No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons From a Man Who Walked on the Moon

by Buzz Aldrin, Ken Abraham

Overview

Beloved American hero Buzz Aldrin reflects on the wisdom, guiding principles, and irreverent anecdotes he's gathered through his event-filled life—both in outer space and on earth—in this inspiring guide-to-life for the next generation.
 
Everywhere he goes, crowds gather to meet Buzz Aldrin. He is a world-class hero, a larger-than-life figurehead, best known of a generation of astronauts whose achievements surged in just a few years from first man in space to first men on the moon. Now he pauses to reflect and share what he has learned, from the vantage point not only of outer space but also of time: still a non-stop traveler and impassioned advocate for space exploration, Aldrin will be 86 in 2016.
 
No Dream Is Too High whittles down Buzz Aldrin's event-filled life into a short list of principles he values, each illustrated by fascinating anecdotes and memories, such as:
·      Second comes right after first. NASA protocol should have meant he was first on the moon, but rules changed just before the mission. How he learned to be proud of being the second man on the moon.
·      Look for opportunities, not obstacles. Buzz was rejected the first time he applied to be an astronaut. Failure is an opportunity to learn to do better.
·      Always maintain your spirit of adventure. For his 80th birthday, Buzz went diving in the Galapagos and hitched a ride on a whale shark. He stays fit, energetic, and fascinated with life.
 
No Dream Is Too High is a beautiful memento, a thought-provoking set of ideas, and a new opportunity for Buzz Aldrin to connect with the masses of people who recognize his unique place in human history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426219146
Publisher:	National Geographic Society
Publication date:	04/03/2018
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

KEN ABRAHAM is a New York Times best-selling author, known around the world for his collaborations with popular celebrities and fascinating, high-profile public figures such as former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, Senator Bob Dole, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and champion boxer and entrepreneur George Foreman. At present, Ken has more than ten million books in print.

BUZZ ALDRIN, best known for his Apollo 11 moonwalk in 1969, holds a doctorate degree in astronautics and, at the age of 84, continues to wield influence as an international advocate of space science and planetary exploration. He has written four nonfiction books, two science fact/fiction novels, and two children's books.

Editorial Reviews

"Aldrin is just as candid about his disappointments, struggles and failures as he is about his extraordinary achievements, and this is what makes his story so appealing." —Washington Post

"Famed astronaut Aldrin combines leadership lessons with behind-the-scenes stories from his Apollo 11 moonwalk in this engaging cross between biography and self-help....Everyone, whether a student or a seasoned CEO, will find something to take away from this inspiring work." —Publishers Weekly

"Fans of the Apollo space program, readers who admire Aldrin, and those who are just learning about him will all enjoy and benefit from this modest book." —Booklist

"Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin has learned a lot over the course of his long, eventful and complicated life, and he's sharing some of the most important lessons in a new book." —Space.com

“The astronaut recounts life lessons learned from his historic Apollo 11 moonwalk in 1969 and beyond.” –Kirkus Review

“It's an inspirational read that's packed with little-known facts about the Space Race.” –Tech Insider Online

“Aldrin uses lessons he learned during his long career in aviation and space exploration to detail the principles that have enabled his personal growth and professional achievements.” –Library Journal

From the Publisher

01/11/2016
Famed astronaut Aldrin (coauthor, with Leonard David, of Mission to Mars) combines leadership lessons with behind-the-scenes stories from his Apollo 11 moonwalk (including the speech President Nixon prepared should the mission have been unsuccessful) in this engaging cross between biography and self-help. Aldrin clearly lays out his principles and mottoes, such as “second comes right after first” (which he has used to get over being known as the second man on the moon) and “maintain your spirit of adventure” (now in his 80s, Aldrin still scuba dives, and he recently caught a ride on the back of a whale shark in the Galapagos Islands). Next, he offers concrete strategies for living up to each principle, candidly admitting where he’s made missteps. His advice is universal: “If you are afraid to fail, you will probably not accomplish much in life,” and everyone, whether a student or a seasoned CEO, will find something to take away from this inspiring work. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

03/15/2016
Iconic astronaut Aldrin (Mission to Mars) collaborates with best-selling author Abraham (More Than Rivals) to deliver an inspirational account of his life. Aldrin uses lessons he learned during his long career in aviation and space exploration to detail the principles that have enabled his personal growth and professional achievements. Anecdotes about brushes with death as a fighter pilot or the ability to remain calm during technical glitches experienced in flight convey why Aldrin is regarded as an American hero. Also described are the many trials Aldrin has faced, including career missteps and struggles with depression and alcoholism. In a candid and no-nonsense style, the author urges readers not to settle for what is easiest but to strive for what seems impossible. His memoir follows the likes of Andrew Chaikin's A Man on the Moon in writing about the lunar space program. VERDICT Aldrin's journey will engage space exploration enthusiasts, and his motivational advice will connect especially well with young adults.—Mary Jennings, Camano Island Lib., WA

Library Journal

2016-02-03
The astronaut recounts life lessons learned from his historic Apollo 11 moonwalk in 1969 and beyond.In this rambling, loosely structured, and frequently awkward hybrid of memoir and motivational self-help guide, Aldrin (Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration, 2013, etc.) treads heavily on familiar ground touched on extensively in other accounts of the moon mission, such as First on the Moon (1970), co-authored with fellow astronauts Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins, and Aldrin's own previous memoirs, also relating to the Apollo 11 mission and his later struggles with alcoholism and depression. Aldrin attempts to shed light on some of the lessons he learned along the way. The author focuses each chapter on an inspirational message—e.g., "Keep your mind open to possibilities," "Maintain your spirit of adventure," "Keep a young mind-set at every age." The message is sometimes disjointed. In "Second Comes Right After First," Aldrin initially tells of how he came to embrace being the second man to step foot on the moon, following Armstrong, yet he spends much of the chapter asserting his claims for having been "first" in other areas of space exploration. Though the author has remained a dedicated and forceful advocate for the United States to continue planetary exploration, generously participating in fundraisers and providing educational support whenever needed, he has also increasingly applied his celebrity status to numerous guest appearances on TV shows such as 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory, and The Simpsons and as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. A few of his lessons boast of these appearances and his ability to successfully mix with the various talent. A retread of old material repackaged as an inspirational guidebook. Though aiming to inspire readers of all ages, this will likely appeal to an older readership and devoted fans of Aldrin.

Kirkus Reviews