The Men Who Saved 1968

Okay, so Rocket Men isn't actually a full 5-stars--after all, to me it wasn't a cover-to-cover listen... at first. Once it hit its stride, however, I couldn't stop listening. I was but a toddler in '68, was just a little kid snuggled with my brothers and sister, all of us clad in pajamas, as we watched later space launches, never knowing the complete and utter hell that went on behind the scenes. If I had known how much could go wrong, I think I would've had nightmares rather than daydreams.
Enter Rocket Men--where almost anything can go wrong... and it usually does. I had no idea. And I was thrilled with that.
Juxtaposed against Vietnam, riots at home, women threatening to burn their bras, the revelation that 10 million Americans suffer hunger, the assassinations of MLK and RFK, simply one person mistrusting or outright hating another, the three astronauts and the crews at mission control brought absolute peace, absolute sunshine (or maybe moonshine would be a better word?) to a world, a country, dark with despair and anger. They brought a sense of patriotism to young v. old, to left v. right (where, oh where, is OUR Apollo 8? We could very much use something).
Here is a book of the men who carried it all out, of the wives and children who stood beside them the whole way. It is heavy on humanity with an in-depth look at the social and political environment it took place in. While it is chock full of heroes, there are no villains here (no, not even the Soviets)--individuals, groups, were just caught up in huge sweeping tides, and it's tough to swim against the current.
Mostly, you'll find yourself cheering, even if you're of an age that actually remembers the actual orbiting of the moon. There's so much here, you'd never guess.
So here, where our country feels so terribly fractured, so red v. blue, it's such a nice thing, such a blessed relief, to look back and remember such cooperation, such courage.
Such hope.

53 people found this helpful

Incredible story about real American heroes

If you could sum up Rocket Men in three words, what would they be?

They saved 1968. This story about the Apollo 8 mission - the first to go to the moon - is about so much more too. The country was in turmoil, we were losing an existential battle to our biggest adversary, great leaders were being assasinated, we were in the midst of an unpopular war... it seemed like the country would never be the same. Enter “Rocket Men”. I don’t want to give away too much, but you will be amazed by this story, and so drawn to these heroes (and all the others surrounding them)

Who was your favorite character and why?

Completely impossible to choose a favorite character.

What about Ray Porter and Robert Kurson ’s performance did you like?

The reading was top (top) notch! I felt like Porter was enjoying the story along with me. His pace was fantastic. I’m not certain, but it felt like he slowed down a teeny bit for the somewhat technical details to help absorb the concepts which was great (I must note however that Kurson did a phenomenal job in explaining the technical stuff at exactly the right level - not too complicated, but with great detail)

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes - I laughed and cried at different times.

Any additional comments?

I listened to this book with my husband, and it was such a fun way to hear the story. We stopped the audio so many times just to look at each other and say “can you believe they did that?” I recommend this book as high as I possible can. You won’t be disappointed.

18 people found this helpful

A rousing tale--even if you know how it ends

Would you consider the audio edition of Rocket Men to be better than the print version?

This is a terrific tale, whether you read it or listen to it. History has already told us how Apollo 8 fared, nevertheless the story has an edge-of-your-seat quality to the writing and the performance that makes this a terrific read. Even though you know how the mission ended, there were moments where you almost want to double-check the record just to be sure.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The crew of Apollo 8, of course. Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders had their own motivations for becoming astronauts, and they meshed well together as a crew, and in the midst of the Space Race. All of the figures in the book were compelling for their own reasons, but the trio going where no human had ever been were great to be with, if only for a short time.

What does Ray Porter and Robert Kurson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ray Porter does an excellent job teasing out the characters in the story, changing his voice to render Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, for example, satisfyingly close to their actual voices. Also, his rendering of Robert Kurson's written word made for a nice performance all around.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Of course it was! But, I parceled it out over a few days, as long as I could...

9 people found this helpful

Robert Kurson Has Done it Again

Master researcher, storyteller and writer Robert Kurson vividly tells the amazing and surprisingly somewhat forgotten story of Apollo 8, man’s first trip to the moon. Apollo 8 came to be overshadowed by Apollo 11, the expedition that put men on the moon but was the most daring Apollo of them all and laid the groundwork for everything that came after. This is a story of audacity, heroics, science and how the mission brought together a country that in 1968 was tearing itself apart. The story of the men and women who made this happen will keep you reading well into the night. Kurson’s third book, like the first two, is a winner.

7 people found this helpful

I thought it was going to be boring..I was wrong!

No detail was spared in this exciting account of Apollo 8. Robert Kurson did an outstanding job of telling this story from every angle, and from the viewpoint of everyone involved. Everyone remembers Apollo 11 (first lunar landing) and Apollo 13 (near disaster), but few know much about Apollo 8, the mission that won the space race. I was 14 in 1968, so I don't remember much about it. I mostly remember the assassinations, the politics and the music of the day. It was a great history lesson for me! And, much more thrilling than I thought it would be when I started listening. And, of course, you cant' go wrong with Ray Porter!!

7 people found this helpful

Unexpected Delight

I have no idea why I chose a book about Apollo 8 or space exploration,it is not a topic I normally an interested in (until now). Thanks to audible for curating this book into my recommended queue. Of all the historical books I have listened to, this was by far my favorite not only because of the story telling but the amount of detail and attention to accuracy. The timing of this story could not be more perfect, wonderful book and am looking to listen to more from this author. I’ve spent days retelling what I’ve heard to anyone willing to listen and would recommend this book to anyone interested in American or any history.

4 people found this helpful

Outstanding !

Would you listen to Rocket Men again? Why?

YES! This story of the Apollo 8 is one I could listen to several time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All characters were a major part of this story.

Which scene was your favorite?

So many good ones, but the re-entry was the best.

Any additional comments?

Robert Kurson did an outstanding job gathering all the information and interviewing the astronauts and NASA staff along with going through all the info he could find on this mission. I felt like I was right there on that flight with them. Robert Kurson has done a great job on all of his books as he does one thing so well...research!

4 people found this helpful

I not knee

Great book! Once it got going it really was less like a modern thriller. Just one issue, Love Ray Porter and the narration was superb BUT for the love of William Shatner's hairpiece Gemini is Gem-uh-nye not Gem-uh-knee ( I not E)!!! It was like nails on a chalkboard everytime. But other than that Ray was awesome.

3 people found this helpful

Very good book; especially the first half of the audio book

Great book overall. I loved the pre-history and setup for the quick planning and prep in the race in space. And the short bios on each astronaut and his wife and their personal strengths and weaknesses. And how the families prepared their children for the flight.

The NASA bosses and others doubts and overcoming them after seeing the possibilities of a great success was also very interesting.

The description of getting into the Saturn 5 rocket powered space craft and description of the sounds, vibrations and fear of the unknown was the best I’ve ever heard or read about Apollo launches. I felt like I was in the rocket before and during launch. What a feeling!

The trip to and orbits around the moon was also very good. As was the history of how bad things were in the U.S. during 1968. I was 10 years old then and remember the turmoil of that year well and thought it was the beginning of the end of my country. And this trip to the moon during Christmas helped change the mood for the country and world; at least for the moment.

The trip home from the moon was also very good. Especially the accidental reset of the astronauts place in space. But the rest of the trip home seemed a bit short, brief and rushed. I wish there was more substance there.

Nevertheless, the trip was a great success after a horrible year. And these men have been heroes of mine my whole life. And like the book, I think this flight was overshadowed by the later moon landing flights. But like others, I think these three astronauts were truly the leading pioneers. And this audio book was hard to stop listening to when I had to. And I would listen to it again. Especially the launch prep and launch sequence, liftoff and entry into space. I highly recommended this audio book!

3 people found this helpful

The best book I’ve read in a long time!

I loved this book. At times I wept from the horrific chaos that was 1968, and which threatens again in 2018. I used to have a poster of Earthrise on my wall, and revisiting its history gives me hope. I dreaded finishing the book, because it was so compelling, but it turned out to have a lovely, soft landing. I recommend it to all!

7 people found this helpful