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The Last Man on the Moon: One Man's Part in Mankind's Greatest Adventure Kindle Edition

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,585 ratings

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From the Apollo 17 commander and NASA veteran, “an exciting, insider’s take on what it was like to become one of the first humans in space” (Publishers Weekly).

Eugene Cernan was a unique American who came of age as an astronaut during the most exciting and dangerous decade of space flight. His career spanned the entire Gemini and Apollo programs, from being the first person to spacewalk all the way around our world to the moment when he left man’s last footprint on the moon as commander of Apollo 17.

Between those two historic events lay more adventures than an ordinary person could imagine as Cernan repeatedly put his life, his family, and everything he held dear on the altar of an obsessive desire. Written with
New York Times–bestselling author Don Davis, The Last Man on the Moon is the astronaut story never before told—about the fear, love, and sacrifice demanded of the few who dare to reach beyond the heavens.

“Thrilling highlights . . . a book not just about space flight but also about the often-brutal competition that went on between the US and the Soviet Union.” —
Washington Times

“A fascinating book.” —
Charlotte Observer

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

That "Geno" Cernan was commander of Apollo 17, the final manned moon mission, was a fitting conclusion to a flying career that included two previous stints in space (Gemini 9 and Apollo 10). His frank, earthy memoir of his years at NASA adds another entertaining, informative volume to the burgeoning shelf of books illuminating the inner workings of the space program and the people who made it happen. Coauthor Don Davis, a veteran journalist, helps Cernan craft a colloquial prose style that nicely captures the competitive, macho personality that seemed virtually mandatory for astronauts in the 1960s and '70s. Cernan candidly depicts the reckless streak that twice led to needless injuries jeopardizing his spot on a mission. He also acknowledges the stresses endured by his ex-spouse Barbara as she struggled to be the perfect astronaut wife--cheerful and uncomplaining for the cameras while he experienced all the fun and adventure of the job. And it sure was fun, as becomes clear in the exciting descriptions of his spacewalk from Gemini 9 and stroll around the moon from Apollo 17. Detailed accounts of each flight, including technical problems and personal tensions (particularly with Apollo 17 teammate Jack Schmitt, distrusted because he was a scientist, not a test pilot), remind readers that the space program is a human endeavor, with inevitable failures that make the triumphs that much sweeter. --Wendy Smith

From Publishers Weekly

Gemini and Apollo astronaut Cernan, helped by Davis (A Father's Rage, etc.), takes readers with him on one great space adventure after anotherAincluding Gemini 9's "Spacewalk from Hell," Apollo 1's fire, Snoopy's hair-raising swoop by the lunar surface. Readers experience the agony of life-or-death decision making in the Apollo 13 control room, exult with Cernan and geologist Jack Schmitt throughout the mission of Apollo 17 and meet legendary characters of the astronaut corps and the technical and political leaders who shared their glory. Cernan reveals the risk-taking, competitive personality and oversized self-confidence that drove his success as a test pilot and astronaut. He also acknowledges his failings as a husband to his first wife, Barbara, whom he presents as a quiet, strong homefront heroine who always found the right words in public despite her private difficulties. However, careful readers may see more of Cernan than he intended to display. His admiration and friendship may justify letting Wernher von Braun and Spiro Agnew off the hook for what many consider their political and personal misdeeds, but his unforgiving view of Buzz Aldrin seems to stem from personal animus. Why must the last man on the moon demean the second? ("[Aldrin] came flapping into my office at the Manned Spacecraft Center one day like an angry stork..."). Despite the bad taste of Cernan's words about Aldrin, this is an exciting, insider's take on what it was like to become one of the first humans in space. 16 pages of b&w photos not seen by PW. Agent, Jane Dystel. Author tour.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003G93ZCM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Press; First edition (April 1, 2007)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2007
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3332 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,585 ratings

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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Customers say

Customers find the book provides an engaging account of events and interesting details about the space program. They appreciate the well-written, eloquent, and clear writing style. The author offers insightful perspectives into the personalities and hardships of the astronauts. Readers describe the book as a great read about the space program and an essential addition to their library. The book humanizes the astronauts and gives an honest look into their lives.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

91 customers mention "Story quality"91 positive0 negative

Customers find the book an engaging account of events, both technical and political. They appreciate the honest portrayal of the thrills and risks of flying in space. Readers enjoy the captivating descriptions of how the author experienced those moments. The book provides a revealing look at the lives and accomplishments of the dedicated.

"...There’s lots of humor, plenty of insights, a bunch of scary moments and events all leading up to the most successful lunar excursion of the Apollo..." Read more

"...It presents the tragedies as well as the triumphs...." Read more

"...So much more could have been said. His descriptions of his spaceflight experience are great, but the last one was a bit lacking...." Read more

"...is not only an excellent astronaut memoir but also a great overview of the history of NASA's space program up to the Apollo programs...." Read more

62 customers mention "Enlightened content"62 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. It provides a good overview of what it's like to be an astronaut. The author is candid in sharing his thoughts about himself. The book describes technical aspects in a straightforward way, keeping readers interested. Overall, customers find the content engaging and informative without being bogged down by unnecessary details.

"...There’s lots of humor, plenty of insights, a bunch of scary moments and events all leading up to the most successful lunar excursion of the Apollo..." Read more

"...It has honesty. It tells you what actually happened, whether glamorous or not, whether presented on television or not...." Read more

"...a great bird's eye view of Lovell's experiences with NASA and a good overview of what its like to be an astronaut, Cernan's memoir goes into a lot..." Read more

"...Unfortunately Cernan passed away in early 2017, but this book is actually inspiring. It made me want to aspirate do better...." Read more

51 customers mention "Writing quality"46 positive5 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to read. They appreciate the author's eloquent and clear writing style. The narrative is gripping and provides an insightful view into the astronauts' personal experiences.

"...Cernan is a fine writer...." Read more

"...Cernan's memoir is succinct and written clearly, making for an easy, yet rewarding read...." Read more

"There is nothing to dislike. The book is so well written...." Read more

"...His writing is easy to read, funny, and informative. His sense of humor is wonderful, and I couldn't get enough of his story...." Read more

21 customers mention "Personality insight"21 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's insights into the personalities and hardships of the space program. They find the descriptions emotional, personal, and gripping. The author is gracious in sharing his beliefs and thoughts with readers.

"...His humility and humanity glowed. What a lovely man, a terrific Naval aviator and an extraordinary astronaut...." Read more

"...It presents the tragedies as well as the triumphs. It covers Gene Cernan’s life and notes the Mercury program but focuses more on the Gemini and..." Read more

"...in many technical details and were engineers and technically very very smart people...." Read more

"...He does give his opinion on all the famous astronauts like Al Shephard and Neil Armstrong, and what he thought of their personalities and also their..." Read more

16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and informative about the space program. They say it provides an honest perspective on early American space flight and the perils of exploration. Many consider it a great read for space fans, especially those interested in the 1950s and 1960s.

"...It was a good book about the Mercury astronauts and the test pilots that came before them...." Read more

"...That being said Cernan's memoir is not only an excellent astronaut memoir but also a great overview of the history of NASA's space program up to..." Read more

"...It is an intriguing story, which gives insights into the many perils of space exploration, the stringent qualifications and training of the..." Read more

"...before this, it is an honest, fascinating and detailed insight in the US manned space programme, and I really enjoyed reading it...." Read more

11 customers mention "Astronauts"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book about astronauts. They find them dedicated, courageous, and extraordinary. The book humanizes the heroes and their personal and professional sacrifices. They describe the astronauts as warriors who fight and die for us.

"...What a lovely man, a terrific Naval aviator and an extraordinary astronaut...." Read more

"Very enjoyable book. It humanizes the hero astronauts. I followed the Apollo flights in the newspapers and Life Magazine...." Read more

"...and training of the astronauts, the tremendous personal and professional sacrifices made, and finally the unique toughts and feelings of one who has..." Read more

"...nail-biting drama, tech detail, space history, and the personal toll of being an astronaut, not without humor...." Read more

7 customers mention "Depth"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's depth. They find it realistic and descriptive, with attention to detail. The story is presented as real life, and the fears are raw and honest.

"...Cernan is a fine writer. He pays attention to detail (Naval aviation trailing 101) and engages the reader in both the mechanics of space flight..." Read more

"...The descriptions of feelings and sights, thoughts and fears are raw and real...." Read more

"...Moonwalkers books, this is by far the most eloquent, well written,realistic and descriptive. This reads just like a conversation with Eugene Cernan...." Read more

"I loved this book. It is a good read and gives the reader an honest look into the life and times of one of our best and most dedicated astronauts." Read more

7 customers mention "Humor"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find the interviews funny, educational, and honest. The witty comments and memorable quotes are also appreciated.

"...There’s lots of humor, plenty of insights, a bunch of scary moments and events all leading up to the most successful lunar excursion of the Apollo..." Read more

"...His writing is easy to read, funny, and informative. His sense of humor is wonderful, and I couldn't get enough of his story...." Read more

"...This one had humor and tried to describe the technical aspects in a basic way...." Read more

"...read, from a veteran astronaut yet a very modest man, with plenty of humoristic anecdotes...." Read more

The great story about a living legend and one of the Moon Walkers
5 out of 5 stars
The great story about a living legend and one of the Moon Walkers
A great read, and now a movie. I went to see the premier of the movie, The Last Man on the Moon, here in Canberra, Australia where Gene Cernan was there answering questions and telling more interesting stories about his amazing life. Three space flights, two to the moon, one flight, of course landed and camped out on the moon for 3 days. A remarkable life, a living legend and a true hero.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2019
    Gene Cernan’s autobiography about his Naval service and then time working at NASA is sublime. The reader is privy to the inner workings of an incredibly ambitious guy. He’s chosen to be an astronaut right out of the fleet after two cruises flying Scooters (the A-4 attack bomber off of aircraft carriers). Cernan never went to test pilot school and yet he flew on Gemini, including a space walk, and then two Apollo flights, 10 & 17.

    Cernan is a fine writer. He pays attention to detail (Naval aviation trailing 101) and engages the reader in both the mechanics of space flight preparation and space flight itself but also the nuances of family life during these challenging years. Huge kudos to Cernan for the credit he gives to his wife Barbara (Mrs. Astronaut) and the incredible sacrifices she made during his time at NASA. Although the marriage ended after the space flight years, it’s clear that he admired and was grateful to Barbara for her support during such trying and tense times—scary space walk on Gemini, around the moon on 10 but no landing and the climax of Apollo 17 when her husband lived on and walked on the moon for three days. I hasten to add that Cernan’s consideration of his daughter, Tracy (Punk), was very touching, too.

    Details of Cernan’s flights and how he got each is fascinating. The competition between and among the astronauts was intense and Gene Cernan rose like cream to the top of the group, even though he was a third group candidate and not a qualified test pilot.

    The book has myriad details about the last Apollo trip to the moon. The selection of the crew, their preparation and training, the flight out and descent to the lunar surface, the days of exploration and the blast off of Challenger back to rendezvous with America and the return voyage home are all presented beautifully. There’s lots of humor, plenty of insights, a bunch of scary moments and events all leading up to the most successful lunar excursion of the Apollo program. All of this, in Gene Cernan’s voice and with his sensibilities about the entire adventure. A super good read!

    I met Gene Cernan at the Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola in 2011, the 100th anniversary of Naval aviation. You see, my grandfather was the 68the Naval aviator. I followed in his footsteps and was also a Naval aviator. Be that as it may, I had the chance to speak personally with both Neal Armstrong and Gene Cernan at that gathering. I showed each my grandfather’s wings of gold crafted at Tiffany’s with both his name and mine inscribed on the back. Both were impressed. I was touched that Gene congratulated my grandfather and me on our accomplishments. His humility and humanity glowed. What a lovely man, a terrific Naval aviator and an extraordinary astronaut. He died way to young but we can all be proud of what he did on this planet and on the moon.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2020
    The Last Man on the Moon is a great book. Decades ago, I read The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe. It was a good book about the Mercury astronauts and the test pilots that came before them. However, as I remember, it was a book about the glamour of it all. Gene Cernan’s book is more substantive to me. It has honesty. It tells you what actually happened, whether glamorous or not, whether presented on television or not. You learn about the astronaut families as well the astronauts. It presents the tragedies as well as the triumphs. It covers Gene Cernan’s life and notes the Mercury program but focuses more on the Gemini and Apollo programs.

    Some reviewers of this book feel that Gene Cernan was overly critical of Buzz Aldrin. I feel that this book presents both the good points as well as the bad points about Aldrin. I remember an HBO series about the astronauts, with actors portraying them. Tom Hanks was one of the producers of this series. In it, you see Buzz Aldrin campaigning to be the first man to walk on the moon. Eventually, the NASA managers tell him that the lunar module was being designed such that the commander (Neil Armstrong for Apollo 11) would be next to the hatch and would be the first person to walk on the moon. What Gene Cernan says about this is consistent with the HBO series.

    Gene Cernan evolved during his astronaut career. At first, he couldn’t accept that one of the men to walk on the moon was not a test pilot. Although Jack Schmitt learned to fly jets as part of his training, he was primarily a scientist. Over time, Gene came to respect Jack Schmitt and his work to become an astronaut. Gene grew to recognize the importance of science alongside exploration.

    I bought the Kindle version of this book a year or so ago when three Kindle books were being sold at a greatly reduced price. The book was written in the late 1990s. I was sad to learn that Eugene Cernan died in 2017. He had a great life — a great career and a great family. He had three daughters and many grandchildren. I plan to read some more astronaut autobiographies as well as the authorized biography of Neil Armstrong. I can only hope that they are as good as The Last Man on the Moon.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Mr. Chris Gartner
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read
    Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2020
    I met Geeno a long time ago i the early 70's and had some time to spend talking to him in the early 70s. I was a bush pilot back then so we had aviation in common. At the time I encouraged him to write a book about his military career and his flight into space and especially Apollo 17. There now a move out by the same name and it's worth watching in conjunction with his book. If you're a fan of the American space program - this is a great read. Most of the Gemini & Apollo astronauts have written a book or two but this one ranks as a keeper.
  • Susanne K.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five stars are not enough for this book
    Reviewed in Germany on January 22, 2020
    I decided to buy this book after having watched the documentary on Netflix, where Gene Cernan struck me as a very affable man and a great storyteller, while at the same time being candid and very conscious of the risks he took and the sacrifices that were made by family and friends.

    All of this comes across even better in the book. He touches upon his youth (funny that a future astronaut would spend time on his grandfather's farm which didn't even have electricity), how he became a test pilot, and all the work that went into becoming an astronaut. From then on the journey truly starts, and it is enriched with great stories of everyday life in the "bubble", pranks, and the personalities of his fellow astronauts - reading his anecdotes often made me laugh out loud. Of course there were dangerous situations, and the tragic deaths in the early days of the space programme have been covered exhaustively. Still, Cernan adds his own voice and very personal insights as someone who knew the victims. Very importantly to me, his musings on life, death and the desire to court the latter by exploring space never seem contrived or hackneyed.

    If you're at all interested in space, or even just in the story of an extraordinary man who got to make his mark on history in so many ways, go buy this book. I'd give it more than five stars if I could.
  • RA
    5.0 out of 5 stars Da leggere!
    Reviewed in Italy on November 15, 2019
    Direi che è proprio da leggere, per chi vuole cogliere il "sapore" di quel tempo, a partire dalle missioni Gemini. Il racconto è piacevole, avvincente, anche divertente. Il dietro le quinte degli astronauti è sobrio ma dettagliato. Le competizioni interne sono un elemento fondamentale della loro storia, un aspetto molto reale che non è mai "apparso" nei media. Anche le differenze e l'evoluzione sia delle missioni che delle tecnologie associate mi erano sembrate molto uniformi, ma così non è, c'è stata un'evoluzione continua dall'Apollo 1 al 17 che qui riscopro. E non ultima la vita di Gene Cernan, da cadetto a comandante di missione Apollo 17, sia nel privato, nel pubblico e nella NASA. Una bella storia sia personale che generale di un decennio di sforzo collettivo e sovrumano per un obiettivo praticamente irrealizzabile, un sogno che poteva diventare realtà solo se condiviso da tutti.
  • Vincenzo Chille
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book about Moon exploration
    Reviewed in France on September 13, 2019
    Another very good point of view of an astronaut of the Apollo program. The story of Lunar exploration is well told and adds more perspective from the last man walking on the satellite.
  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars espetacular
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 14, 2017
    Muito bom e envolvente o livro. Transmite as sensações de quem trabalha para estar numa posição de extremo risco de vida, e que depende muito dos outros para que esse risco não aconteça, e está preparado para lutar pela vida.
    Muito bacana a leitura interna de quem viveu a corrida espacial.

    Gostaria muito que o Brasil tivesse desafios dessa magnitude!!!!

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