Are you ready for Book Blog #2 from WPL? I just finished reading “Endurance: My Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery” by Scott Kelly. (Long title, I know.) I had heard Scott interviewed on a radio broadcast and they were comparing his long time in space with the isolation that we are all feeling with the Covid-19 pandemic. (Scott Kelly spent 6 months on the International Space Station and then, several years later, spent another year on the ISS.) That comparison hooked me, and I downloaded “Endurance” onto my Kindle that afternoon. (I really like the feel of a real book, but right now, books on Kindle are wonderful! If you don’t have the Libby app – please check it out!)
I enjoyed “Endurance” by Scott Kelly and found the details that he included about his struggles in school, his many mistakes as a youth and his persistence once he found a goal to pursue, very interesting. There is quite a bit of scientific info included in the book, but it is mixed with lots of humor and personal tidbits as well. At a time when so many countries seem to be at odds . . . it is great to read about “the largest peaceful international collaboration in history” by so many countries that contribute to the space station. I enjoyed the little details about astronauts on the station – like having to sleep while floating and the need for lots of velcro. Kelly also included lots of details about the Russian space program compared to the American one (NASA). (Some are shocking and some are very amusing.) A few times, the science facts made the reading drag just a bit, but not very often. Most of the time, I was very intrigued by the book and wanted to get to more of the story about Kelly’s year on the space station.
I especially like the following 2 quotes from the book . . .
1- “For certain things, better can be the enemy of good enough.”
2 – “Sometimes you don’t feel how exhausting an experience has been until it’s over and you allow yourself to stop ignoring it.”
When comparing Kelly’s time in space to my time “staying at home” – I feel lucky to be quarantined in my home where I have running water, fresh fruits and vegetables and can change clothes daily. Being an astronaut is not as glamorous as it sometimes appears – and it is definitely not comfortable. About half of the chapters cover space flights and the other half describe the journey that Kelly took to get into the astronaut program – and it was NOT always easy! He does talk about how he paced himself to get through a year without his family and friends and things he did to make the time easier to bear. (I’ll let you discover those little details on your own.) And he does emphasize the importance of exercise when you are confined, both for your body and your mind.
I think both of those ideas jumped right out at me when I read them! Sometimes I definitely get too focused on EXACTLY how I want something to be, when perhaps, it would work just fine being a little less perfect. And I think we all might experience the second quote when our lives go back to a more normal pattern – we need to give ourselves permission to feel exhausted when this pandemic is all over . . . just with the stress of keeping it all together for our families during this crazy year.
I would highly recommend “Endurance” to any readers who have an interest in space! If you enjoy reading memoirs, this book would appeal to you also. I usually love fiction, but truly enjoyed this non-fiction selection! (If you download it, be sure to get the one by Scott Kelly. There is another book with the same title that is about Shackleford’s Antarctic expedition.) Kelly also has published a book of photographs that he took while in space, (which I definitely want to see) and a children’s book about his time in space.
One more endnote . . . when we are free to travel again, if you are in Florida, check out the Kennedy Space Center. It is a little pricey, but it is fascinating and very kid-friendly. My husband and I visited there last spring, and spent the entire day enjoying everything they had displayed. It sure had changed since I was there 15 years ago!! And now that I’ve read, “Endurance,” I want to go back and visit there again!
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