Rocket Men

The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon

By: Robert Kurson

Narrated by: Ray Porter, Robert Kurson

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The riveting inside story of three heroic astronauts who took on the challenge of mankind’s historic first mission to the Moon, from the bestselling author of Shadow Divers.

“Robert Kurson tells the tale of Apollo 8 with novelistic detail and immediacy.”—Andy Weir, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Martian and Artemis

By August 1968, the American space program was in danger of failing in its two most important objectives: to land a man on the Moon by President Kennedy’s end-of-decade deadline, and to triumph over the Soviets in space. With its back against the wall, NASA made an almost unimaginable leap: It would scrap its usual methodical approach and risk everything on a sudden launch, sending the first men in history to the Moon—in just four months. And it would all happen at Christmas.

In a year of historic violence and discord—the Tet Offensive, the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy, the riots at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago—the Apollo 8 mission would be the boldest, riskiest test of America’s greatness under pressure. In this gripping insider account, Robert Kurson puts the focus on the three astronauts and their families: the commander, Frank Borman, a conflicted man on his final mission; idealistic Jim Lovell, who’d dreamed since boyhood of riding a rocket to the Moon; and Bill Anders, a young nuclear engineer and hotshot fighter pilot making his first space flight.

Drawn from hundreds of hours of one-on-one interviews with the astronauts, their loved ones, NASA personnel, and myriad experts, and filled with vivid and unforgettable detail, Rocket Men is the definitive account of one of America’s finest hours. In this real-life thriller, Kurson reveals the epic dangers involved, and the singular bravery it took, for mankind to leave Earth for the first time—and arrive at a new world.

“Rocket Men is a riveting introduction to the [Apollo 8] flight. . . . Kurson details the mission in crisp, suspenseful scenes. . . . [A] gripping book.”—The New York Times Book Review

Amazing Journey

Easily one of the best books I’ve ever read. If you were alive in 1968, just be prepared I will ask you if remember where you were Christmas Day. And then I will recommend that you must read this book. Brilliant in so many ways. Chills, tears, smiles, and pride to be felt throughout.

A nail biter of a story!

Even tho everyone knows how Apollo 8 ends with such success, this telling of the preparation and flight is spellbinding , riveting...
Mr Kurson has done excellent research for his book. He tells this historic episode in our lives as if you are there. I particularly enjoyed his blending of personal
Lives along with the the amazing work of the astronauts & the scientists @ NASA. Just a great book.. the narrator was excellent.

Absolutely excellent!

An amazing story of adventure, bravery and engineering excellence written by an outstanding author and perfectly narrated.

One of the best...

This is absolutely one of the best books/audio books having to do with the Apollo program, not to mention Apollo 8. This is a must read/must listen! Just wonderful!

Rocket men

Great book. The narrator was outstanding.it was difficult to stop listening. It really makes you think and remember what things were like in 1968