Shoot for the Moon

It was one of humankind's greatest achievements, and here, perhaps for the first time, is the whole story, fastidiously reported and elegantly told. With Shoot For the Moon, James Donovan captures it all-the science, the engineering, the clashing egos, the Cold War politics. But what's even more impressive, he does it without depriving us of the essential magic that was Apollo, this Promethean program that dared to aim as high and as far as man could go. --Hampton Sides, author Ghost Soldiers, In theKingdom of Ice, and On Desperate Ground One of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2019--- Shoot for the Moon is a gripping account of the dangers, the challenges, and the sheer determination that defined not only Apollo 11, but also the Mercury and Gemini missions that came before it. --BookPeople A gripping yet wonderfully detailed account of one of humanity's greatest achievements. Shoot for the Moon gives a fascinating insight into the golden age of space exploration. --Tim Peake Donovan combines his masterful research skills and narrative gifts in recounting the full story of the most famous Apollo trip...Donovan's history is a powerfully written and irresistible celebration of the Apollo missions. --Booklist (starred review) Donovan's account of Apollo 11 is a breath-stopping page-turner. --Michael Barnes, Austin-American Statesman Donovan's narrative is a well-crafted one...one of the best in print. --Science Magazine Exceptionally researched, this exciting, sometimes harrowing book highlights the work not only of the pioneering astronauts but also of thousands of technicians and engineers. This is a perfect volume to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing and all that led up to it. --Publishers Weekly (starred) If you're looking for telling of the manned space program's story, you should start with James Donovan's Shoot for the Moon. --NPR Its breadth and detail will give you a new appreciation for just how complex and dangerous this mission was. You'll come away marveling that, against all odds, we put people on the motherf**in' moon! --Austin Chronicle This account reads like an adventure story. --The Columbus Dispatch This is the best book on Apollo that I have read. Extensively researched and meticulously accurate, it successfully traces not only the technical highlights of the program but also the contributions of the extraordinary people who made it possible. --Mike Collins, Command module pilot, Apollo 11 Vividly readable --Christian Science Monitor With a brilliant eye for detail and an elegant sense of historical narrative, Donovan's Shoot the Moon is sure to be a space race classic. --Annie Jacobsen, bestselling author & Pulitzer Prize finalist