Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home From The Moon
By Buzz Aldrin, Ken Abraham
Forty years ago, Buzz Aldrin became the second human, minutes after Neil Armstrong, to set foot on a celestial body other than the Earth. The event remains one of mankind’s greatest achievements and was witnessed by the largest worldwide television audience in history. In the years since, millions more have had their Earth-centric perspective unalterably changed by the iconic photograph of Aldrin standing on the surface of the moon, the blackness of space behind him and his fellow explorer and the Eagle reflected in his visor. Describing the alien world he was walking upon, he uttered the words “magnificent desolation.” And as the astronauts later sat in the Eagle, waiting to begin their journey back home, knowing that they were doomed unless every system and part on board worked flawlessly, it was Aldrin who responded to Mission Control’s clearance to take off with the quip, “Roger. Understand. We’re number one on the runway.”
The flight of Apollo 11 made Aldrin one of the most famous persons on our planet, yet few people know the rest of this true American hero’s story. In Magnificent Desolation, Aldrin not only gives us a harrowing first-person account of the lunar landing that came within seconds of failure and the ultimate insider’s view of life as one of the superstars of America’s space program, he also opens up with remarkable candor about his more personal trials–and eventual triumphs–back on Earth. From the glory of being part of the mission that fulfilled President Kennedy’s challenge to reach the moon before the decade was out, Aldrin returned home to an Air Force career stripped of purpose or direction, other than as a public relations tool that NASA put to relentless use in a seemingly nonstop world tour. The twin demons of depression and alcoholism emerged–the first of which Aldrin confronted early and publicly, and the second of which he met with denial until it nearly killed him. He burned through two marriages, his Air Force career came to an inglorious end, and he found himself selling cars for a living when he wasn’t drunkenly wrecking them. Redemption came when he finally embraced sobriety, gained the love of a woman, Lois, who would become the great joy of his life, and dedicated himself to being a tireless advocate for the future of space exploration–not only as a scientific endeavor but also as a thriving commercial enterprise.
These days Buzz Aldrin is enjoying life with an enthusiasm that reminds us how far it is possible for a person to travel, literally and figuratively. As an adventure story, a searing memoir of self-destruction and self-renewal, and as a visionary rallying cry to once again set our course for Mars and beyond, Magnificent Desolation is the thoroughly human story of a genuine hero.
Summary from Goodreads.
Being remembered as the second man on the moon, most people would hate having that against their name but Buzz Aldrin has taken it in his stride. Ever since Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins returned from their Apollo 11 mission, all three of them have been put under public scrutiny for everything that they will do since. Magnificent Desolation tells Buzz Aldrin’s story about what happened to him after returning to Earth.
Whilst this is mainly focused on what occurs afterward of the Apollo 11 mission, we do get a very nice recount of the moon mission. Exactly what they did whilst they were flying to the moon, as well as how close it really was to being a failure (it sounds dramatic but it they almost didn’t get back). Whilst only a few chapters long, I still found it very interesting hearing about what it is like to go to space and found it very informative as to what you would actually do.
Since the moon landing are very well documented, Buzz decided to focus on the effects of space travel and how he is overcoming them. He honestly says that he was an alcoholic and depressed, with returning from the moon pushing over the edge. I found it very humbling that he decided to be so honest and frank about his own problems whilst also not making space travel the culprit.
If you are interested in what it is like to be an astronaut and what it is like to come back to Earth then Magnificent Desolation will give you a good insight into the psychological effects of space travel.
4/5
Have you read Magnificent Desolation? Do you agree with my review? Let me know your opinion in the comments below!
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