Failure is not an Option

Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond

by Gene Kranz

416 pages

English language

Published May 8, 2001 by Berkley Trade.

ISBN:: 978-0-425-17987-1

View on OpenLibrary

(20 reviews)

5 editions

Caffeinated Book Dragon reviewed Failure is not an Option by Gene Kranz

Great autobio from someone deep in the space program from the beginning.

4 stars

Great autobiography and history of the pre-shuttle space program. I think the biggest and most useful part of this book--other than the awesome behind-the-scenes feel of these guys behind the astronauts and their missions--is the amount of time dedicated to the Gemini program. Most laypeople know of the Apollo missions, Mercury too, but they forget Gemini. That kept me glued to the pages (always wanted to know more about Gemini).

And there was a lot about Gemini that was right and wrong and so much that they learned to make the upcoming Apollo missions, and then the moon landing for 11.

I've been a fan of Gene Kranz as a person (and loved Apollo 13 when it came out and every day since), and have seen him on the local news when there's something going on at NASA and they bring the "old timers" back to talk. He's just a guy who wanted to do his best and learn all he can. And it's neat to read a history of someone not an astronaut while helping others get into space. He'd never gone to astronaut training for himself. He'd come out of the Air Force and wanted to test aircraft or help with systems, then became part of what would later dominate the landscape as NASA. I just think it's a very cool way to look at the space program, rather like "Hidden Figures" exposed the science and math and ladies who were never going into space themselves.

Martijn Reintjes reviewed Failure Is Not an Option by Gene Kranz

Review of 'Failure Is Not an Option' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I was wondering about the people behind the Apollo Moon missions ever since I build my Lego Saturn V rocket last year. Gene narrates his own biography in this audible edition. The story is a bit dry and goes into a lot of "work" stuff. But that's what I signed up for.

It's cool to hear about this amazing feat of mankind from one of the people who helped make it happen.

Now I just want to hear of the people who actually build the rockets!

Comtief reviewed Failure is not an Option by Gene Kranz

Review of 'Failure is not an Option' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

A good book if you are highly interested in the moon landing mission and the struggles but also achievements from earlier missions that lead up to that moment. As the book is written in a dry and matter-of-fact manner its not a read from everyone, it's not exactly an adventure the way the Martian is.

chadkoh reviewed Failure Is Not an Option by Gene Kranz

Review of 'Failure Is Not an Option' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

A great first-person narrative of the Mercury, Gemeni and Apollo missions. Really provides some context, and boy is it motivating (in the sense that it makes me self-conscious about my life's accomplishments)! Some good leadership lessons in here. My only criticism of the book is the lack of criticism. This is generally a positive book: Kranz gives endless accolades (I am sure everyone deserves it) and it is pretty rah rah America. There isn't much room for a critical teardown of the missions. This is meant to be a more of a good-ole-boy, stars-and-stripes, slap-on-the-back, god-fearing, short-haired man's tour of the early space program. Mission accomplished.

Stuart Woodward reviewed Failure is not an Option by Gene Kranz

Review of 'Failure is not an Option' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

The Mission Control view of the personalities and the background behind the Mecury, Gemini and Apollo programs from the legendary but humble character of Gene Kranz.