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  • Rocket Men

  • The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon
  • Written by: Robert Kurson
  • Narrated by: Ray Porter, Robert Kurson
  • Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (40 ratings)

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Rocket Men

Written by: Robert Kurson
Narrated by: Ray Porter, Robert Kurson
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Publisher's Summary

New York Times best seller

The riveting inside story of three heroic astronauts who took on the challenge of mankind's historic first mission to the moon, from the best-selling author of Shadow Divers

"Robert Kurson tells the tale of Apollo 8 with novelistic detail and immediacy." (Andy Weir, number one New York Times best-selling author of The Martian and Artemis

By August 1968, the American space program was in danger of failing in its two most important objectives: to land a man on the moon by President Kennedy's end-of-decade deadline and to triumph over the Soviets in space. With its back against the wall, NASA made an almost unimaginable leap: It would scrap its usual methodical approach and risk everything on a sudden launch, sending the first men in history to the moon - in just four months. And it would all happen at Christmas. 

In a year of historic violence and discord - the Tet Offensive, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, the riots at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago - the Apollo 8 mission would be the boldest, riskiest test of America's greatness under pressure. In this gripping insider account, Robert Kurson puts the focus on the three astronauts and their families: the commander, Frank Borman, a conflicted man on his final mission; idealistic Jim Lovell, who'd dreamed since boyhood of riding a rocket to the moon; and Bill Anders, a young nuclear engineer and hotshot fighter pilot making his first space flight. 

Drawn from hundreds of hours of one-on-one interviews with the astronauts, their loved ones, NASA personnel, and myriad experts, and filled with vivid and unforgettable detail, Rocket Men is the definitive account of one of America's finest hours. In this real-life thriller, Kurson reveals the epic dangers involved and the singular bravery it took for mankind to leave Earth for the first time - and arrive at a new world. 

"Rocket Men is a riveting introduction to the [Apollo 8] flight.... Kurson details the mission in crisp, suspenseful scenes.... [A] gripping book." (The New York Times Book Review)

©2018 Robert Kurson (P)2018 Random House Audio

What the critics say

"With Rocket Men, Robert Kurson tells the tale of Apollo 8 with novelistic detail and immediacy, expertly capturing the urgency and suspense behind the mission that gave America the lead in the Space Race." (Andy Weir, number one New York Times best-selling author of The Martian and Artemis)

"Rocket Men is a riveting introduction to the [Apollo 8] flight.... Kurson details the mission in crisp, suspenseful scenes.... [A] gripping book." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Kurson effectively recreates the era, recalling the tumult of a changing nation, as well as the tension felt by those involved both on Earth and in space, of a mission with little margin for error.... Fans of explorers and adventurers will enjoy Kurson's vibrant, accessible history." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Rocket Men

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wonderful history lesson

Very well written with a great performance by Ray Porter. This was a great history lesson and allowed insights into the NASA legends.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story about an overlooked Mission

I did not know about the specifics of this mission. Robert Kurson once more delivered. Well written. Great story about the true turning point in the space race. Suspenseful and filled with wonder. It was also great to learn about the men and their families post NASA. It gave a great overview of what kind of person took part in this kind of adventure.

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Fascinating and Factual

Perhaps the most daring and audacious mission ever successfully executed. The story was compiled from primary sources, making it all the more compelling.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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A launchpad of history

This novel was a great listen. Ray Porter gave an excellent performance.
His excitement paired with Robert Kurson’s writing took this listen to new heights. Typically I am an fiction fan, but this novel piqued my interest. Being a fan of history and a interest in space, this was a terrific way to put these two interests together.
Highlighting the importance of Apollo 10, and how often it is looked over as an achievement of humanity. I would recommend this novel to almost everyone. #Audible1

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