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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth summary
What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything
13 mins
Brief summary
'An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth' by Chris Hadfield is a memoir on his journey to becoming an astronaut and the lessons he learned that can be applied to anyone's life. It shares insights on teamwork, preparation, dealing with fear, and staying focused on the process.
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An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth
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Astronauts must have a wide variety of skills and spend a lot of time training.
What do astronauts do when they aren’t in space? They spend most of their days training, taking classes and studying. So if all you want to do is whip around the earth in a spaceship, you’d hate being an astronaut.
Astronauts need a tremendous range of skills. Some are more obvious, like piloting the rocket, walking in space, repairing pieces of the space station and monitoring the experiments on board.
Since they’re away from civilization for so long, however, astronauts also need to prepare for some less obvious tasks. They have to be able to perform basic surgery and dentistry, program their computers, rewire any electrical panels and conduct a press conference. They also have to get along with their colleagues while living with them 24/7 in a confined space!
Astronauts must be prepared to respond to any crisis that could occur in space. When they’re orbiting the Earth at 400 km, they certainly can’t expect a rescue crew to come get them.
There are many dangerous potential situations. Toxic gas could start leaking or a fire break out, for instance.
Fires aren’t hypothetical situations, either. In 1997, an oxygen-generating canister started a fire on the Russian space station Mir. The astronauts managed to put it out by throwing wet towels on the canister. Their spacecraft filled with smoke, but thankfully everyone survived.
The ratio of time spent in space vs. time spent preparing for space is quite low: for each day in orbit, you have to train for several months. It takes several years of training before you’re assigned to a mission, and then training for a specific missions takes between two and four more.
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What is An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth about?
Test pilot and astronaut Chris Hadfield was the first Canadian to space walk, and this is his story. He offers insight into life in the space business, from training and lift-off to space research and coming home. He outlines the surprising challenges astronauts face, both off and on this planet, and offers some of the wisdom he gained from leaving our natural home and coming back down to Earth. Even if you never make it to the stars, you’ll find that we have a lot to learn from spacemen.
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth Review
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth (2013) is an insightful book that takes readers on an extraordinary journey through the life of an astronaut. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It provides a rare and compelling glimpse into the world of space exploration, offering unique perspectives and experiences.
- With its emphasis on practical lessons learned from space training, the book offers valuable insights that can be applied to everyday life.
- The author's down-to-earth storytelling style captivates readers, making this book both educational and entertaining.
Best quote from An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth
If youre striving for excellence – whether its in playing the guitar or flying a jet – theres no such thing as over-preparation.
—Chris Hadfield
Who should read An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth?
- Anyone interested in astronauts
- Anyone who wants to know what an astronaut actually does
- Anyone interested in space exploration
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An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth FAQs
What is the main message of An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth?
The main message of An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth is how to think like an astronaut and apply their mindset to everyday life.
How long does it take to read An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth?
The reading time for An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth a good book? Is it worth reading?
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth is a valuable read for anyone looking for inspiring insights from an astronaut's perspective.
Who is the author of An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth?
The author of An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth is Chris Hadfield.
What to read after An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth?
If you're wondering what to read next after An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Rocket Men by Robert Kurson
- The Shortest History of Economics by Andrew Leigh
- Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
- The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
- Uncommon by Mark Divine
- The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver
- Daily Rituals by Mason Currey
- Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom
- Cosmos by Carl Sagan
- Take Back Your Power by Deborah Liu