The Seven Secrets of How to Think Like a Rocket Scientist

by James Longuski, Masataka Okutsu (Illustrator)

This book translates "thinking like a rocket scientist" into every day thinking so it can be used by anyone. It’s short and snappy and written by a rocket scientist. The book illustrates the methods (the 7 secrets) with anecdotes, quotations and biographical sketches of famous scientists, personal stories and insights, and occasionally some space history. The author reveals that rocket science is just common sense applied to the extraordinarily uncommon environment of outer space and that rocket scientists are people, too. It is intended for "armchair" scientists, and for those interested in popular psychology, space history, and science fiction films.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Space, Self Help, Psychology, Engineering

184 pages, Hardcover

First published November 24, 2006

Reviews

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Q:
I give seven secrets of how to think like a rocket scientist as active verbs: “Dream,” “Judge,” “Ask,” “Check,” “Simplify,” “Optimize,” and “Do.” (c)
Q:
“The only dumb question—is the one that isn’t asked.” (c)

[Elin MehrAsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

بسم تعالی
بیایید آپولو هواکنیم!
مطالعه ای متفاوت در راستای جهت دادن و چطور جهت دادن به افکار و شیوه زندگی
و در ضمن کارآمد. در قالب هفت راهبرد کلی و پنجاه راهبرد جزئی .
این کتاب مخصوص دانشمندان فضایی نیست! مخصوص هوا کردن آپولو هم نیست.
نکاتی مهم برای موارد حتی پیش پا افتاده زندگی که بتوان آنرا به هوشمندی ماموریت های فضایی اداره کرد.
من که برای دوباره خواندنش برنامه ریزی کرده ام!

[Chelsie · Rating 1 out of 5]

For the sake of my sanity, I couldn't finish it. I don't know who told this man he could write, but all the chapters are choppy, say pretty much the same thing as the last, makes no sense whatsoever....I just can't do it. My husband is a Purdue grad from their Aeronautics/Astronautics school, so he can tell me all I need to know.

Mr. Longuski, stick to the writings you have to do as a professor. No one reads them, and it'll keep the suicide rate down.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped fuel my mind and furthered my interest in space exploration.

[Mohammad Saeed · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books i've ever read.

[JASON TAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

You feel happy by merely just read through the pages. It bring you into the cozy room of a Denmark house with fireplace and scented candle.

[Vicky Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

but lots of these are bs I can even tell...

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, a couple of caveats - this guy REALLY REALLY doesn't like the shuttle program. He loves NSA, JPL, Spirit, Opportunity (too earlier for Curiosity), Voyager and such. He just thinks the shuttle is the wrong solution for a problem not identified. And he makes some good points. But if the shuttle is your balliwick, don't even bother. He will infuriate you so badly won't be able to read the good stuff.

And there is good stuff. Not the least all the delicious and wonderous books he will point to you in his tales.

If you need a book to explain why rocket science nay, science is important, this is good starter book. Lots on why math isn't hard, why it sometimes is made harder and why it is important in the world (and yes, as something other than to make change). Why language and words are imporant - why even TLAs have their place. But how the language of math lets you solve problems by using lots of other people's talents.

If you need a book to break down the mystic and mythical Scientific Method as to steps, process, think, dream, build, etc., this is the book. He doesn't use those words but he takes the reader through what it takes to dream, evaluate,
simplify and DO. Just DO.

All mixed with an healthy "What would Spock do?", "do we need Kirk on a Mission to Mars?", "there is no try", and of course, "klaatu barada nikto".

Give it to your middle school kids to let them see Rocket Scientists have fun and do good, and that they could be one. Give it your bosses to explain why simplify is good and why tools need to be continually enhanced. Give it to your father to finally explain why you think some b-movies and bad scripts are so hysterical, and yet can be so serious about things like your job and rockets (or telephones, in my case) and STEM funding and space exploration.

[Sorabh Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is divided in section:- dream, judge, ask, check, simplify, optimize, do.In each section there are chapters which explain the concept further to the reader.The chapters contain real world example so it's easy to relate and check the writer analysis of the situation which doesn't seems faulty.
The writing style is lucid. And as the writer suggest the book is for armchair thinker.However the difference of opinion may arrise as the writer is an advocate of rocket program and not of the shuttle program.The difference in opinion may farther lead to the point where the reader may totally reject the book.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book on practical innovation, and generally just getting things done. Although it takes the "Rocket Scientist" as the model (understandable, since Longuski is one), it largely avoids the trap of being elitist and sycophantic. It's just an honest and thoughtful analysis of how rocket scientists work, and presented almost like a pattern language for knowledge workers.
I wrote a reflection on the book called "Code like a Rocket Scientist" http://tardate.blogspot.com/2008/09/c...

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, I liked the short 'pearls of wisdom' format the author chose for the book. I was especially intrigued by his criticisms of NASA as of late. Good read all around, definitely whetted my appetite for his bibliography.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and refreshing read with good advice for anyone trying to achieve anything extraordinary.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. It was not very deep, but it had some good general advice.