The Sky Below

A True Story of Summits, Space, and Speed

By: Scott Parazynski, Susy Flory

Narrated by: Scott Parazynski, Homer Hickam

Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

An epic memoir from a man whose life is defined by exploration and innovation, The Sky Below re-creates some of the most unforgettable adventures of our time. From dramatic, high-risk spacewalks to author Scott Parazynski's death-defying quest to summit Mount Everest - his body ravaged by a career in space - listeners will experience the life of an elite athlete, physician, and explorer.

This intimate, compelling account offers a rare portrait of space exploration from the inside. A global nomad raised in the shadow of NASA's Apollo missions, Parazynski never lost sight of his childhood dream to one day don a spacesuit and float outside the airlock. With deep passion, unbridled creativity, resilience, humility, and self-deprecation, Parazynski chases his dream of the ultimate adventure experience, again and again and again. In an era that transitioned from moon shots to the Space Shuttle, space station, and Mars research, Parazynski flies with John Glenn, tests jet packs, trains in Russia to become a cosmonaut, and flies five missions to outer space (including seven spacewalks) in his seventeen-year NASA career.

An unparalleled, visceral opportunity to understand what it's like to train for - and deploy to - a home in zero gravity, The Sky Below also portrays an astronaut's engagement with the challenges of his life on Earth, including raising a beautiful autistic daughter and finding true love.

©2017 Scott Parazynski (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Scott Parazynski's drive, curiosity, inventiveness, and great humor shine through the pages of The Sky Below and will certainly inspire future generations to pursue their dreams with every fiber in their being." (John Glenn, NASA astronaut)

Inspirational story

I enjoyed this book and look forward to recommending this book to others. Thank you for sharing with us.

a good story

this is an interesting story of an astronaut autobiography and is much better than the last astronaut autobiography I read.

A stunning look at a life lived at the edge

When ability meets opportunity interesting things can happen. In this book you will get a window into the world of the over achievers who are doing things that we may dream about but would seldom qualify for, or be willing to sacrifice to achieve. A diverse and entertaining book that will be worth a second listen.

Adventurers & Space Devotees will Profoundly Enjoy

Adventurers & space devotees will profoundly enjoy this book. I am going to start it over and read it again. It was not only entertaining, but intellectually stimulating. I kept googling things he talked about to learn even more. (ie. NASA instructions for making solar array cufflinks.) Wow, those instructions are so good they should be used in technical writing courses.

The book was also emotionally stimulating as we ventured into the heart and mind of someone who has lived the adventures around every corner, that most of us can only dream of experiencing.

The most poignant underlying message was that amazingly accomplished people share the same uncertainties and fears of us all. Their success is, in large part, a result of making good plans, not giving up, keep showing up, and being willing to take advantage of every opportunity in life to learn and do.
I am inspired.

awsome book

full of adventure and interesting history of space exploration. also has rock climbing and other adventures. great book and motivating

Interesting and never boring

Interesting insights from a man who’s seen it all. His story moves fast and doesn’t get bogged down in boring details.

Performance was frustrating at time. Awkward pauses and cuts were abundant.

Thrilling Life, More Drab Story

A thrilling life, but somewhat drab telling. There isn’t enough time spent relaying the stakes and micro-decisions that went into many of the incredibly harrowing feats this man achieved. I also think the present-tense perspective is a total miss, feeling out of place and distracting. Ultimately it’s still worth reading simply to hear about a great man, but this could have been so much better. Author does a fine job narrating. [AUDIBLE]

Meh. Not the greatest role model.

I agree with the reviews that mention the readers total attention until he brings up and discusses his wife and his troubled marriage. It is hard to work on a marriage when you 2nd mortgage the house so you can go pursue your dream without your family. And we could really do without how he had found his perfect soulmate after his children were raised by his wife.

Best book I've read in a long, long time!

I really enjoy reading books like this that are so
truly honest, and I love the fact that the book was read by this author. He's really honest, and you can hear both the joy and the pain of these moments in his voice as he reads. Very honest, and since I was around myself during the advent of the space race, trying to be the first to put an astronaut on the moon, the advent of the space shuttle, the Russians who were on board the International Space Station and shared their excitement and joy with their Amarican counterparts,...Wow! I thought I had lived through all of it with these courageous people...but once I read this book, I realize now what all I missed that went on behind the scenes! You will not be disappointed with this autobiography!

great book! could not put it down..

great book and audio. wish I could meet Scott and see more photos. I loved the embedded videos.