Stuart Woodward reviewed Magnificent desolation by Buzz Aldrin
Review of 'Magnificent desolation' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I listened to the audiobook but I didn't realize when I bought it that it was so new, until I saw Buzz on the TV. Actually, I must have downloaded it on the first day of the release.
It's an interesting story as it shows the depths to which Buzz sank before he dealt with his alcoholism after being catapulted to fame in the NASA astronaut program. It is also a testament to marriage and partnership and how both partners worked to overcome their problems and changed their lives for the better.
About a quarter of the book is devoted to Buzz's NASA days, the most of the rest to his post NASA struggle with depression and alcoholism.
I enjoyed the book, but it clearly shows that it has been cobbled together very quickly, possibly for the 40th anniversary. I had the feeling that I had heard some of the …
I listened to the audiobook but I didn't realize when I bought it that it was so new, until I saw Buzz on the TV. Actually, I must have downloaded it on the first day of the release.
It's an interesting story as it shows the depths to which Buzz sank before he dealt with his alcoholism after being catapulted to fame in the NASA astronaut program. It is also a testament to marriage and partnership and how both partners worked to overcome their problems and changed their lives for the better.
About a quarter of the book is devoted to Buzz's NASA days, the most of the rest to his post NASA struggle with depression and alcoholism.
I enjoyed the book, but it clearly shows that it has been cobbled together very quickly, possibly for the 40th anniversary. I had the feeling that I had heard some of the facts mentioned several times. Maybe this was more noticeable by hearing the audiobook, a text reader might not notice it so much but when I later watched Buzz give interviews, I got the same feeling, he speaks in a similar way retelling his familiar life story once more.
For NASA/Apollo geeks, possibly the most interesting part will be hearing Buzz's dreams for the future. He still believes in manned space exploration and is still thinking up new ideas to overcome the problems which he has first hand experience of. His ceaseless work in promoting manned space exploration may actually be a greater legacy than his historical visit moon as one of the first two men to land on the moon.
