In 1957, the Russians launched Sputnik and the ensuing space race. Three years later, Gene Kranz left his aircraft testing job to join NASA and champion the American cause. What he found was an embryonic department run by whizz kids (such as himself), sharp engineers and technicians who had to create the Mercury mission rules and procedures from the ground up. As he says, "Since there were no books written on the actual methodology of space flight, we had to write them as we went along".

Kranz was part of the mission control team that, in January 1961, launched a chimpanzee into space and successfully retrieved him and made Alan Shepard the first American in space in May 1961. Just two months later they launched Gus Grissom for a space orbit, John Glenn orbited Earth three times in February 1962, and in May 1963 Gordon Cooper completed the final Project Mercury launch with 22 Earth orbits. And through them all, and the many Apollo missions that followed, Gene Kranz was one of the integral inside men--one of those who bore the responsibility for the Apollo 1 tragedy and the leader of the "tiger team" that saved the Apollo 13 astronauts.

Moviegoers know Gene Kranz through Ed Harris's Oscar-nominated portrayal of him in Apollo 13, but Kranz provides a more detailed insider's perspective in his book Failure Is Not an Option. You see NASA through his eyes, from its primitive days when he first joined up, through the 1993 shuttle mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope, his last mission control project. His memoir, however, is not high literature. Kranz has many accomplishments and honours to his credit, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, but this is his first book, and he's not a polished author. There are, perhaps, more behind-the-scenes details and more paragraphs devoted to what Cape Canaveral looked like than the general public demands. If, however, you have a long-standing fascination with aeronautics, if you watched Apollo 13 and wanted more, Failure Is Not an Option will fit the bill. --Stephanie Gold

Be Tough and Competent!, 27 Aug 2008
Gene Kranz does an amazing of showing what people can do if they have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment and passion.

The book allows us to see Kranz's perspective as flight controller, (and later flight director) during his tenure on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs and beyond.

From the tremendous successes, to the gut wrenching failures, to the heroism, to the practical jokes, this book has it all. Gene Kranz was a key player in helping to create a culture of Tough and Competent flight controllers who had discipline and morale. They knew the true meaning of teamwork.

One of the stories that impressed me most was after the devastating tragedy of the Apollo 1. A fire on the pad killed Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffe while they were training in the capsule. Afterwards Kranz got in front of his flight controllers and said:

"Spaceflight will never tolerate carelessness, incapacity, and neglect. Somewhere, somehow, we screwed up. It could have been the design, build, or test. Whatever it was we should have caught it."

Kranz and his people (as well as everyone else on the space program) took responsibility for their actions and went on to amazing successes. We crawled out the cradle of this home we call earth and explored another world. Twelve men in all walked on the moon. Also, three astronauts were brought back home safely from the brink of disaster in Apollo 13. We had truly gone where no man had gone before.

These were human beings, and they are the best of the best. Not an Astronaut was lost during any of the following Apollo missions. The tragedy on the pad drove the commitment of everyone on the space program to an entirely new level. As a matter of fact, not a man was lost once they left earth on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs.

Gene Kranz sums up how he gained his skills to be a top flight director when he said:

"The flight director's ultimate training comes at the console, working real problems, facing the risks, making irrevocable decisions."


This book belongs on any bookshelf, but not to be looked at, but to be read and understood. We all have the makings of greatness, we just have to take responsibility for our actions and do the very best we know how. What other amazing things can we accomplish as a species if we have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment, and passion?

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

Absolutely Brilliant, 28 Jun 2007
Eugene Kranz is an unsung hero. Maybe most people are familiar with Ed Harris's portrayal of him in Apollo 13 but the man was around from the beginning of the space programme. We've already forgetten, all too easily, what an astonishing achievement NASA completed with the space programme in terms of technology. We forget also that the staff there literally invented the rules as they went along. But apart from all the engineering and science, there is the incredible way that they stood up to the pressure not just on the Apollo 13 mission but in other situations. In the thick of it all is Eugene Kranz. These days people in the UK are stupid enough to vote Queenie and Robbie Williams as the most important Britains ever. As an antidote read this and focus on someone who deserves our admiration.

Fascinating behind the scenes account, 06 Apr 2006
Gene Kranz was one of the original band of NASA flight directors, some readers may remember he was played by a white waistcoat-wearing Ed Harris in the film about Apollo 13. This book is for those of us that are slightly geeky with regards to the Space Race in as far as this is a technical and detailed account of what took place in the Mission Control Room while the mission was in progress. It is not a riveting read by any stretch of the imagination but it does offer the interested reader another take Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. Gene Kranz is unashamedly patriotic and God-fearing with a slight propensity to describe almost all of his colleagues as all American heroes. Nevertheless, afficionados of this era of space exploration will find a lot in this book.

THE book, 02 Dec 2005
I have read a lot of books about Apollo but this is the one i keep turning back to. Gene Krantz is simply a fascinating figure and his job in Mission Control the most exiting there was - Period.... Krantz writes with the passion that is burning within every good engineer and he writes in an easily readable style, yes there are a lot of tecnical "mumbo jumbo" in the book but the story is easily understood nevertheless. If you only want to read one book about Apollo it should probably be "Apollo, the Race to the moon" by Murray/Cox but when you've read that one and gotten hooked, this one would be am obvious number two.

A book that had to be written, 16 Jul 2003
This excellent volume provides an insight into the project development and team building that supported the Mercury, Geminii and Apollo programmes.

Gene Kranz had an overwhelming commitment to his role within Mission Control but the narrative also reveals his ability to nurture those who followed him and the level of admiration he felt for everyone involved in the space programme. The details of mission planning and the emotions felt in times of celebration and tragedy are well docmented.

As a man, Kranz comes across as honest, genuine and loyal - he looks for the good in everyone.

To paraphrase Charlie Duke, the astronauts could not have made their spectacular journeys without the support of those on the ground - this book serves to illustrates the truth of this beyond doubt.

Be Tough and Competent!, 27 Aug 2008
Gene Kranz does an amazing of showing what people can do if they have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment and passion.

The book allows us to see Kranz's perspective as flight controller, (and later flight director) during his tenure on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs and beyond.

From the tremendous successes, to the gut wrenching failures, to the heroism, to the practical jokes, this book has it all. Gene Kranz was a key player in helping to create a culture of Tough and Competent flight controllers who had discipline and morale. They knew the true meaning of teamwork.

One of the stories that impressed me most was after the devastating tragedy of the Apollo 1. A fire on the pad killed Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffe while they were training in the capsule. Afterwards Kranz got in front of his flight controllers and said:

"Spaceflight will never tolerate carelessness, incapacity, and neglect. Somewhere, somehow, we screwed up. It could have been the design, build, or test. Whatever it was we should have caught it."

Kranz and his people (as well as everyone else on the space program) took responsibility for their actions and went on to amazing successes. We crawled out the cradle of this home we call earth and explored another world. Twelve men in all walked on the moon. Also, three astronauts were brought back home safely from the brink of disaster in Apollo 13. We had truly gone where no man had gone before.

These were human beings, and they are the best of the best. Not an Astronaut was lost during any of the following Apollo missions. The tragedy on the pad drove the commitment of everyone on the space program to an entirely new level. As a matter of fact, not a man was lost once they left earth on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs.

Gene Kranz sums up how he gained his skills to be a top flight director when he said:

"The flight director's ultimate training comes at the console, working real problems, facing the risks, making irrevocable decisions."


This book belongs on any bookshelf, but not to be looked at, but to be read and understood. We all have the makings of greatness, we just have to take responsibility for our actions and do the very best we know how. What other amazing things can we accomplish as a species if we have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment, and passion?

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

Absolutely Brilliant, 28 Jun 2007
Eugene Kranz is an unsung hero. Maybe most people are familiar with Ed Harris's portrayal of him in Apollo 13 but the man was around from the beginning of the space programme. We've already forgetten, all too easily, what an astonishing achievement NASA completed with the space programme in terms of technology. We forget also that the staff there literally invented the rules as they went along. But apart from all the engineering and science, there is the incredible way that they stood up to the pressure not just on the Apollo 13 mission but in other situations. In the thick of it all is Eugene Kranz. These days people in the UK are stupid enough to vote Queenie and Robbie Williams as the most important Britains ever. As an antidote read this and focus on someone who deserves our admiration.

Fascinating behind the scenes account, 06 Apr 2006
Gene Kranz was one of the original band of NASA flight directors, some readers may remember he was played by a white waistcoat-wearing Ed Harris in the film about Apollo 13. This book is for those of us that are slightly geeky with regards to the Space Race in as far as this is a technical and detailed account of what took place in the Mission Control Room while the mission was in progress. It is not a riveting read by any stretch of the imagination but it does offer the interested reader another take Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. Gene Kranz is unashamedly patriotic and God-fearing with a slight propensity to describe almost all of his colleagues as all American heroes. Nevertheless, afficionados of this era of space exploration will find a lot in this book.

THE book, 02 Dec 2005
I have read a lot of books about Apollo but this is the one i keep turning back to. Gene Krantz is simply a fascinating figure and his job in Mission Control the most exiting there was - Period.... Krantz writes with the passion that is burning within every good engineer and he writes in an easily readable style, yes there are a lot of tecnical "mumbo jumbo" in the book but the story is easily understood nevertheless. If you only want to read one book about Apollo it should probably be "Apollo, the Race to the moon" by Murray/Cox but when you've read that one and gotten hooked, this one would be am obvious number two.

A book that had to be written, 16 Jul 2003
This excellent volume provides an insight into the project development and team building that supported the Mercury, Geminii and Apollo programmes.

Gene Kranz had an overwhelming commitment to his role within Mission Control but the narrative also reveals his ability to nurture those who followed him and the level of admiration he felt for everyone involved in the space programme. The details of mission planning and the emotions felt in times of celebration and tragedy are well docmented.

As a man, Kranz comes across as honest, genuine and loyal - he looks for the good in everyone.

To paraphrase Charlie Duke, the astronauts could not have made their spectacular journeys without the support of those on the ground - this book serves to illustrates the truth of this beyond doubt.

Thank you for a REAL FUN chemistry book, 01 Aug 2008
The author, Mr. Thompson, obviously loves the subject, and yes, darn it, chemistry should be "fun", a little dangerous and educational.
I share the author's lament over the passing of a "proper" chemistry set. The one I had as a kid contained all the "no-no's" (or should I say KNO, KNO3!)
In that day you could go to the chemist and buy all manner of chemicals "off the shelf".
At school we made rockets (after school hours, I had a terrific Chemistry Master.....
Now my Son wants to learn, we home ed.... this book gives me the chance to "teach" or better "inspire" him:- That I did already, demonstrating the oxidizing qualities of KMnO4, innitially he smuggly goes yeah and.... then quite soon it's wow, how the heck did that happen?
With the chemistry sets of today you take two or more chemicals, mix them together and go "um er what's supposed to happen", as the chemicals just sit there, or if you are lucky change color!
An experiment has to DO something tangible. Thank you for a great book!

On an offside as it seems that we are being treated more and more like halfwits, perhaps we could have a "for dummies" line of chemistry sets, and then have a range that are designed for the responsible, and wanna b edjucaited majority!!

Be Tough and Competent!, 27 Aug 2008
Gene Kranz does an amazing of showing what people can do if they have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment and passion.

The book allows us to see Kranz's perspective as flight controller, (and later flight director) during his tenure on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs and beyond.

From the tremendous successes, to the gut wrenching failures, to the heroism, to the practical jokes, this book has it all. Gene Kranz was a key player in helping to create a culture of Tough and Competent flight controllers who had discipline and morale. They knew the true meaning of teamwork.

One of the stories that impressed me most was after the devastating tragedy of the Apollo 1. A fire on the pad killed Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffe while they were training in the capsule. Afterwards Kranz got in front of his flight controllers and said:

"Spaceflight will never tolerate carelessness, incapacity, and neglect. Somewhere, somehow, we screwed up. It could have been the design, build, or test. Whatever it was we should have caught it."

Kranz and his people (as well as everyone else on the space program) took responsibility for their actions and went on to amazing successes. We crawled out the cradle of this home we call earth and explored another world. Twelve men in all walked on the moon. Also, three astronauts were brought back home safely from the brink of disaster in Apollo 13. We had truly gone where no man had gone before.

These were human beings, and they are the best of the best. Not an Astronaut was lost during any of the following Apollo missions. The tragedy on the pad drove the commitment of everyone on the space program to an entirely new level. As a matter of fact, not a man was lost once they left earth on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs.

Gene Kranz sums up how he gained his skills to be a top flight director when he said:

"The flight director's ultimate training comes at the console, working real problems, facing the risks, making irrevocable decisions."


This book belongs on any bookshelf, but not to be looked at, but to be read and understood. We all have the makings of greatness, we just have to take responsibility for our actions and do the very best we know how. What other amazing things can we accomplish as a species if we have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment, and passion?

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

Absolutely Brilliant, 28 Jun 2007
Eugene Kranz is an unsung hero. Maybe most people are familiar with Ed Harris's portrayal of him in Apollo 13 but the man was around from the beginning of the space programme. We've already forgetten, all too easily, what an astonishing achievement NASA completed with the space programme in terms of technology. We forget also that the staff there literally invented the rules as they went along. But apart from all the engineering and science, there is the incredible way that they stood up to the pressure not just on the Apollo 13 mission but in other situations. In the thick of it all is Eugene Kranz. These days people in the UK are stupid enough to vote Queenie and Robbie Williams as the most important Britains ever. As an antidote read this and focus on someone who deserves our admiration.

Fascinating behind the scenes account, 06 Apr 2006
Gene Kranz was one of the original band of NASA flight directors, some readers may remember he was played by a white waistcoat-wearing Ed Harris in the film about Apollo 13. This book is for those of us that are slightly geeky with regards to the Space Race in as far as this is a technical and detailed account of what took place in the Mission Control Room while the mission was in progress. It is not a riveting read by any stretch of the imagination but it does offer the interested reader another take Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. Gene Kranz is unashamedly patriotic and God-fearing with a slight propensity to describe almost all of his colleagues as all American heroes. Nevertheless, afficionados of this era of space exploration will find a lot in this book.

THE book, 02 Dec 2005
I have read a lot of books about Apollo but this is the one i keep turning back to. Gene Krantz is simply a fascinating figure and his job in Mission Control the most exiting there was - Period.... Krantz writes with the passion that is burning within every good engineer and he writes in an easily readable style, yes there are a lot of tecnical "mumbo jumbo" in the book but the story is easily understood nevertheless. If you only want to read one book about Apollo it should probably be "Apollo, the Race to the moon" by Murray/Cox but when you've read that one and gotten hooked, this one would be am obvious number two.

A book that had to be written, 16 Jul 2003
This excellent volume provides an insight into the project development and team building that supported the Mercury, Geminii and Apollo programmes.

Gene Kranz had an overwhelming commitment to his role within Mission Control but the narrative also reveals his ability to nurture those who followed him and the level of admiration he felt for everyone involved in the space programme. The details of mission planning and the emotions felt in times of celebration and tragedy are well docmented.

As a man, Kranz comes across as honest, genuine and loyal - he looks for the good in everyone.

To paraphrase Charlie Duke, the astronauts could not have made their spectacular journeys without the support of those on the ground - this book serves to illustrates the truth of this beyond doubt.

Thank you for a REAL FUN chemistry book, 01 Aug 2008
The author, Mr. Thompson, obviously loves the subject, and yes, darn it, chemistry should be "fun", a little dangerous and educational.
I share the author's lament over the passing of a "proper" chemistry set. The one I had as a kid contained all the "no-no's" (or should I say KNO, KNO3!)
In that day you could go to the chemist and buy all manner of chemicals "off the shelf".
At school we made rockets (after school hours, I had a terrific Chemistry Master.....
Now my Son wants to learn, we home ed.... this book gives me the chance to "teach" or better "inspire" him:- That I did already, demonstrating the oxidizing qualities of KMnO4, innitially he smuggly goes yeah and.... then quite soon it's wow, how the heck did that happen?
With the chemistry sets of today you take two or more chemicals, mix them together and go "um er what's supposed to happen", as the chemicals just sit there, or if you are lucky change color!
An experiment has to DO something tangible. Thank you for a great book!

On an offside as it seems that we are being treated more and more like halfwits, perhaps we could have a "for dummies" line of chemistry sets, and then have a range that are designed for the responsible, and wanna b edjucaited majority!!

captain Oates a different perspective, 17 Jul 2008
Excellent read, gave me a totally different view of the life of captain Oats, could,nt put the book down.

Michael Smith on form again, 22 Nov 2003
Michael Smith delivers a tremendous account of the life of Laurence Oates and continues with his fascination for Antartic exploration by following up his account of the life of Tom Crean with this superb book. This book adds to the already large library of books on the recent revival of interest in the last real expeditions of discovery.

Laurence Oates is always painted as a hero who gave up his own life to save those of Scott and his remaining companions. He is also heroic in his love and treatment of the horses and ponies that he was responsible for. Smith delicately handles Oates' heroism and makes no effort to re-create or alter the myth of Oates.

The hardship of Antartic exploration is vividly conveyed, as is also the fatally flawed decisions of Scott which ultimately doomed him and his men. Oates, the soldier, obeyed Scott's commands - even though led him to his inevitable demise.

Oates sought excitement all his life, and saw the Antartic as an opportunity for heroism and adventure. I feel that he is the type of character that was destined to die tragically, and would surely have persished in the upcoming Great War had he survived the ice.

Smiths's style produces a well written account. If you have not already read his book about Tom Crean, do so soon - you will not be disappointed.

A fine biography of complex and reluctant hero, 06 Nov 2002
Captain Oates was one of the more complex and unconventional members of Captain Scott's 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole, and Smith's new biography is the best attempt yet to provide an insight into this maverick cavalry officer's motives and actions. Oates has become synonymous with noble and heroic sacrifice in popular mythology, but thankfully Smith (like Roland Huntford before him in Scott & Amundsen) paints a rather different, less pleasant picture of Oates' decline and death after reaching the South Pole.

This is not a book about glory; whilst Oates' strength of character and physical toughness are simply astounding by modern day standards (as were all polar explorers), one is left wondering why so much suffering (by man and beast alike) had to be expended on such a gruelling 2000 mile trek, in weather conditions barely imaginable.

Oates still emerges as a courageous and heroic young man in Smith's hands, both in his army career and as Scott's horse handler, but Oates was no fool. He saw much of the folly in Scott's inflexible and domineering approach, and suffered much in silence. The central tragedy is forcefully emphasised here: Oates' life was squandered by Scott's incompetance, and his suicide was the last gesture of man who had already endured the unendurable (not only frostbite and starvation, but scurvy - with truly ghastly symptomns, details that most Polar biographers have been happier overlooking).

Michael Smith (author of another notable Antarctic biography of Crean) tries to distance himself a little from Huntford's hatchet job on Scott, but subscribes to many of the same conclusions. He questions some of Huntford's conjectures but makes a few of his own - how can he know that Oates' 10-year old leg wound reopening was as painful as the original bullet impact which shattered the left thigh?

The photographs here are excellent and in many cases unfamiliar -Scott's expedition has been extensively documented and Ponting's images oft-reproduced, but even the better-known shots here are reprinted with a finer quality that is usual, giving an overall freshness to the handsome edition.

The revelatory postscript here is that Oates fathered an illigitimate child in 1900. Smith wisely plays down the sensationalism of these alledged facts but in so doing fails to consider any moral culpability on Oates' part. Oates's "girlfriend" was 11, still a child - he was 20. Even without the resulting pregnancy the legal process would have landed him in prison and completely forestalled his army career.

This is really a minor gripe about what is an impressive, well-researched and absorbing story - even well-read South Polar fiends like myself will find much that is new. Who next for Michael Smith? Meares? Bowers? What about Lashly? There's still many tales to be told.

Be Tough and Competent!, 27 Aug 2008
Gene Kranz does an amazing of showing what people can do if they have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment and passion.

The book allows us to see Kranz's perspective as flight controller, (and later flight director) during his tenure on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs and beyond.

From the tremendous successes, to the gut wrenching failures, to the heroism, to the practical jokes, this book has it all. Gene Kranz was a key player in helping to create a culture of Tough and Competent flight controllers who had discipline and morale. They knew the true meaning of teamwork.

One of the stories that impressed me most was after the devastating tragedy of the Apollo 1. A fire on the pad killed Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffe while they were training in the capsule. Afterwards Kranz got in front of his flight controllers and said:

"Spaceflight will never tolerate carelessness, incapacity, and neglect. Somewhere, somehow, we screwed up. It could have been the design, build, or test. Whatever it was we should have caught it."

Kranz and his people (as well as everyone else on the space program) took responsibility for their actions and went on to amazing successes. We crawled out the cradle of this home we call earth and explored another world. Twelve men in all walked on the moon. Also, three astronauts were brought back home safely from the brink of disaster in Apollo 13. We had truly gone where no man had gone before.

These were human beings, and they are the best of the best. Not an Astronaut was lost during any of the following Apollo missions. The tragedy on the pad drove the commitment of everyone on the space program to an entirely new level. As a matter of fact, not a man was lost once they left earth on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs.

Gene Kranz sums up how he gained his skills to be a top flight director when he said:

"The flight director's ultimate training comes at the console, working real problems, facing the risks, making irrevocable decisions."


This book belongs on any bookshelf, but not to be looked at, but to be read and understood. We all have the makings of greatness, we just have to take responsibility for our actions and do the very best we know how. What other amazing things can we accomplish as a species if we have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment, and passion?

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

Absolutely Brilliant, 28 Jun 2007
Eugene Kranz is an unsung hero. Maybe most people are familiar with Ed Harris's portrayal of him in Apollo 13 but the man was around from the beginning of the space programme. We've already forgetten, all too easily, what an astonishing achievement NASA completed with the space programme in terms of technology. We forget also that the staff there literally invented the rules as they went along. But apart from all the engineering and science, there is the incredible way that they stood up to the pressure not just on the Apollo 13 mission but in other situations. In the thick of it all is Eugene Kranz. These days people in the UK are stupid enough to vote Queenie and Robbie Williams as the most important Britains ever. As an antidote read this and focus on someone who deserves our admiration.

Fascinating behind the scenes account, 06 Apr 2006
Gene Kranz was one of the original band of NASA flight directors, some readers may remember he was played by a white waistcoat-wearing Ed Harris in the film about Apollo 13. This book is for those of us that are slightly geeky with regards to the Space Race in as far as this is a technical and detailed account of what took place in the Mission Control Room while the mission was in progress. It is not a riveting read by any stretch of the imagination but it does offer the interested reader another take Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. Gene Kranz is unashamedly patriotic and God-fearing with a slight propensity to describe almost all of his colleagues as all American heroes. Nevertheless, afficionados of this era of space exploration will find a lot in this book.

THE book, 02 Dec 2005
I have read a lot of books about Apollo but this is the one i keep turning back to. Gene Krantz is simply a fascinating figure and his job in Mission Control the most exiting there was - Period.... Krantz writes with the passion that is burning within every good engineer and he writes in an easily readable style, yes there are a lot of tecnical "mumbo jumbo" in the book but the story is easily understood nevertheless. If you only want to read one book about Apollo it should probably be "Apollo, the Race to the moon" by Murray/Cox but when you've read that one and gotten hooked, this one would be am obvious number two.

A book that had to be written, 16 Jul 2003
This excellent volume provides an insight into the project development and team building that supported the Mercury, Geminii and Apollo programmes.

Gene Kranz had an overwhelming commitment to his role within Mission Control but the narrative also reveals his ability to nurture those who followed him and the level of admiration he felt for everyone involved in the space programme. The details of mission planning and the emotions felt in times of celebration and tragedy are well docmented.

As a man, Kranz comes across as honest, genuine and loyal - he looks for the good in everyone.

To paraphrase Charlie Duke, the astronauts could not have made their spectacular journeys without the support of those on the ground - this book serves to illustrates the truth of this beyond doubt.

Thank you for a REAL FUN chemistry book, 01 Aug 2008
The author, Mr. Thompson, obviously loves the subject, and yes, darn it, chemistry should be "fun", a little dangerous and educational.
I share the author's lament over the passing of a "proper" chemistry set. The one I had as a kid contained all the "no-no's" (or should I say KNO, KNO3!)
In that day you could go to the chemist and buy all manner of chemicals "off the shelf".
At school we made rockets (after school hours, I had a terrific Chemistry Master.....
Now my Son wants to learn, we home ed.... this book gives me the chance to "teach" or better "inspire" him:- That I did already, demonstrating the oxidizing qualities of KMnO4, innitially he smuggly goes yeah and.... then quite soon it's wow, how the heck did that happen?
With the chemistry sets of today you take two or more chemicals, mix them together and go "um er what's supposed to happen", as the chemicals just sit there, or if you are lucky change color!
An experiment has to DO something tangible. Thank you for a great book!

On an offside as it seems that we are being treated more and more like halfwits, perhaps we could have a "for dummies" line of chemistry sets, and then have a range that are designed for the responsible, and wanna b edjucaited majority!!

captain Oates a different perspective, 17 Jul 2008
Excellent read, gave me a totally different view of the life of captain Oats, could,nt put the book down.

Michael Smith on form again, 22 Nov 2003
Michael Smith delivers a tremendous account of the life of Laurence Oates and continues with his fascination for Antartic exploration by following up his account of the life of Tom Crean with this superb book. This book adds to the already large library of books on the recent revival of interest in the last real expeditions of discovery.

Laurence Oates is always painted as a hero who gave up his own life to save those of Scott and his remaining companions. He is also heroic in his love and treatment of the horses and ponies that he was responsible for. Smith delicately handles Oates' heroism and makes no effort to re-create or alter the myth of Oates.

The hardship of Antartic exploration is vividly conveyed, as is also the fatally flawed decisions of Scott which ultimately doomed him and his men. Oates, the soldier, obeyed Scott's commands - even though led him to his inevitable demise.

Oates sought excitement all his life, and saw the Antartic as an opportunity for heroism and adventure. I feel that he is the type of character that was destined to die tragically, and would surely have persished in the upcoming Great War had he survived the ice.

Smiths's style produces a well written account. If you have not already read his book about Tom Crean, do so soon - you will not be disappointed.

A fine biography of complex and reluctant hero, 06 Nov 2002
Captain Oates was one of the more complex and unconventional members of Captain Scott's 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole, and Smith's new biography is the best attempt yet to provide an insight into this maverick cavalry officer's motives and actions. Oates has become synonymous with noble and heroic sacrifice in popular mythology, but thankfully Smith (like Roland Huntford before him in Scott & Amundsen) paints a rather different, less pleasant picture of Oates' decline and death after reaching the South Pole.

This is not a book about glory; whilst Oates' strength of character and physical toughness are simply astounding by modern day standards (as were all polar explorers), one is left wondering why so much suffering (by man and beast alike) had to be expended on such a gruelling 2000 mile trek, in weather conditions barely imaginable.

Oates still emerges as a courageous and heroic young man in Smith's hands, both in his army career and as Scott's horse handler, but Oates was no fool. He saw much of the folly in Scott's inflexible and domineering approach, and suffered much in silence. The central tragedy is forcefully emphasised here: Oates' life was squandered by Scott's incompetance, and his suicide was the last gesture of man who had already endured the unendurable (not only frostbite and starvation, but scurvy - with truly ghastly symptomns, details that most Polar biographers have been happier overlooking).

Michael Smith (author of another notable Antarctic biography of Crean) tries to distance himself a little from Huntford's hatchet job on Scott, but subscribes to many of the same conclusions. He questions some of Huntford's conjectures but makes a few of his own - how can he know that Oates' 10-year old leg wound reopening was as painful as the original bullet impact which shattered the left thigh?

The photographs here are excellent and in many cases unfamiliar -Scott's expedition has been extensively documented and Ponting's images oft-reproduced, but even the better-known shots here are reprinted with a finer quality that is usual, giving an overall freshness to the handsome edition.

The revelatory postscript here is that Oates fathered an illigitimate child in 1900. Smith wisely plays down the sensationalism of these alledged facts but in so doing fails to consider any moral culpability on Oates' part. Oates's "girlfriend" was 11, still a child - he was 20. Even without the resulting pregnancy the legal process would have landed him in prison and completely forestalled his army career.

This is really a minor gripe about what is an impressive, well-researched and absorbing story - even well-read South Polar fiends like myself will find much that is new. Who next for Michael Smith? Meares? Bowers? What about Lashly? There's still many tales to be told.

The amazing man who doesn't need to eat a thing...., 10 Mar 2008
Michael Werner is the real thing - a doctor of Chemistry with a full-time job running a cancer research institute. He has a wife and family and plays sport (tennis is his favorite). But he doesn't eat! Don't believe it? Then read this book, which challenges all scientific certainties.

Be Tough and Competent!, 27 Aug 2008
Gene Kranz does an amazing of showing what people can do if they have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment and passion.

The book allows us to see Kranz's perspective as flight controller, (and later flight director) during his tenure on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs and beyond.

From the tremendous successes, to the gut wrenching failures, to the heroism, to the practical jokes, this book has it all. Gene Kranz was a key player in helping to create a culture of Tough and Competent flight controllers who had discipline and morale. They knew the true meaning of teamwork.

One of the stories that impressed me most was after the devastating tragedy of the Apollo 1. A fire on the pad killed Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffe while they were training in the capsule. Afterwards Kranz got in front of his flight controllers and said:

"Spaceflight will never tolerate carelessness, incapacity, and neglect. Somewhere, somehow, we screwed up. It could have been the design, build, or test. Whatever it was we should have caught it."

Kranz and his people (as well as everyone else on the space program) took responsibility for their actions and went on to amazing successes. We crawled out the cradle of this home we call earth and explored another world. Twelve men in all walked on the moon. Also, three astronauts were brought back home safely from the brink of disaster in Apollo 13. We had truly gone where no man had gone before.

These were human beings, and they are the best of the best. Not an Astronaut was lost during any of the following Apollo missions. The tragedy on the pad drove the commitment of everyone on the space program to an entirely new level. As a matter of fact, not a man was lost once they left earth on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs.

Gene Kranz sums up how he gained his skills to be a top flight director when he said:

"The flight director's ultimate training comes at the console, working real problems, facing the risks, making irrevocable decisions."


This book belongs on any bookshelf, but not to be looked at, but to be read and understood. We all have the makings of greatness, we just have to take responsibility for our actions and do the very best we know how. What other amazing things can we accomplish as a species if we have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment, and passion?

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

Absolutely Brilliant, 28 Jun 2007
Eugene Kranz is an unsung hero. Maybe most people are familiar with Ed Harris's portrayal of him in Apollo 13 but the man was around from the beginning of the space programme. We've already forgetten, all too easily, what an astonishing achievement NASA completed with the space programme in terms of technology. We forget also that the staff there literally invented the rules as they went along. But apart from all the engineering and science, there is the incredible way that they stood up to the pressure not just on the Apollo 13 mission but in other situations. In the thick of it all is Eugene Kranz. These days people in the UK are stupid enough to vote Queenie and Robbie Williams as the most important Britains ever. As an antidote read this and focus on someone who deserves our admiration.

Fascinating behind the scenes account, 06 Apr 2006
Gene Kranz was one of the original band of NASA flight directors, some readers may remember he was played by a white waistcoat-wearing Ed Harris in the film about Apollo 13. This book is for those of us that are slightly geeky with regards to the Space Race in as far as this is a technical and detailed account of what took place in the Mission Control Room while the mission was in progress. It is not a riveting read by any stretch of the imagination but it does offer the interested reader another take Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. Gene Kranz is unashamedly patriotic and God-fearing with a slight propensity to describe almost all of his colleagues as all American heroes. Nevertheless, afficionados of this era of space exploration will find a lot in this book.

THE book, 02 Dec 2005
I have read a lot of books about Apollo but this is the one i keep turning back to. Gene Krantz is simply a fascinating figure and his job in Mission Control the most exiting there was - Period.... Krantz writes with the passion that is burning within every good engineer and he writes in an easily readable style, yes there are a lot of tecnical "mumbo jumbo" in the book but the story is easily understood nevertheless. If you only want to read one book about Apollo it should probably be "Apollo, the Race to the moon" by Murray/Cox but when you've read that one and gotten hooked, this one would be am obvious number two.

A book that had to be written, 16 Jul 2003
This excellent volume provides an insight into the project development and team building that supported the Mercury, Geminii and Apollo programmes.

Gene Kranz had an overwhelming commitment to his role within Mission Control but the narrative also reveals his ability to nurture those who followed him and the level of admiration he felt for everyone involved in the space programme. The details of mission planning and the emotions felt in times of celebration and tragedy are well docmented.

As a man, Kranz comes across as honest, genuine and loyal - he looks for the good in everyone.

To paraphrase Charlie Duke, the astronauts could not have made their spectacular journeys without the support of those on the ground - this book serves to illustrates the truth of this beyond doubt.

Thank you for a REAL FUN chemistry book, 01 Aug 2008
The author, Mr. Thompson, obviously loves the subject, and yes, darn it, chemistry should be "fun", a little dangerous and educational.
I share the author's lament over the passing of a "proper" chemistry set. The one I had as a kid contained all the "no-no's" (or should I say KNO, KNO3!)
In that day you could go to the chemist and buy all manner of chemicals "off the shelf".
At school we made rockets (after school hours, I had a terrific Chemistry Master.....
Now my Son wants to learn, we home ed.... this book gives me the chance to "teach" or better "inspire" him:- That I did already, demonstrating the oxidizing qualities of KMnO4, innitially he smuggly goes yeah and.... then quite soon it's wow, how the heck did that happen?
With the chemistry sets of today you take two or more chemicals, mix them together and go "um er what's supposed to happen", as the chemicals just sit there, or if you are lucky change color!
An experiment has to DO something tangible. Thank you for a great book!

On an offside as it seems that we are being treated more and more like halfwits, perhaps we could have a "for dummies" line of chemistry sets, and then have a range that are designed for the responsible, and wanna b edjucaited majority!!

captain Oates a different perspective, 17 Jul 2008
Excellent read, gave me a totally different view of the life of captain Oats, could,nt put the book down.

Michael Smith on form again, 22 Nov 2003
Michael Smith delivers a tremendous account of the life of Laurence Oates and continues with his fascination for Antartic exploration by following up his account of the life of Tom Crean with this superb book. This book adds to the already large library of books on the recent revival of interest in the last real expeditions of discovery.

Laurence Oates is always painted as a hero who gave up his own life to save those of Scott and his remaining companions. He is also heroic in his love and treatment of the horses and ponies that he was responsible for. Smith delicately handles Oates' heroism and makes no effort to re-create or alter the myth of Oates.

The hardship of Antartic exploration is vividly conveyed, as is also the fatally flawed decisions of Scott which ultimately doomed him and his men. Oates, the soldier, obeyed Scott's commands - even though led him to his inevitable demise.

Oates sought excitement all his life, and saw the Antartic as an opportunity for heroism and adventure. I feel that he is the type of character that was destined to die tragically, and would surely have persished in the upcoming Great War had he survived the ice.

Smiths's style produces a well written account. If you have not already read his book about Tom Crean, do so soon - you will not be disappointed.

A fine biography of complex and reluctant hero, 06 Nov 2002
Captain Oates was one of the more complex and unconventional members of Captain Scott's 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole, and Smith's new biography is the best attempt yet to provide an insight into this maverick cavalry officer's motives and actions. Oates has become synonymous with noble and heroic sacrifice in popular mythology, but thankfully Smith (like Roland Huntford before him in Scott & Amundsen) paints a rather different, less pleasant picture of Oates' decline and death after reaching the South Pole.

This is not a book about glory; whilst Oates' strength of character and physical toughness are simply astounding by modern day standards (as were all polar explorers), one is left wondering why so much suffering (by man and beast alike) had to be expended on such a gruelling 2000 mile trek, in weather conditions barely imaginable.

Oates still emerges as a courageous and heroic young man in Smith's hands, both in his army career and as Scott's horse handler, but Oates was no fool. He saw much of the folly in Scott's inflexible and domineering approach, and suffered much in silence. The central tragedy is forcefully emphasised here: Oates' life was squandered by Scott's incompetance, and his suicide was the last gesture of man who had already endured the unendurable (not only frostbite and starvation, but scurvy - with truly ghastly symptomns, details that most Polar biographers have been happier overlooking).

Michael Smith (author of another notable Antarctic biography of Crean) tries to distance himself a little from Huntford's hatchet job on Scott, but subscribes to many of the same conclusions. He questions some of Huntford's conjectures but makes a few of his own - how can he know that Oates' 10-year old leg wound reopening was as painful as the original bullet impact which shattered the left thigh?

The photographs here are excellent and in many cases unfamiliar -Scott's expedition has been extensively documented and Ponting's images oft-reproduced, but even the better-known shots here are reprinted with a finer quality that is usual, giving an overall freshness to the handsome edition.

The revelatory postscript here is that Oates fathered an illigitimate child in 1900. Smith wisely plays down the sensationalism of these alledged facts but in so doing fails to consider any moral culpability on Oates' part. Oates's "girlfriend" was 11, still a child - he was 20. Even without the resulting pregnancy the legal process would have landed him in prison and completely forestalled his army career.

This is really a minor gripe about what is an impressive, well-researched and absorbing story - even well-read South Polar fiends like myself will find much that is new. Who next for Michael Smith? Meares? Bowers? What about Lashly? There's still many tales to be told.

The amazing man who doesn't need to eat a thing...., 10 Mar 2008
Michael Werner is the real thing - a doctor of Chemistry with a full-time job running a cancer research institute. He has a wife and family and plays sport (tennis is his favorite). But he doesn't eat! Don't believe it? Then read this book, which challenges all scientific certainties.

Philipp Reis and Elisha Gray RIP., 01 Jul 2008
An absolutely brilliant book that reads like a whodunnit. It never flags as it gathers evidence to show who really 'discovered' the telephone, said to be the most lucrative patent in history and one of the all time great discoveries. [I rate Sir J. Swann's invention of the light bulb as at least equal - he predated Edison by about 20 years!]. Of course I will give no clues here but anyone interested in the history of science and technology cannot fail to be fascinated and surprised by this book.

The evidence is carefully collected and annotated although I question one or two statements by the author on which I do not agree. The only other comment I will make is can we really trust the re-examination of 'evidence' from sources over 100 years ago?

Be Tough and Competent!, 27 Aug 2008
Gene Kranz does an amazing of showing what people can do if they have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment and passion.

The book allows us to see Kranz's perspective as flight controller, (and later flight director) during his tenure on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs and beyond.

From the tremendous successes, to the gut wrenching failures, to the heroism, to the practical jokes, this book has it all. Gene Kranz was a key player in helping to create a culture of Tough and Competent flight controllers who had discipline and morale. They knew the true meaning of teamwork.

One of the stories that impressed me most was after the devastating tragedy of the Apollo 1. A fire on the pad killed Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffe while they were training in the capsule. Afterwards Kranz got in front of his flight controllers and said:

"Spaceflight will never tolerate carelessness, incapacity, and neglect. Somewhere, somehow, we screwed up. It could have been the design, build, or test. Whatever it was we should have caught it."

Kranz and his people (as well as everyone else on the space program) took responsibility for their actions and went on to amazing successes. We crawled out the cradle of this home we call earth and explored another world. Twelve men in all walked on the moon. Also, three astronauts were brought back home safely from the brink of disaster in Apollo 13. We had truly gone where no man had gone before.

These were human beings, and they are the best of the best. Not an Astronaut was lost during any of the following Apollo missions. The tragedy on the pad drove the commitment of everyone on the space program to an entirely new level. As a matter of fact, not a man was lost once they left earth on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs.

Gene Kranz sums up how he gained his skills to be a top flight director when he said:

"The flight director's ultimate training comes at the console, working real problems, facing the risks, making irrevocable decisions."


This book belongs on any bookshelf, but not to be looked at, but to be read and understood. We all have the makings of greatness, we just have to take responsibility for our actions and do the very best we know how. What other amazing things can we accomplish as a species if we have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment, and passion?

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

Absolutely Brilliant, 28 Jun 2007
Eugene Kranz is an unsung hero. Maybe most people are familiar with Ed Harris's portrayal of him in Apollo 13 but the man was around from the beginning of the space programme. We've already forgetten, all too easily, what an astonishing achievement NASA completed with the space programme in terms of technology. We forget also that the staff there literally invented the rules as they went along. But apart from all the engineering and science, there is the incredible way that they stood up to the pressure not just on the Apollo 13 mission but in other situations. In the thick of it all is Eugene Kranz. These days people in the UK are stupid enough to vote Queenie and Robbie Williams as the most important Britains ever. As an antidote read this and focus on someone who deserves our admiration.

Fascinating behind the scenes account, 06 Apr 2006
Gene Kranz was one of the original band of NASA flight directors, some readers may remember he was played by a white waistcoat-wearing Ed Harris in the film about Apollo 13. This book is for those of us that are slightly geeky with regards to the Space Race in as far as this is a technical and detailed account of what took place in the Mission Control Room while the mission was in progress. It is not a riveting read by any stretch of the imagination but it does offer the interested reader another take Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. Gene Kranz is unashamedly patriotic and God-fearing with a slight propensity to describe almost all of his colleagues as all American heroes. Nevertheless, afficionados of this era of space exploration will find a lot in this book.

THE book, 02 Dec 2005
I have read a lot of books about Apollo but this is the one i keep turning back to. Gene Krantz is simply a fascinating figure and his job in Mission Control the most exiting there was - Period.... Krantz writes with the passion that is burning within every good engineer and he writes in an easily readable style, yes there are a lot of tecnical "mumbo jumbo" in the book but the story is easily understood nevertheless. If you only want to read one book about Apollo it should probably be "Apollo, the Race to the moon" by Murray/Cox but when you've read that one and gotten hooked, this one would be am obvious number two.

A book that had to be written, 16 Jul 2003
This excellent volume provides an insight into the project development and team building that supported the Mercury, Geminii and Apollo programmes.

Gene Kranz had an overwhelming commitment to his role within Mission Control but the narrative also reveals his ability to nurture those who followed him and the level of admiration he felt for everyone involved in the space programme. The details of mission planning and the emotions felt in times of celebration and tragedy are well docmented.

As a man, Kranz comes across as honest, genuine and loyal - he looks for the good in everyone.

To paraphrase Charlie Duke, the astronauts could not have made their spectacular journeys without the support of those on the ground - this book serves to illustrates the truth of this beyond doubt.

Thank you for a REAL FUN chemistry book, 01 Aug 2008
The author, Mr. Thompson, obviously loves the subject, and yes, darn it, chemistry should be "fun", a little dangerous and educational.
I share the author's lament over the passing of a "proper" chemistry set. The one I had as a kid contained all the "no-no's" (or should I say KNO, KNO3!)
In that day you could go to the chemist and buy all manner of chemicals "off the shelf".
At school we made rockets (after school hours, I had a terrific Chemistry Master.....
Now my Son wants to learn, we home ed.... this book gives me the chance to "teach" or better "inspire" him:- That I did already, demonstrating the oxidizing qualities of KMnO4, innitially he smuggly goes yeah and.... then quite soon it's wow, how the heck did that happen?
With the chemistry sets of today you take two or more chemicals, mix them together and go "um er what's supposed to happen", as the chemicals just sit there, or if you are lucky change color!
An experiment has to DO something tangible. Thank you for a great book!

On an offside as it seems that we are being treated more and more like halfwits, perhaps we could have a "for dummies" line of chemistry sets, and then have a range that are designed for the responsible, and wanna b edjucaited majority!!

captain Oates a different perspective, 17 Jul 2008
Excellent read, gave me a totally different view of the life of captain Oats, could,nt put the book down.

Michael Smith on form again, 22 Nov 2003
Michael Smith delivers a tremendous account of the life of Laurence Oates and continues with his fascination for Antartic exploration by following up his account of the life of Tom Crean with this superb book. This book adds to the already large library of books on the recent revival of interest in the last real expeditions of discovery.

Laurence Oates is always painted as a hero who gave up his own life to save those of Scott and his remaining companions. He is also heroic in his love and treatment of the horses and ponies that he was responsible for. Smith delicately handles Oates' heroism and makes no effort to re-create or alter the myth of Oates.

The hardship of Antartic exploration is vividly conveyed, as is also the fatally flawed decisions of Scott which ultimately doomed him and his men. Oates, the soldier, obeyed Scott's commands - even though led him to his inevitable demise.

Oates sought excitement all his life, and saw the Antartic as an opportunity for heroism and adventure. I feel that he is the type of character that was destined to die tragically, and would surely have persished in the upcoming Great War had he survived the ice.

Smiths's style produces a well written account. If you have not already read his book about Tom Crean, do so soon - you will not be disappointed.

A fine biography of complex and reluctant hero, 06 Nov 2002
Captain Oates was one of the more complex and unconventional members of Captain Scott's 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole, and Smith's new biography is the best attempt yet to provide an insight into this maverick cavalry officer's motives and actions. Oates has become synonymous with noble and heroic sacrifice in popular mythology, but thankfully Smith (like Roland Huntford before him in Scott & Amundsen) paints a rather different, less pleasant picture of Oates' decline and death after reaching the South Pole.

This is not a book about glory; whilst Oates' strength of character and physical toughness are simply astounding by modern day standards (as were all polar explorers), one is left wondering why so much suffering (by man and beast alike) had to be expended on such a gruelling 2000 mile trek, in weather conditions barely imaginable.

Oates still emerges as a courageous and heroic young man in Smith's hands, both in his army career and as Scott's horse handler, but Oates was no fool. He saw much of the folly in Scott's inflexible and domineering approach, and suffered much in silence. The central tragedy is forcefully emphasised here: Oates' life was squandered by Scott's incompetance, and his suicide was the last gesture of man who had already endured the unendurable (not only frostbite and starvation, but scurvy - with truly ghastly symptomns, details that most Polar biographers have been happier overlooking).

Michael Smith (author of another notable Antarctic biography of Crean) tries to distance himself a little from Huntford's hatchet job on Scott, but subscribes to many of the same conclusions. He questions some of Huntford's conjectures but makes a few of his own - how can he know that Oates' 10-year old leg wound reopening was as painful as the original bullet impact which shattered the left thigh?

The photographs here are excellent and in many cases unfamiliar -Scott's expedition has been extensively documented and Ponting's images oft-reproduced, but even the better-known shots here are reprinted with a finer quality that is usual, giving an overall freshness to the handsome edition.

The revelatory postscript here is that Oates fathered an illigitimate child in 1900. Smith wisely plays down the sensationalism of these alledged facts but in so doing fails to consider any moral culpability on Oates' part. Oates's "girlfriend" was 11, still a child - he was 20. Even without the resulting pregnancy the legal process would have landed him in prison and completely forestalled his army career.

This is really a minor gripe about what is an impressive, well-researched and absorbing story - even well-read South Polar fiends like myself will find much that is new. Who next for Michael Smith? Meares? Bowers? What about Lashly? There's still many tales to be told.

The amazing man who doesn't need to eat a thing...., 10 Mar 2008
Michael Werner is the real thing - a doctor of Chemistry with a full-time job running a cancer research institute. He has a wife and family and plays sport (tennis is his favorite). But he doesn't eat! Don't believe it? Then read this book, which challenges all scientific certainties.

Philipp Reis and Elisha Gray RIP., 01 Jul 2008
An absolutely brilliant book that reads like a whodunnit. It never flags as it gathers evidence to show who really 'discovered' the telephone, said to be the most lucrative patent in history and one of the all time great discoveries. [I rate Sir J. Swann's invention of the light bulb as at least equal - he predated Edison by about 20 years!]. Of course I will give no clues here but anyone interested in the history of science and technology cannot fail to be fascinated and surprised by this book.

The evidence is carefully collected and annotated although I question one or two statements by the author on which I do not agree. The only other comment I will make is can we really trust the re-examination of 'evidence' from sources over 100 years ago?

Very poor book, 24 Oct 2007
I agree with the other review. I bought this book so that I could have some educational fun with the kids (10 & 8) I was initially appalled early in the book at the statement along the lines of, 'To ignite this rocket you will need to build the Tesla that is described in the other Evil Genius book...' - That was it - No further information at all on how to ignite the rocket.

The projects seem to jump from entirely pointless to advanced electronics/programming, but insufficiently detailed for a novice to complete - I'm a professional Electronics Engineer, so could understand them, but the target audience for this book probably won't.

The pictures are invariably blurred and useless - Why show a picture of a roll of Sellotape? Most of the other pictures are very poor quality, and equally vacuous.

As an additional gripe, the author is from Essex, yet tries to speak 'Americanese', badly - Personally, I found this to detract yet further from a book that started badly, and got worse.

Avoid at all costs...


Promises more than it delivers - disappointing, 20 Sep 2007
Very little in this book that you couldn't google. The hydrogen rocket idea does not deserve the term rocket and the camera projects basically involve rebuilding a cheap digital camera - why there needs to be photos showing you how to dismantle a plastic case by removing the screws is beyond me.
Forget this book - just read the instructions that you would get with a £20 model rocket kit.

Be Tough and Competent!, 27 Aug 2008
Gene Kranz does an amazing of showing what people can do if they have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment and passion.

The book allows us to see Kranz's perspective as flight controller, (and later flight director) during his tenure on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs and beyond.

From the tremendous successes, to the gut wrenching failures, to the heroism, to the practical jokes, this book has it all. Gene Kranz was a key player in helping to create a culture of Tough and Competent flight controllers who had discipline and morale. They knew the true meaning of teamwork.

One of the stories that impressed me most was after the devastating tragedy of the Apollo 1. A fire on the pad killed Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffe while they were training in the capsule. Afterwards Kranz got in front of his flight controllers and said:

"Spaceflight will never tolerate carelessness, incapacity, and neglect. Somewhere, somehow, we screwed up. It could have been the design, build, or test. Whatever it was we should have caught it."

Kranz and his people (as well as everyone else on the space program) took responsibility for their actions and went on to amazing successes. We crawled out the cradle of this home we call earth and explored another world. Twelve men in all walked on the moon. Also, three astronauts were brought back home safely from the brink of disaster in Apollo 13. We had truly gone where no man had gone before.

These were human beings, and they are the best of the best. Not an Astronaut was lost during any of the following Apollo missions. The tragedy on the pad drove the commitment of everyone on the space program to an entirely new level. As a matter of fact, not a man was lost once they left earth on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs.

Gene Kranz sums up how he gained his skills to be a top flight director when he said:

"The flight director's ultimate training comes at the console, working real problems, facing the risks, making irrevocable decisions."


This book belongs on any bookshelf, but not to be looked at, but to be read and understood. We all have the makings of greatness, we just have to take responsibility for our actions and do the very best we know how. What other amazing things can we accomplish as a species if we have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment, and passion?

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

Absolutely Brilliant, 28 Jun 2007
Eugene Kranz is an unsung hero. Maybe most people are familiar with Ed Harris's portrayal of him in Apollo 13 but the man was around from the beginning of the space programme. We've already forgetten, all too easily, what an astonishing achievement NASA completed with the space programme in terms of technology. We forget also that the staff there literally invented the rules as they went along. But apart from all the engineering and science, there is the incredible way that they stood up to the pressure not just on the Apollo 13 mission but in other situations. In the thick of it all is Eugene Kranz. These days people in the UK are stupid enough to vote Queenie and Robbie Williams as the most important Britains ever. As an antidote read this and focus on someone who deserves our admiration.

Fascinating behind the scenes account, 06 Apr 2006
Gene Kranz was one of the original band of NASA flight directors, some readers may remember he was played by a white waistcoat-wearing Ed Harris in the film about Apollo 13. This book is for those of us that are slightly geeky with regards to the Space Race in as far as this is a technical and detailed account of what took place in the Mission Control Room while the mission was in progress. It is not a riveting read by any stretch of the imagination but it does offer the interested reader another take Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. Gene Kranz is unashamedly patriotic and God-fearing with a slight propensity to describe almost all of his colleagues as all American heroes. Nevertheless, afficionados of this era of space exploration will find a lot in this book.

THE book, 02 Dec 2005
I have read a lot of books about Apollo but this is the one i keep turning back to. Gene Krantz is simply a fascinating figure and his job in Mission Control the most exiting there was - Period.... Krantz writes with the passion that is burning within every good engineer and he writes in an easily readable style, yes there are a lot of tecnical "mumbo jumbo" in the book but the story is easily understood nevertheless. If you only want to read one book about Apollo it should probably be "Apollo, the Race to the moon" by Murray/Cox but when you've read that one and gotten hooked, this one would be am obvious number two.

A book that had to be written, 16 Jul 2003
This excellent volume provides an insight into the project development and team building that supported the Mercury, Geminii and Apollo programmes.

Gene Kranz had an overwhelming commitment to his role within Mission Control but the narrative also reveals his ability to nurture those who followed him and the level of admiration he felt for everyone involved in the space programme. The details of mission planning and the emotions felt in times of celebration and tragedy are well docmented.

As a man, Kranz comes across as honest, genuine and loyal - he looks for the good in everyone.

To paraphrase Charlie Duke, the astronauts could not have made their spectacular journeys without the support of those on the ground - this book serves to illustrates the truth of this beyond doubt.

Thank you for a REAL FUN chemistry book, 01 Aug 2008
The author, Mr. Thompson, obviously loves the subject, and yes, darn it, chemistry should be "fun", a little dangerous and educational.
I share the author's lament over the passing of a "proper" chemistry set. The one I had as a kid contained all the "no-no's" (or should I say KNO, KNO3!)
In that day you could go to the chemist and buy all manner of chemicals "off the shelf".
At school we made rockets (after school hours, I had a terrific Chemistry Master.....
Now my Son wants to learn, we home ed.... this book gives me the chance to "teach" or better "inspire" him:- That I did already, demonstrating the oxidizing qualities of KMnO4, innitially he smuggly goes yeah and.... then quite soon it's wow, how the heck did that happen?
With the chemistry sets of today you take two or more chemicals, mix them together and go "um er what's supposed to happen", as the chemicals just sit there, or if you are lucky change color!
An experiment has to DO something tangible. Thank you for a great book!

On an offside as it seems that we are being treated more and more like halfwits, perhaps we could have a "for dummies" line of chemistry sets, and then have a range that are designed for the responsible, and wanna b edjucaited majority!!

captain Oates a different perspective, 17 Jul 2008
Excellent read, gave me a totally different view of the life of captain Oats, could,nt put the book down.

Michael Smith on form again, 22 Nov 2003
Michael Smith delivers a tremendous account of the life of Laurence Oates and continues with his fascination for Antartic exploration by following up his account of the life of Tom Crean with this superb book. This book adds to the already large library of books on the recent revival of interest in the last real expeditions of discovery.

Laurence Oates is always painted as a hero who gave up his own life to save those of Scott and his remaining companions. He is also heroic in his love and treatment of the horses and ponies that he was responsible for. Smith delicately handles Oates' heroism and makes no effort to re-create or alter the myth of Oates.

The hardship of Antartic exploration is vividly conveyed, as is also the fatally flawed decisions of Scott which ultimately doomed him and his men. Oates, the soldier, obeyed Scott's commands - even though led him to his inevitable demise.

Oates sought excitement all his life, and saw the Antartic as an opportunity for heroism and adventure. I feel that he is the type of character that was destined to die tragically, and would surely have persished in the upcoming Great War had he survived the ice.

Smiths's style produces a well written account. If you have not already read his book about Tom Crean, do so soon - you will not be disappointed.

A fine biography of complex and reluctant hero, 06 Nov 2002
Captain Oates was one of the more complex and unconventional members of Captain Scott's 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole, and Smith's new biography is the best attempt yet to provide an insight into this maverick cavalry officer's motives and actions. Oates has become synonymous with noble and heroic sacrifice in popular mythology, but thankfully Smith (like Roland Huntford before him in Scott & Amundsen) paints a rather different, less pleasant picture of Oates' decline and death after reaching the South Pole.

This is not a book about glory; whilst Oates' strength of character and physical toughness are simply astounding by modern day standards (as were all polar explorers), one is left wondering why so much suffering (by man and beast alike) had to be expended on such a gruelling 2000 mile trek, in weather conditions barely imaginable.

Oates still emerges as a courageous and heroic young man in Smith's hands, both in his army career and as Scott's horse handler, but Oates was no fool. He saw much of the folly in Scott's inflexible and domineering approach, and suffered much in silence. The central tragedy is forcefully emphasised here: Oates' life was squandered by Scott's incompetance, and his suicide was the last gesture of man who had already endured the unendurable (not only frostbite and starvation, but scurvy - with truly ghastly symptomns, details that most Polar biographers have been happier overlooking).

Michael Smith (author of another notable Antarctic biography of Crean) tries to distance himself a little from Huntford's hatchet job on Scott, but subscribes to many of the same conclusions. He questions some of Huntford's conjectures but makes a few of his own - how can he know that Oates' 10-year old leg wound reopening was as painful as the original bullet impact which shattered the left thigh?

The photographs here are excellent and in many cases unfamiliar -Scott's expedition has been extensively documented and Ponting's images oft-reproduced, but even the better-known shots here are reprinted with a finer quality that is usual, giving an overall freshness to the handsome edition.

The revelatory postscript here is that Oates fathered an illigitimate child in 1900. Smith wisely plays down the sensationalism of these alledged facts but in so doing fails to consider any moral culpability on Oates' part. Oates's "girlfriend" was 11, still a child - he was 20. Even without the resulting pregnancy the legal process would have landed him in prison and completely forestalled his army career.

This is really a minor gripe about what is an impressive, well-researched and absorbing story - even well-read South Polar fiends like myself will find much that is new. Who next for Michael Smith? Meares? Bowers? What about Lashly? There's still many tales to be told.

The amazing man who doesn't need to eat a thing...., 10 Mar 2008
Michael Werner is the real thing - a doctor of Chemistry with a full-time job running a cancer research institute. He has a wife and family and plays sport (tennis is his favorite). But he doesn't eat! Don't believe it? Then read this book, which challenges all scientific certainties.

Philipp Reis and Elisha Gray RIP., 01 Jul 2008
An absolutely brilliant book that reads like a whodunnit. It never flags as it gathers evidence to show who really 'discovered' the telephone, said to be the most lucrative patent in history and one of the all time great discoveries. [I rate Sir J. Swann's invention of the light bulb as at least equal - he predated Edison by about 20 years!]. Of course I will give no clues here but anyone interested in the history of science and technology cannot fail to be fascinated and surprised by this book.

The evidence is carefully collected and annotated although I question one or two statements by the author on which I do not agree. The only other comment I will make is can we really trust the re-examination of 'evidence' from sources over 100 years ago?

Very poor book, 24 Oct 2007
I agree with the other review. I bought this book so that I could have some educational fun with the kids (10 & 8) I was initially appalled early in the book at the statement along the lines of, 'To ignite this rocket you will need to build the Tesla that is described in the other Evil Genius book...' - That was it - No further information at all on how to ignite the rocket.

The projects seem to jump from entirely pointless to advanced electronics/programming, but insufficiently detailed for a novice to complete - I'm a professional Electronics Engineer, so could understand them, but the target audience for this book probably won't.

The pictures are invariably blurred and useless - Why show a picture of a roll of Sellotape? Most of the other pictures are very poor quality, and equally vacuous.

As an additional gripe, the author is from Essex, yet tries to speak 'Americanese', badly - Personally, I found this to detract yet further from a book that started badly, and got worse.

Avoid at all costs...


Promises more than it delivers - disappointing, 20 Sep 2007
Very little in this book that you couldn't google. The hydrogen rocket idea does not deserve the term rocket and the camera projects basically involve rebuilding a cheap digital camera - why there needs to be photos showing you how to dismantle a plastic case