Shoot for the Moon

The Space Race and the Extraordinary Voyage of Apollo 11

By: James Donovan

Narrated by: Allan Robertson

Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

"This is the best book on Apollo that I have read. Extensively researched and meticulously accurate, it successfully traces not only the technical highlights of the program but also the contributions of the extraordinary people who made it possible." (Mike Collins, Command module pilot, Apollo 11)

For the 50th anniversary, the epic story of Apollo 11 and the astronauts, flight controllers, and engineers who made it happen, by the author of the best-selling A Terrible Glory and The Blood of Heroes

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon, a moment forever ingrained in history. Perhaps the world's greatest technological achievement - and a triumph of American spirit and ingenuity - the Apollo 11 mission, and the entire Apollo program, was a mammoth undertaking involving more than 410,000 men and women dedicated to putting a man on the Moon and winning the Space Race against the Soviets.

Seen through the eyes of the those who lived it, Shoot for the Moon reveals the dangers, the challenges, and the sheer determination that defined not only Apollo 11, but also the Mercury and Gemini missions that made it possible. Both sweeping and intimate, and based on exhaustive research and dozens of fresh interviews, best-selling author James Donovan's Shoot for the Moon is the definitive and thrilling account of one of humankind's most extraordinary feats of exploration.

©2019 James Donovan (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

One of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2019

"Donovan combines his masterful research skills and narrative gifts in recounting the full story of the most famous Apollo trip...Donovan's history is a powerfully written and irresistible celebration of the Apollo missions."—Booklist (starred review)

"Exceptionally researched, this exciting, sometimes harrowing book highlights the work not only of the pioneering astronauts but also of thousands of technicians and engineers. This is a perfect volume to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing and all that led up to it."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"If you're looking for telling of the manned space program's story, you should start with James Donovan's Shoot for the Moon."—NPR

Glorious event, well presented.

This extraordinary event is an engineering achievement #1 of all times, and probably the best that mankind ever produced.

Presentation was well above expectation; exciting and clear.

Excellent book!

What an entertaining and informative recounting of the Space Race! I’ve always been fascinated by the events surrounding this part of our history. Excellent book that helps listeners really understand all aspects of these fascinating events and the people that lived them.

Well Told, But Over Plowed Ground

If you do not know much about the Apollo program, and are looking for a well-written book detailing the space race through the Apollo 11 flight, this is a good choice. It covers the entire story well, but avoids details that are tedious except for space junkies. The narration is good. The last part covering the lunar landing in detail is well done.

However, this is all plowed ground, and there are no revelations here. There are many other books that are at least as good. Andrew Chaikin's "A Man on the Moon" comes to mind. One of the best accounts is by one of the participants. I highly recommend Michael Collins' "Carrying the Fire."

Apollo 11 continues to fascinate, and I'm sure there will be other treatments as well

Best AUDIBLE so far!

Wow! Phenomenal book and experience... will listen again soon!! Wonderful writing and narration!! So well done.

Unbelievably well written and well narrated!

If you were a youngster in 1969 as I was, you definitely remember watching the live coverage of the walk on the moon. The entire world stopped and took part. Mr. Donovan has written a highly accurate detailed account. If you have an engineering background of any kind you will highly enjoy this work. Mr. Robertson was the perfect voice for this narration. Well done to you both.

jhysaw

A very compelling story. Except for the pronunciation of Gemini.

I loved this book, it brings our country back to a bygone era. The personal stories and the simple explanation of complex engineering are fantastic.
My only critique is the way the reader pronounced Gemini. It was really hard to listen to.

Wow

The detail and storytelling are great!! This is an in-depth look at the American space program. This should be a must read for every history program in high school.

My First Audible Book I ever bought

I really enjoyed this book it was so interesting and had more jam packed technical information that you thought this Author was a former Nasa Astronaut.When I heard that Buzz Aldrin said it was the best Book he ever read on Appllo 11 and he was there.Fantastic! Exciting ! Read! I have played it 3 or 4 times .Works great with Amazon's Alexa! She knows how you are progressing by chapter and stops and starts the Book on a dime.Going in for My Fifth read!!

Great book, poor narration

I really enjoyed the way the story is told, but the narrator sometimes almost mumbles his words making it difficult to understand and forcing me to rewind multiple times and keep changing the volume.

More stuff that I never knew, and I thought I'd heard it all

I have listened to a number of books about our moon missions. What is amazing to me is that I always learn something new with each book I listen to. Even though you know the 1202's and the 1201 alarms are coming, it still gets me going! Neil Armstrong going back to the sim after he was back in Earth - there you go...