Back to Earth

What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet - and Our Mission to Protect It

By: Nicole Stott

Narrated by: Nicole Stott

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Inspired by insights gained in spaceflight, a NASA astronaut offers key lessons to empower Earthbound listeners to fight climate change

When Nicole Stott first saw Earth from space, she realized how interconnected we are and knew she had to help protect our planetary home.

In Back to Earth, Stott imparts essential lessons in problem-solving, survival, and crisis response that each of us can practice to make change. She knows we can overcome differences to address global issues, because she saw this every day on the International Space Station. Stott shares stories from her spaceflight and insights from scientists, activists, and changemakers working to solve our greatest environmental challenges. She learns about the complexities of Earth’s biodiversity from NASA engineers working to enable life in space and from scientists protecting life on Earth for future generations. Ultimately, Stott reveals how we each have the power to respect our planetary home and one another by living our lives like crewmates, not passengers, on an inspiring shared mission.

©2021 Nicole Stott (P)2021 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

“In Back to Earth, my former space crewmate Nicole Stott poignantly captures what astronauts experience when looking at Earth from space: a life-changing view of our beautiful yet fragile home, one that is in need of our stewardship. A must read for anyone who cares about this planet — which should be all of us." (Astronaut Scott Kelly, New York Times best-selling author of Endurance)

“A brilliant and poignant manual on what it means to live on Earth. Stott’s clarity and eloquence might bring you to tears. It should be read aloud to children, assigned in schools, shared with Congress, and placed in houses of worship.” (Paul Hawken, New York Times best-selling author of Drawdown)

“Stott shows us that Earth is our ship — and if we’re not careful, we’re sunk. Her experiences convinced her that we can all do something to make the world better. The tasks ahead, and the views, are tremendous.” (Bill Nye, the science guy)

Meditations on Space, Earth and Earthlings

Nicole Stott eloquently shares what she has experienced and learned from her time as an astronaut and her studies of ecology. This is a MUST READ.

Read it now. Do not pass go.

Wonderful overview, literally and figuratively, of our Earth. A must read for all, not just the eco-conscious like me.

This is why we go…

This book is a beautiful articulation of the reason we go “to space for earth”. Einstein famously posited that we cannot solve problems with the same perspective that created (and upholds) them.

Nicole eloquently describes the motivations and perspectives of astronauts, and it’s absolutely inspiring. After reading this book, I can’t imagine how someone would argue again that we need to figure out our problems on Earth before we go to space. In fact, we now know otherwise. I hope every work leader takes the time to study this extraordinary book.

A really inspiring story

A really inspiring story that has inspired me to develop more as a young man coming of age with a type-A personality. I found this book very well written, narrated, and I further highly recommend it.

Fascinating read

I finished the book
I can't tell you how fascinating I think it is...
Truly loved it...very, very, very inspiring. Though provoking and crazy smart...learned a lot.
Amazed to see how much bigger...how much more far reaching the space industries are...

Excellent perspective on our Earth

The author/narrator uses her unique perspective as an accomplished astronaut to give a new perspective on the fragility of our home planet and ways for humanity to leave the planet better for future generations. An excellent listen!

KSC Employee Approved Masterpiece

First read of Nicole’s KSC to ISS story in a Florida Today newspaper article. All of her fellow KSC workers always had a bit of shared pride in her accomplishments. One of our own is on the Space Station. 😎 The quality and passion she brought to the job is revealed in this book. Our “Thin Blue Line” of existence is on the line. Having an Earth champion like Ms. Stott gives one hope that we will rally back and preserve our one and only home planet. Well done Nicole. Future Earthians will appreciate your efforts…

Should be required reading

Nicole has a VERY important story to tell. Her passion for Earth is so compelling. Every high school student should read this book as part of their curriculum. Her experience in space drives her love of Earth and she makes me feel it too in her narrative.

Ponderous

Exciting to hear a voice from one unique perspective on our existence on this planet. My frustration with hearing this probably mirrors the author’s.
I may of missed the way forward.