Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Non-Fiction

Age Recommendation: I believe that everyone should read this book- it’s very well written!

This is an extremely inspirational story about a man who persevered his whole life to achieve his dream and how he overcame all the obstacles that stood in his way.

This book was my summer reading assignment and I enjoyed reading it immensely. The first time around, I was put off by the fact that this book was non-fiction and therefore could not focus. However, the second time around, I realized that this book was as good as any other and that one should not judge a book based on its genre. Furthermore, an open mind is required when reading books and one should not be afraid to step out of their comfort zone or genre.

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Colonel Chris Hadfield, a native Canadian has wanted to be an astronaut most of his life. However, the fact that he is a Canadian restricts him from pursuing a career in his wanted field because Canada’s space program is not as developed as those of other countries, such as America or Russia. The only way into a program is to join an academy which then sends a certain number of astronauts to NASA.

When Colonel Hadfield finally finds a way to join NASA, he must deal with the pain of separation from his family and the fact that he can not be an avid participant in their lives. He feels as though he is missing out on an important part of his children’s growing up. This leads to Colonel Hadfield spending as much time with them as possible when he is at home.

Later on, Colonel Hadfield develops a minor health issue that may prevent him from leaving Earth on a mission he’s been waiting for his whole life. However, through all of this, the Colonel remains optimistic. Finally, he is given the doctor’s signature naming him fit to go into space.

But the journey doesn’t end there…

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If you would like to read this book, you can purchase it here: An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth: What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything

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