Book Review: Shoot for the Moon by James Donovan

Shoot for the Moon: The Space Race and the Extraordinary Voyage of Apollo 11
by James Donovan (629.454 Don)

Among the many offerings marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing is this worthy volume. Being not quite 10 years old at the time and recalling watching the historic moment with my family, I’ve been browsing a variety of materials and am glad I selected this one to read from cover to cover. Meticulously researched and contextually narrated, this is an excellent and rather thorough look at the developments leading up to the successful apex of the USA’s race to be first in setting human foot on the Moon. Although it contains much technical information, a somewhat detailed background on rocket scientist Wernher Von Braun, information on all of the Gemini and Apollo missions including much of the behind-the-scenes developments, and well-known and little-known pivot points along the way, it is not a dry read. Donovan manages to make everything cohere well and be comprehensible to non-rocket-scientists. Three sections of photos add to the book’s appeal and organization of information. I found it very engaging and even page-turning. In fact, it seems amazing that despite some tragic setbacks, things went so well in the end.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America’s Race to the Moon, by Alan Shepard, A Man on the Moon, by Andrew Chaikin, or Rocket Men: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon, by Craig Nelson.]

[ official Shoot for the Moon and James Donovan web site ]

Recommended by Becky W.C.
Walt Branch Library

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