Chris Hadfield, one of the world's most seasoned and accomplished astronauts, is the author of the #1 international bestseller An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. The top graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School in 1988 and the U.S. Navy Test Pilot of the Year in 1991, Hadfield was selected to be an astronaut in 1992. He was Chief CAPCOM at NASA for twenty-five shuttle missions and served as Director of Operations for NASA in Star City, Russia, from 2001 to 2003; Chief of Robotics for the NASA Astronaut Office in Houston from 2003 to 2006; and Chief of International Space Station Operations for the NASA Astronaut Office from 2006 to 2008.
Hadfield most recently served as Commander of the International Space Station, where, while conducting a record-setting number of scientific experiments and overseeing an emergency spacewalk, he gained worldwide acclaim for his breathtaking photographs and educational videos about life in space. His online videos, including a zero-gravity version of David Bowie's "Space Oddity," have collectively received more than fifty million views.
"His book is an autobiography as well as a lesson to the reader on
what he's learned throughout his life and travels. And in his
particular distillation of 'success, ' he is wonderfully
counterintuitive in his interpretation of common sense.... A
startlingly intimate and warmhearted view of an arcane world, one
which he makes plain even to those not educated in fields of
scientific inquiry."--Ryan Downer, The California Aggie
"A satisfying behind-the-scenes look at the life of an
astronaut.... A page-turning memoir of life as a decorated
astronaut."--Kirkus Reviews
"A very human glance into a rarified world.... The vacuum of space
is unforgiving and brutal. Life on earth isn't easy, either. Mr.
Hadfield has genuinely and refreshingly increased our understanding
of how to thrive in both places."--The Wall Street Journal
"Hadfield is a genius, a man of science and technology and no
first-timer to the universe."--New York Post
"Hadfield is a good writer with an engaging style.... From his
photos of Earth from space to his videos showing the daily grind of
life on a 100-meter wide orbiting tin can, he is all about real
life."--Slate
"Hadfield proves himself to be not only a fierce explorer of the
universe, but also a deeply thoughtful explorer of the human
condition, capable of articulating those most universal of
inquiries in simple yet profound language.... The book itself is
absolutely spectacular."--Brain Pickings
"Hadfield takes readers on a fascinating and exciting journey while
offering insightful-if somewhat unconventional -- wisdom applicable
to everyday life here on Earth."--Bookpage
"Houston, we have a superstar."--Washington Post
"Lessons from his new book, AN ASTRONAUT'S GUIDE TO LIFE, are so
inspiring that it's hard to decide which one to tell you
about."--USA Today
"Our planet's one-man ambassador to the universe."--Gothamist
"Riveting, dramatic and intensely engrossing, Hadfield's engaging
style as a writer puts you right alongside this almost absurdly
compelling gentleman as he climbs the ladder from Canadian fighter
pilot through two space shuttle missions and, ultimately, his
serving as commander of the ISS."--The Huntington Beach
Independent
"The book is more than just a compilation of intriguing stories and
details about life in space....In addition to providing
irresistible descriptions of his work, the book--which has been
translated into 20 languages--also acts as a self-help guide, with
Hadfield offering practical applications to what he has learned
over the years."--Connie Ogle, Miami Herald
"This memoir is part fascinating view, part Boy Scout manual."--New
York Times
"Thoroughly engaging.... In a low-key style, he makes a persuasive
case that the oft-derided Space Station is both a marvel of
engineering and a triumph for science, and he paints the cartoon
heroism of the NASA astronaut corps in a much more realistic, and
yet in many ways even more admirable, light."--Corey S. Powell,
American Scientist
A Slate Staff Pick for Best Books 2013
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