Overview
The inspiring and fascinating biography of the sixth man to ever walk on the Moon
Of the nearly seven billion people who live on Earth, only 12 have walked on the Moon and Dr. Edgar Mitchell was one of them. Earthrise is a vibrant memoir for young adults featuring the life story of this internationally known Apollo 14 astronaut. The book focuses on Edgar’s amazing journey to the Moon in 1971 and highlights the many steps he took to get there, including growing up as a farm boy on a ranch; living in Roswell, New Mexico, during the alleged UFO crash; graduating from Carnegie Mellon and MIT; being a navy combat pilot; and becoming a NASA astronaut. In engaging and suspenseful prose he details his historic flight to the Moon, describing everything from the very practical—eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom in space—to the metaphysical, such as the life-changing sensation of connectedness to the universe that he felt and that has been described, in varying degrees, by many astronauts. Extensive resources include annotated lists of websites about space, museums and organizations, films and videos, and books for further reading.
Reviews
“In Earthrise, Edgar Mitchell treats us to a firsthand account of his life—a trajectory that just happens to include a visit to the Moon as an Apollo 14 astronaut. We learn how such views of the universe have the power to transform your feelings, your emotions, and your state of mind. Edgar Mitchell was a different person upon returning to Earth, having obtained a cosmic perspective on life that so few of us will ever achieve.” —Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist, American Museum of Natural History
“This fascinating, charming, and gripping book gives us a rare and powerful glimpse into the fantastic life of an Apollo astronaut. Edgar’s catching narration—describing his journey, the flight, the fun and exertions of a weightless life in space, the walk on the Moon, and the collection of Moon rocks—makes this book so very absorbing and spellbinding.” —Juliane Gross, PhD, research scientist, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The American Museum of Natural History
“Earthrise provides a great picture of the space program and of Ed Mitchell’s personal experiences, from growing up to his education to his military flight experience that ultimately led to his walking on the Moon on the Apollo 14 Mission.” —Fred Haise, Apollo 13 Lunar Module Pilot
“Like my fellow moonwalker Edgar Mitchell, I had the opportunity to see the Earth from some 240,000 miles away. I believe this experience will give anyone a changed perspective. This book is a gift to all of us, as it is an honest look at a heroic historical figure and his unique way of thinking.” —Alan Bean, Apollo 12 Lunar Module Pilot
"Meticulous in its details, the text skillfully translates the highly scientific aspects of Mitchell’s work into easily managed sections that will perfectly suit casual readers and researchers alike." —
Booklist"This fascinating insider account of astronaut training and the transformative experience of traveling to the moon will especially appeal to readers with an interest in astronomy and space travel." —Kirkus"
Budding scientists will find the book useful, both for reports and for its description, straightforward and unadorned, of a seminal time in American history." —VOYAAuthor Biography
Edgar Mitchell was a pilot in the historic 1971 Apollo 14 mission and the sixth man to ever walk on the Moon. His books include Paradigm Shift, The Space Less Traveled, and The Way of the Explorer. Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and three NASA Group Achievement Awards, Mitchell was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 and inducted to the Space Hall of Fame in 1979, the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1997, and the Leonardo da Vinci Society for the Study of Thinking in 2011. He was the founder of the renowned Institute of Noetic Sciences and the cofounder of the Association of Space Explorers. He died in 2016. Ellen Mahoney is the author of Nellie Bly and Investigative Journalism for Kids. She has worked for Walt Disney Imagineering as a staff writer, contributed many educational pieces for Space Center Houston, and produced radio features for the BBC Science in Action show. She is an affiliate faculty instructor in the department of journalism and technical communication at Metro State University of Denver. She lives in Boulder, Colorado. Dr. Brian Cox is a professor of particle physics and Royal Society University Research Fellow at the University of Manchester. He presents various space and science programs on BBC radio and television, including Wonders of the Universe.
Mother's Day
Father's Day
