Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery

In a recent review of an autobiography, I critiqued the excessive self-adoration, and said that it is a frequent flaw in the genre. The ability to tell one's tale, express the magnitude of achievements, and yet still feel sincere, is a true achievement. Scott Kelly, whose autobiography Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery is today's focus, does a great job balancing an amazing journey from a difficult childhood with an alcoholic father, to a leader in NASA's crewed space program.

If his name sounds familiar, that's because it probably is. And not just because of the fairly common last name. Scott and Mark Kelly, a twins from a humble background, came to take their places in America's history books. Both made it into naval aviation, then test pilots, and, ultimately, into NASA's astronaut corps. They both flew on the space shuttle, with Scott's first flight being the mission to boost the Hubble Telescope. Both of them had long duration missions on the ISS. And to top it off, Scott was the American representative for the "Year in Space" in which he and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko spent 340 days on the space station. Oh, and Mark has since become on of Arizona's senators in US Congress. No biggie, right?

First, this book speaks magnitudes about Scott's character. First of all- the determination. Once he had a dream, he did everything possible to reach it. Such determination and grit is a mark of toughness, courage, and perseverance, which I really respect. Moreover, huge tragedies struck him in space, but he powered through, such as the time when Mark's wife, Gabrielle Giffords, survived an assassination attempt in Arizona that left several people dead. However, I also really see humility in it as well. Scott doesn't miss an opportunity to compliment those who he was with and thank those who helped him. And it honestly feels sincere.

Outside of the autobiographical aspect, he also goes into a fair amount of detail about astronaut life. From the mundane details about daily life in space, to comparing American and Russian pre-launch traditions, there's a treasure trove of small factoids and anecdotes, some of which were new to me, some of which I knew, but all of which I enjoyed. Best of all, everything is told in an approachable and easy-going manner.

Now, no good review can ignore negatives. The language is, honestly, a little weak. Granted, as Scott Kelly admits, schooling wasn't his greatest strength, and he's definitely no great wordsmith. It's perfectly passable, just not great, so it's not too much of a detriment. Secondly, the audiobook format is read by Scott himself. And while I enjoy authors reading their own works, he would have benefitted from more intonation and expression in his voice.

Ultimately, although I wouldn't call Endurance a "must-read", it definitely is a great book. I do recommend it, and hope that you give it a shot.