On the surface, Scott Kelly’s book, “Endurance” is about his record year in space and his journey to get there, but in reality, it is so much more. It is a story of family, love, relationships, determination, struggle, mission, and … well … endurance.

I enjoyed how Kelly alternated chapters between his life on the International Space Station and his life path that led him to being chosen to be the first American to fly such a long mission. Kelly was not a good student in his middle and high school years, but his outlook on school shifted once he had his mind set on a goal that seemed so far off at the time, but one which he would end up far surpassing. Kelly diligently pushed himself to being a Navy pilot flying jets on an aircraft carrier. The ups and downs of his journey were thrilling to read and it felt as if I was along for the ride. At the same time, Kelly spent a lot of time on the topic of family, his ex-wife, new girlfriend, and children. I enjoyed this balance. My favorite parts of the book though have to be Kelly’s description of being on the space station, doing his three space walks, and looking down on Earth. I found myself repeatedly saying, “wow” at the sheer enormity of what Kelly was doing. Truly incredible to read.

Though Kelly’s writing style was not “out of this world,” it got the job done. It told his story clearly and in a sort of conversational tone that draws the reader in as if Kelly is floating there right in front of you. My favorite quotes from the book are when Kelly is observing the world from his unique position so far away. He really puts it all into perspective:

“We have a unique vantage point here aboard the International Space Station. As I look out the window, I see a very beautiful planet that seems inviting and peaceful. Unfortunately, it is not. These days, we are constantly reminded of the unspeakable acts of violence and damage we can inflict upon one another. Not just with our actions, but with our irresponsible words. We are better than this. We must do better.”

“I’ve learned that grass smells great, and wind feels amazing, and rain is a miracle. I will try to remember how magical these things are for the rest of my life. … I’ve learned that following the news from space can make Earth seem like a swirl of chaos and conflict, and that seeing the environmental degradation caused by humans is heartbreaking. I’ve also learned that our planet is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen and that we’re lucky to have it.”

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Created Feb 17, 2020 at 11:21am • Submit your own review...