Moondust: In Search of the Men Who Fell to Earth Book

I'm finding it hard to write this review. Not due to the book at all, just due to my own problems. I listened to the audio book of this the last couple of weeks at the gym. And it was very entertaining and interesting, it kept me at the gym for longer than I would have listening to music. But I'd class my audio comprehension as slightly retarded. That styrofoam ball that my sister dared me to shove up my nose when I was six never came back out. I have a feeling that the section of my brain that deals with audio input consists of something that floats really well and responds to static electricity like crazy.

This is the style of non-fiction investigation books that I love. It's the same style as Mary Roach and Will Storr in that it is written as a personal investigation filled with interviews and encounters with people close to the subject. Here the journey starts when Andrew learns of the death of one of the Apollo astronauts and hears the news say "And now there are only nine left". This get's him thinking of what happens when there are none left, how the nine who are left have changed and are dealing with their strange pasts and what has humanity gained from this strange enterprise that occurred 40 years ago.

The main body of the work consists of interviews with Apollo astronauts, the history of their missions and personal accounts by the author of the history and time that these events occurred within. All of the astronauts are fascinating and different, each have lead a different path since getting back home. All of them had changed as a result of the trip. But this isn't just a book full of the words of the astronauts. Andrew has filtered them (some needed filtering) and tried to get to the essence of each personality and what makes these men tick. And in a larger way, what made the Apollo program tick, the United States at the time tick, and even the world. It seems like a big task, but Andrews astute observations resonate and have great meaning, despite approaching the problem from a humanistic as opposed to scientific way. And he made a scientist like myself understand what he was talking about without me shutting off and thinking that it was all just airy-fairy liberal arts talk.

I really wish I could put some quotes in here to give you an idea of how switched-on Andrew is, but I don't have the book in front of me. There is no question that I think this is a great book and I'm ordering a copy of it on my next book purchase. Not only to have a copy for myself (the audiobook was from the library), but to actually sit down and read this with my full attention. I feel that only then can I write a fitting review and a fitting score. This read could well be a 5-star read, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be.

So I guess the message that you can all take away from this is that it is a brilliant read that could possibly be a top-notch read. It looks at the Apollo program from a humanistic approach and is full of wit, insight and respect. I just hope I can do it the justice of a more accurate and deserving review next time.


EDIT (5 minutes later): SCREW IT I'M GIVING IT 5 STARS.