Nancy Conrad

I enjoyed this book. "Rocket Man" by Nancy Conrad and Howard A. Klausner is a deeply personal look at the life of astronaut Pete Conrad, told through the eyes of his widow. This book doesn’t just cover the highlights of his NASA career, like commanding Apollo 12 and walking on the Moon; it also gives a glimpse into the man behind the spacesuit.

Nancy’s perspective makes the story feel intimate and real. You learn about Pete’s struggles, like his dyslexia and early academic troubles, show more which make his achievements even more impressive. It’s not all heavy, though—there are lighthearted moments and stories that show his personality and sense of humor.

What really stands out is how Nancy connects Pete’s professional milestones with their personal life. You get a sense of what it was like to live with someone who was constantly pushing boundaries, both in space and in life. It’s a touching and honest tribute, giving you a fuller picture of one of NASA’s most memorable astronauts. (Pete is remembered for his quote: "If you can't be good, be colorful.") There are a few more editing errors and typos than I like to see in a book, but If you’re into space history or just love a good life story, it’s worth a read. show less

Rocketman is subtitled "Pete Conrad's Incredible Ride to the Moon and Beyond" and purports to be a biography of Gemini and Apollo astronaut Charles 'Peter' Conrad Jr. Except it doesn't actually read like a biography. It reads more like a novel, in which Pete Conrad happens to be the main character. As a result, it offers little insight into its subject.

Perhaps this is because the book was co-written by Howard Klausner, who is better known as the screenwriter for the film Space Cowboys. While show more that certainly means he's familiar with the material, writing a screenplay and writing a biography are not the same. A biography, for example, does not need a story. It doesn't require a three-act structure. And the character-arc is a function of the subject's life, and not something that is imposed by the biographer.

See the rest of the review at: http://spacebookspace.blogspot.com/2009/04/rocketman-nancy-conrad.html show less

This was a highly readable biography of an exciting character known primarily for his role in NASA and landing on the moon. What made it so readable for me was the brevity of the chapters, lasting at most five or six pages, while most are usually three or four. It also goes back and forth between two stories- one a chronological progression of his life, and the other his record-setting flight in a business jet later on in his life. Quite a good story of a very interesting man.