Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon

Interesting and Informative.

I mostly recommend this book to those who are interested in the sciences, want to increase their knowledge on space/space travel, or would like an inspiring story. This book is mostly about Buzz's stuggles within himself and his choices after the historic landing on the moon. It gives great insight on what it's like to travel in outerspace, which is extremely interesting and how he was treated afterwards. After reading this book I decided to go and buy his other book, Men are from Earth, but not have had the time to read it yet. This book does not include much about his childhood or past, mostly it focuses on his journey to and from the moon and life afterwards. Overall this is a book you would enjoy should you like the general topic of science or if you just like reading biographies. Oh, this is a great book to do a research paper on as well.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Mepapermaker

A factual documentation of UFO's that makes a skeptic think twice with case histories. A bit of author lecturing and repetitive at times,but still good.

Dancing with the Stars

UM, this man went to the MOON and is now going to be on Dancing with the Stars. AMAZING. I love that someone who has led such an incredible life can still be up for some fun.

Great background information on a real American hero.

Excellent coverage of the life of Buzz Aldrin after his heroic trip to and from the Moon. It was written in a personal style than made me feel Buzz was reading the stories to me. I enjoyed the book immensely and recommend it to everyone. A quick, easy read.

First couple of chapters rock

The first couple of chapters about the trip to the moon were very well written and kept you turning the pages.

After that the book turned into a littany of pages describing his alcoholism, depression, and his hopes and dreams for his shuttle system to Mars.

I weas expecting more and got less.

Excellent Gift

I had not read this book prior to giving it as a gift to my son-in-law on the occasion of his 40th Birthday. 1969 - that makes TWO giant leaps for mankind.

He is a history buff and really appreciated the thought and the sentiment.
He will give me his review when completing the read. Looks very promising.

Desolation and redemption

In this newly published memoir, Buzz Aldrin shines a searchlight on his own post-Apollo 11 journey. His intimate description of his depression and descent into alcoholism after his return from the moon is quite wrenching. We have to be amazed that he did not end up killing himself through drunk driving, deliberate suicide (as his mother did, and also his maternal grandfather), or even drowning in his own vomit. We all know of the risks and challenges of his NASA career, but the downs and ups of the subsequent years are perhaps even more startling.

The book recounts his personal turmoil and attempts to seek psychiatric assistance. The important role of Alcoholics Anonymous in his recovery is poignantly stated, as is the critical role of his third wife, Lois Driggs, in keeping his depression in a marginally managable state.

The book also explains Dr. Aldrin's recent forays into space enterprises, particularly his long-time interest in opening up space travel to members of the general public, and his engineering concepts for travel to/from Mars with humans and other cargo.

Some of the later sections of the book become repetitive, but there are enough fascinating nuggets--like his explanation of the infamous punch to the face of a faked-moon landing conspiracy theorist--to make it a page-turner right to the end.

I don't think that space history enthusiasts or NASA historians will find any vital data in this book, but all of us can learn from the steep fall and redemptive rise of this ex-astronaut.

Buzz Aldrin and Ken Abraham have launched a magnificent book. We learn about Buzz as a cadet, fighter pilot, astronaut, and drunk. We feel pain when he loses a wonderful family. We rejoice when, finally sober he defeats his demons and finds his Lois.

As an 18-year old freshman at West Point, Buzz Aldrin stood at the top of his class - in overall class standing and in everything from math to physical education. We had a saying back then, before the world knew him. If you're not just a bit jealous of Buzz, you're kidding yourself or not paying attention. Through his life, Buzz has had more than his share of fans and detractors. Always friendly, Buzz still put doing the right thing ahead of making a new friend.

Until after Apollo 11. Now, in doing the right thing Buzz is making new friends. Now Buzz spends his life giving back what he sees as a tremendous gift TO HIM by the American people! I remember attending a Founders Day luncheon at the Reagan Library with Buzz and my wife. When it was over, it took us over 25 minutes to get to our car. Why? As the Old Grads and their families were leaving, the general public was starting to enter the facility. And just about everybody recognized Buzz. He was friendly to the parents, but belonged to the kids. I can still picture him, leaning over, smiling, with his hands on his knees, talking with each kid as long as that child wanted to talk.

All that complexity comes through in "Magnificent Desolation." Buzz shares not only that unbelievable voyage with us, he shares the letdown, pain, and sorrow that followed. We learn what it took and what it felt like to go to the Moon. We also see what it takes and feels like to be a Magnificent Human.

A Friend

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