The Last Man on the Moon: Astronaut Eugene Cernan and America's Race in Space

by Eugene Cernan, Don Davis, Donald A. Davis

Book Overview

The basis of the 2014 award-winning feature-length documentary A revealing and dramatic look at the inside of the American Space Program from one of its pioneers.

Eugene Cernan was a unique American who came of age as an astronaut during the most exciting and dangerous decade of spaceflight. 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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312263511
• ISBN13: 9780312263515
• Release Date: July 2000
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Best of the astronaut bios

I knew almost nothing about Gene Cernan before I read this book. It's a shame it took me so long to discover him, because Cernan is a compelling and entertaining storyteller, as well as a very typical example of what he himself calls the "macho fighter pilot" ethos that Tom Wolfe chronicled in The Right Stuff. Compared to several other books that I've read about the U.S. space program in the 1960s-70s (Aldrin, Shepherd/Slayton, Kranz), Cernan gives us an a more objective and unflinching picture of the jockeying for flight assignments and the clashes between strong, ambitious personalities that roiled NASA's Astronaut Office. He also speaks frankly about the disastrous effects that the demands of being an astronaut had on several "picture-perfect" astronaut families, including his own. All of these were unmentionable topics at the time, and are still not talked about frequently today. However, the book is not only about the negative aspects of the space program. Cernan spends quite a bit of time describing the wonders that he experienced orbiting the earth and walking on the moon. Highly recommended.

Great insight into the space race

The Last Man on the Moon is a great book that offers a great depiction of his three flights: Gemini 9 in 1965 with Tom Stafford, Apollo 10 in 1969 with Tom Stafford and John Young, and Apollo 17 in 1972 with Harrison Schmitt and Ron Evans. His narrative of the Gemini 9 mission is gripping, and it is one of the closest calls in the history of spaceflight. In May 1969 he traveled to lunar orbit and took the lunar module Snoopy down to within a few miles of the lunar surface in the final dress rehersal for the Apollo 11 moon landing. Finally, Cernan and Schmitt became the last men to walk on the moon to this date with the Apollo 17 flight in December 1972. Cernan is candid in his description of his flights and other historical missions such as Apollo 11 and Apollo 13, and offers some new information about the famous flights. He stays away from technical data, and devotes his time to telling a throughly ingrossing account of his three flights and the space race in general, with the feel of a story recalled among friends. Some of the reviewers here have said that Cernan does not spend a lot of time describing his moon landing, Apollo 17. Well, Cernan tells about the crew selection, training, the voyage outbound to the moon, and the three excursions to the Valley of Taurus-Littrow in the last few chapters. If you want to get more information regarding the scientific data obtained from Apollo 17, you should read "Exploring the Moon" or "To a Rocky Moon." And in the last chapter, Cernan devotes a lot of time to sentimental feelings about our future destiny in space and inspiring young people in this country to take up the challenge. Cernan has always attempted to unite the passion of future space explorers. When stepping off the lunar surface on Apollo 17, he said this, "As I step off the Moon and Taurus-Littrow, I'd just like to say what I believe history will record, that America's challenge of today will forge man's desiny for tommorow. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17." With that, he returned to the lunar module Challenger with his crewmate, professional geologist Harrison "Jack" Schmitt, and blasted off from Taurus-Littrow. And we haven't returned to the moon since.

Terrific Book

If you have an interest in the space program this is the book for you. Not only does Capt. Cernan take you through one exciting adventure after another he also gives you unique insights into what was going on behind the scenes and what he was thinking as these historic events (which he was often involved in) took place. A fantastic reminder of what it was like when nations were in the midst of a white hot cold war. Gene also gives us a view into the personal rewards and the personal price paid to be a true American Hero. You will have trouble putting it down. The terror of the space walk will give you cold chills. Enjoy!

Superb! A must read for any aspiring young person!

I've read the other reviews and found almost everyone felt the same as I about this great book. For one who is still involved in space activities, this book inspired me to keep my focus. Gene's attempt to place reader at a a very personal level was the best I've ever experienced. The personal touch helped convey a message to me that I'm not sure even Gene knew he was accomplishing. I've read many inspirational books, but none from such a straight forward gutsy fashion. This was real, it happened, he was part of it and it was hard; damned hard. The transgressions, anger, pressure, fears, and all the other emotions are part of this business and Gene puts it in a way that really communicates. I liked every morsel of this book, it is a study in and of itself. This is a book about LEADERSHIP that everyone can read, enjoy and learn from.

Simply amazing

I am 13 years old and have recently become mezmorized by Apollo. I have read Lost Moon by Jim Lovell and Jefferey Kluger, which depicted Apollo 13 tremendously. I then went on to read A Man on the Moon, by Andrew Chaikin, and this read was the ultimate for me, it gave me all the information on Apollo. I considered myself the master of Apollo. But when I picked up this book, it gave me the inside scoop from one of Nasa's great astronauts of the time. Cernan told in great detail all about the race against the Russians and against JFK's challenge. I felt like I was Cernan in those times, he even went as far as telling about the affects on his personal life, it was the best book I have read and i could not put it down, anyone slightly interested with Apollo or anyone who wants to fill their heads with knowledge, this is your book, simply amazing.