I like space. Never had a desire to be an astronaut, but I've always loved stars and NASA and all the work that goes into sending people up. So of course I picked this up when I visited the Johnson Space Center.

Parts of this were good, parts of it were bad. But ultimately, once I finished reading about his first space flight (which, honestly, I expected to be more than a chapter) I was done. And what turned me away was Mullane himself.

No doubt about it, he's a misogynist. He applauded himself on the back several times for not sleeping with a co-worker. Turned himself into a hero because of it. Never mind he was married, had kids, or hell, managed to get into space. Restraint was his greatest achievement! But he never thought it wrong. Never stopped thinking it. And all his other comments about looking down on those not in the military. On seeing beautiful women as threats because they could sleep around and get a leg up. Hell, he actively says that the only reason he became an astronaut was because he didn't have to be involved in the household. Chores, kids, shopping - his wife did everything so he had nothing to get in the way of his career. For. Ever. He acknowledges this only once, and was a jerk to her most of the time. (Can you say privileged?)

I got to the point of the book where he'd been in space and then stopped reading because I realized if I ever meet Mullane in real life I'd turn on my heel and walk the other way.

Parts of this I did like. The understanding of the inner politics of NASA and astronaut assignments. The stress Mullane's wife went through watch failed launch after failed launch. His slight growth towards seeing the feminist/civilian light, understanding their struggles and worth. (though really, seeing worth in everyone should be expected, not worthy of ten gold stars). The small moments of how it felt to hit 50 miles and officially become an astronaut, watching day come over the earth.

They just weren't enough to pull me to finish the book.