only the technological facts that will behind the Apollo program but also the personal stories of the three astronauts on Apollo 8. I recommend it it's a fantastic book.
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- Mr. P. Bell
- 28-11-18
An epic tale
The stories of space flight and moon landings are well known but this book gives an insight as to the challenges I certainly didn't know about and brings the Apollo missions together. It gives an insight into the background of the astronauts and describes the challenges of family life with a job that takes them to the moon and back. It's well written and is easy to listen to.
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- Angus Fitton
- 09-08-18
Best Apollo book I've listened to
You know those audiobooks that, within a few minutes, you just know you'll listen to it more than once? This is one of those. Packed with information, really well researched - it doesn't forget the human side and is accessible.
The tension, the context, the characters - all superbly written and treated with great care. Recommended.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Simon Davidson
- 10-05-19
Fantastic
Thoroughly researched book written recently combining contemporary sources and recent interviews with the astronauts and some of the NASA personel involved in the mission.
This was by far the most talented crew who pulled off a uniquely ambitious and dangerous journey in an untested spacecraft.
All three men had outstanding careers post NASA.
The book to read about Apollo
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