Carrying the Fire: An Anthology of Writings by Michael Collins, Edited by Michael Collins

Jeff Kaminski: I recently returned to reading more about the NASA space program. I found this book on Amazon and, based on the reviews, decided to give it a try. What a find! Michael Collins possessed an engaging, witty, erudite writing style. His powers of observation and explanation were amazing. Once I began reading the book, I could not put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading an honest and self-deprecating description of what it was really like to be an astronaut. Amazingly well done.

United States on Sep 06, 2023

CHARLES ARNEMANN: Great read

United States on Aug 03, 2023

jSmith: Se hace un poco largo, realmente la misión del Apolo 11 sólo se cubre de mitad para alante del libro. Tiene bastante de autobiografía. A pesar de ser un libro de los 70, todavía es interesante. El lenguaje de Collins es un poco rebuscado a veces. DEP.

Spain on Jun 28, 2023

Amazon Customer: I see the earth from the moon through his words. Mostly I now have a sense of the work and determination required by the thousands of people responsible for the fulfillment of the challenge issued by JFK regarding sending a man to the moon, and returning him safely. That is was accomplished at all is breathtaking. That it met his timing goal is unbelievable considering the tools available at the time.

United States on Mar 14, 2023

Edoardo C.: Mike Collins, great man, pilot and astronaut.
An enchanting read, written in great style with great explanations about Gemini and Apollo flights. But what really makes this book a non-stop reading is the humanity and simplicity with which he describes the amazing goals he achieved during his career.
We should all carry the fire during our lifetime, for us and for what will come hereafter.
Have a good life and always Ad Astra.

Italy on Jul 30, 2022

CK_NB: This guy is a legend. He gets tucked away behind Neil and Buzz in pop culture, but he has just as much to offer as the two other pioneering astros. His personality is transferred to the pages of his book, you feel like you got to know his slightly quirky demeanor and matter of fact honesty. This was a page turner just by Mike Collins being himself.

As far as his career on paper, Collins goes far and wide to capture the details and motivation behind the daunting tasks involved in Gemini and Apollo.
He doesn't outright say why he, Aldrin and Armstrong were selected. But by the end of the book, you kind of know why. One was the selection process and rotation of crew assignments itself, another is the personalities of the three come to life in this book. Hint, sheer and unbreaking motivation and will.

I grew up in the 80's Shuttle era and my fascination with space dwindled when the ISS was finished and the shuttle orbiter retired. This book re-ignited the spark of being mystified and haunted by space exploration. But this time, I am going to read and watch more on Apollo and Gemini.
Thank you Mike Collins, RIP to a good servant of space exploration awareness and...

United States on Sep 28, 2021

JChamberlain: Mr. Collins (although a Brigadier General) has written the most complete, understandable and descriptive book on the American space program during the 1960’s. As he states in plain honest terms, the book is largely biographical by necessity- but his story is one that brings you into the high pressure, hard working, very competitive environment that was the life of astronaut candidates during this time. Mr. Collins readily admits working hard, but that he was nothing special compared to others in the program. He just was lucky and able to follow the changes as they happened and made the best of the outcomes. It’s amazing that he writes so well for an engineer and a test pilot- this book is hard to put down even though anyone who grew up during this era knows the ending. He describes the close knit astronaut group and their families and tries to give a fair assessment of his abilities and foibles along with his descriptions of others in the program.
The book explains why things were done the way they were and how one decision or physical condition set a cascade of others into motion which eventually resulted in the triumph of July 20, 1969.
You will not be disappointed...

United States on Aug 06, 2021

Grandpa Gary Mauser: Mike Collins is an incredibly good writer. He managed to make me sit on the edge of my seat for this historic flight to the moon wondering if he'd be successful. A master story teller, he navigates impressive detail without losing the reader in arcane trivia. He uses the detail to paint a gripping step-by-step journey that was lost in the TV presentations at the time. Highly recommended. As man returns to the moon, we'll soon discover if China beat the USA, or even if the USA will ever get to Mars. Spatial exploration -- and eventual colonization -- should be our future. But will it be?

Canada on May 16, 2021

Anne: Autodérision, sens de la formule, Michael Collins écrit très bien et a une réelle hauteur de vue (c’est le cas de le dire !). Trop intelligent pour chercher à briller mais sans fausse modestie non plus. Le mythe vécu de l’intérieur, raconté de manière très humaine, à la fois intime et pudique, souvent drôle et sans jamais en rajouter. On peut regretter qu'il n'en existe aucune édition en français (les pages sur la tournée en France après Apollo 11 sont désopilantes), mais pour ceux qui le peuvent ce livre mérite largement l'effort d'être lu en version originale.

France on Feb 24, 2021

MatteoMatteo: Michael Collins nonostante sia stato membro dell'Apollo 11 è ricordato come l' "astronauta dimenticato" poiché non mise piede sulla Luna insieme ad Armstrong e Aldrin.

Questa sua opera è scritta davvero bene, molto dettagliata e tecnica in alcuni punti (potrebbe annoiare), e sa mantenere vivo l'interesse nel lettore. Egli racconta tutte le fasi della sua carriera da test pilot dell' Aeronautica, l'addestramento da astronauta fino al suo ultimo incarico dopo aver prestato servizio nella NASA.

Il suo racconto è realistico, umano e sa descrivere benissimo la sua esperienza anche sul piano psicologico e delle emozioni cosa che non riesce o non si trova nei libri di altri astronauti.

La bellezza di "Carrying the Fire" la si può trovare nei piccoli eventi raccontati come l'incontro con i cosmonauti sovietici, le sue riflessioni sul programma spaziale, la difficoltà della vita da astronauta, il suo rapporto nei confronti degli altri colleghi, il ricovero in ospedale per un intervento chirurgico e il suo legame con Roma, città natale. Tutto ciò lo fa senza annoiare e utilizzando un umorismo sottile e divertente.

In questo libro, Collins, è sia un...

Italy on Aug 09, 2020