The Orbital Perspective: An Astronaut's View

by Ron Garan

For astronaut Ron Garan, living on the International Space Station was a powerful, transformative experience - one that he believes holds the key to solving our problems here on Earth. On space walks and through windows, Garan was struck by the stunning beauty of the Earth from space but sobered by knowing how much needed to be done to help this troubled planet. And yet on the International Space Station, Garan, a former fighter pilot, was working side by side with Russians, who only a few years before were "the enemy." If fifteen nationalities could collaborate on one of the most ambitious, technologically complicated undertakings in history, surely we can apply that kind of cooperation and innovation toward creating a better world. That spirit is what Garan calls the "orbital perspective." Garan vividly conveys what it was like learning to work with a diverse group of people in an environment only a handful of human beings have ever known. But more importantly, he describes how he and others are working to apply the orbital perspective here at home, embracing new partnerships and processes to promote peace and combat hunger, thirst, poverty, and environmental destruction.This book is a call to action for each of us to care for the most important space station of all: planet Earth. You don't need to be an astronaut to have the orbital perspective. Garan's message of elevated empathy is an inspiration to all who seek a better world.

Genres: Space, Nonfiction, Science, Astronomy, Philosophy, Biography, Memoir

304 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2015

About the author

Ron Garan is a highly decorated combat fighter pilot who served as an Instructor Pilot at the prestigious USAF Fighter Weapon’s School (the Air Force version of Top Gun). He also served as a test pilot and graduated from the US Naval Test Pilot School. Ron has spent 178 days in space and has traveled more than 71 million miles in 2,842 orbits of our planet. He flew on both the US Space Shuttle and Russian Soyuz spacecraft where accomplished four spacewalks. Ron also spent 18 days at the bottom of the ocean during a research mission held in the world’s only undersea research lab, Aquarius. He is celebrated not just for his research in space, but for his humanitarian contribution to life on earth. Ron is the author of the critically acclaimed book "The Orbital Perspective – Lessons in Seeing the Big Picture from a Journey of 71 Million Miles" and is soon to release two new books, "Floating in Darkness - A Journey of Evolution" and a children's book, "Railroad to the Moon".

Reviews

[Muhammad Abdullah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Orbital Perspective: An Astronaut's View is a fascinating read for me. This book binds all humanity into one sole purpose i.e the purpose of living for something great which doesn't require any national boundaries. This sole purpose is to Serve Others without any difference of creed, caste, colour, religion or nation.

The author of the book Colonel Ron Garan is a US Air Force retd. fighter pilot, astronaut, aquanaut, and social entrepreneur. He has logged 178 days in space and 71 million miles in orbit. He is the founder of the non-profit social entrepreneur incubator Manna Energy Foundation and has worked with the US Agency for International Development. Colonel Garan is also the founder of Fragile Oasis, an organization which use the orbital perspective to inspire positivity and environmental actions in the society.

This book is about the broader prospects of the collaboration and corporation between the nations and how nations shift their old national interest or self-oriented perspectives into one large perspective to serve humanity after cold war. US and Russia was the two big players of space race during cold war but the rivalry between the two reduced the collaboration to almost none. Post cold war effected the both space gaints i.e Roscosmos and NASA due to cut down of budgets. This was the time when both space rivals shifted their perspectives and started to collaborate each other. It was due the shifted tempo in perspectives which took nations close to each other to build international corporation despite just focusing one's national interests.

International Space Station (ISS) is the biggest example of such corporation which is impossible without the global collaboration between the 15 nations. This books revolves around the two main perspectives.

1: Orbital Perspective
2: Worm's Eye View

Orbital Perspective is derived from Frank White's book, The overview Effect , which is a change in perception that one gets from physically seeing Earth from space and in space. The orbital perspective is the brodern way (or picture) to see things from I to We point of view. In short, serving someone without any discrimination or self-benefit is orbital perspective.

On the otherhand, Worm's Eye View is the term introduced by Nobel Peace Laurate Professor Muhammad Yunus. This perspective urges someone to go deep down into the details (or at gross root level) of the things. This is the microscopic examine of a problem (or things) which will help us to eliminate the problems and finds better solutions to understand things in a detailed or much better way. But if we always go into the details without considering big picture ,then we will create more problems than we actually solve.

Conclusion

So, the conclusion is, things only work accurately untill we take a balance between them.

Highly recommended.

[Duncan Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fabulous. The Orbital Perspective is about seeing the glory of Earth from space and how that affects our view of Earth in our daily lives. Astronauts report that when seeing the Earth from space, they have a changed sense of humanity and the planet. When our home planet is viewed from a distance, it can be seen that there are no political boundaries and that all of humanity shares the same fragile ecosystem that supports all life. In this book, astronaut Ron Garan describes his revelations from orbiting the Earth while living onboard the International Space Station. The space station orbits the Earth 16 times a day and Ron has lived on board for months at a time. While observing the visual beauty of the planet from this privileged perspective, yet understanding the disparities of life on the ground, he and many other astronauts have discovered that they become personally moved, even called to action to do something with their expanded perspective. Upon returning the Earth, Ron started the aptly named organization, Fragile Oasis, as a grassroots initiative that connects the orbital perspective of astronauts who live and work in space with people who want to make a difference on Earth.

In this book, Ron Garan also elaborates on the metaphor to humanity that the International Space Station represents. The ISS is the pinnacle of humanities' collective technological genius and cooperative effort of 15 nations, some of which were previous enemies. He postulates that if these nations and their people can put aside their differences to achieve a common goal and even transcend to create a bond, then is it possible to embrace this example with our relationships on Earth? He grounds this metaphor with real examples of how earthly problems, like the Chilean mine crisis, have been solved with shared information from the internet and our ability communicate instantly and globally. While previous models of existence relied on hoarding and guarding information, the new global "family" benefits from the knowledge of the collective, often saving lives and our precious environment. When we strive to see a bigger picture of a more inclusive interconnected world, we can see the context of our differences and embrace an elevated empathy that builds bridges where, previously, there were only chasms. Evolution happens in gradual stages, and this book is a mandate and guide to expand ourselves, our minds and our actions to a more holistic view of our daily life within the macro system of modern life on Earth. While we may not all be able to travel into space, we can all benefit from adopting the Orbital Perspective.

[Eico Neumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ron Garan's book is nothing short of an advisory for life.
It should be mandatory for political decissionmakers and faculties teaching the leaders and strategists of tomorrow around the world.
While aiming at solving the big problems we as the 7 billion crew of spaceship Earth face, it enables through carefully chosen examples to zoom in into your own direct cosmos of daily decisions.
And while you enjoy the beautiful pictures of his 71-million mile journey at the end of the book, if you not already inherit it, you will have the Orbital Perspective and you will see: "There are more things that we share in common than things that separate us. We may be born in different countries, belong to different generations, speak different languages, but we are one species, with the same hopes and dreams for our children, for our communities, and for our planet."

A longer review can be found on my blog: http://spacetraveller.me
Or why don't you join the OP Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OrbitalPersp...

[JPMajor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll begin by saying what this book is not. This is not a "space book." It is not a coffee-table collection of glossy photos taken from low-Earth orbit, nor is it a breathless account of what it feels like to ride a rocket into space or live and work for months on end in weightlessness. While the author Ron Garan has indeed experienced all of these things and more during his time as a NASA astronaut, what he shares in The Orbital Perspective is how our global society can improve the future of everyone on the planet if we could just learn to work together and see the big picture... not unlike the privileged view that astronauts get every hour of every day in orbit.

The collaborative process has been of utmost importance to the success of our nation's space program, whether it be working between astronauts in space and their ground crew or cooperation between entire nations to develop a permanent Space Station. These same collaborative skills could be used in many endeavors, anywhere that teams of people must work together to achieve a common goal. Entrepreneurs, policymakers, team leaders and members, humanitarians, visionaries of all kinds... this book is for each and all of them. Because after all, this planet we call home – our Fragile Oasis – it really is just one world and we're all along for the ride.

So no, this is not a space book. This is a life book, about how we can make lives better around the world with the lessons we've learned by going to space.

As Ron reminds us, #TheKeyIsWe.

Interested? Read more of my review on LightsInTheDark.com.

[Kelly Schwark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ron Garan’s The Orbital Perspective is not just for space enthusiasts. It is for leaders, for dreamers, for innovators and for those searching for ways to have a positive impact in our world.

As I read through the book, I found myself nodding in constant agreement. I couldn’t help but beam with enthusiasm, knowing that there are others who shared the same hopeful aspirations for society, and who believe that we can and must do better for future generations. It is our responsibility to dream bigger, to challenge the status quo and to nurture empathy in ourselves as well as others. I finally have a name for the view that I have always had of our world: Orbital Perspective!

Even better than having a name to call this way of thought, is having the ability to share with others how they too can switch gears to obtain this profound perspective. This book offers its readers insight on how to achieve an Orbital Perspective without ever leaving the earth. Ron Garan’s book relays a message of hOPe, and that is a message well worth sharing.

[Vi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ron Garan is clearly an idealist, which I imagine rubs some readers the wrong way in The Orbital Perspective, but I'm probably a closeted version of this astronaut.

Even at my age, I ponder where I fit in finding solutions to big problems facing humanity and I ask myself repeatedly to not get jaded and forget the mission I've set for myself when I was quite young. This book ignites the hope in me, which is timely as I wonder what my next steps are and prepare for a graduate program in international affairs.

This book has left an indelible mark on me.

[Liam Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it really possible to learn how to make a difference in the world by reading a book by an Astronaut?

That was a question I had before reading a pre-release copy of "Orbital Perspective: Lessons in Seeing the Big Picture from a Journey of 71 Million Miles"

I had met with the author Ron Garan on several occasions over the past few years and heard the story of how his time in space provided an existential transformation about what it means to be human. In Ron's case (like many - but not all astronauts) that was the catalyst that propelled him to a life now which is committed to personally impacting the quality of life for all of humanity. This is evidenced through the many projects he has been directly involved with.

I have to admit however to having some pre-conceptions about what the book would actually be about - and what I would get from it.

I was expecting the story of an "existential awakening" from being exposed to views of the earth by being IN SPACE. I was expecting the tales of international collaboration (specifically US/Russian) that made the building of the ISS possible.

What I had not quite expected was the bottom line.

The bottom line is that Ron is saying the KEY to making a difference is never about governments. In the end it's not even about Institutions (e.g. NASA / Roscosmos).

It's never about "This organization" or "That organization".

In the end it is about ordinary people who through whatever means manage to lift their views of what is possible to an "Orbital Perspective". Out of that level of "Elevated Empathy" a new future becomes possible that disregards the short term gains that might otherwise be in the way of a sustainable solution to a critical issue in the world.

Who are these ordinary people? You and Me. #TheKeyIsWe

Read the book for the full scoop.

I hope you too can become present to what's possible if we all raise ourselves up to the level of an "Orbital Perspective" and tackled our issues from that view.

note: As part of the "OP Crew" I was given early access to the book for the purposes of being able to write this review.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared to see the world differently, and to feel compelled to change it!

I have been fascinated with space exploration for quite some time, but I am by no means a specialist when it comes to the subject. When I learned that Ron Garan, an astronaut who spent 178 days on the International Space Station (ISS), was releasing a book, I jumped on the occasion to read it. I am more than happy to have done so.

The message it conveys resonated with me more than I could have imagined. I can honestly say that it changed my perspective of the world and gave me hope -- hope that stayed present once the last page was turned, hope that made me reevaluate a part of my existence, but most importantly, hope that motivated me to get out there and do something for the greater good.

The book is written in a clear and concise language, which makes it accessible to everyone regardless of background, knowledge or interests. It is also written very humbly. The author does not pretend to have all the answers, nor does he make the reader feel inferior in any way. You can tell that he really cares about his fellow humans; he has faith in humanity and believes that with global cooperation/collaboration, elevated empathy and a few other ingredients, we can make our fragile oasis a better place for each and for all. Mr. Garan gives many interesting examples of successful collaboration stories over the years (Russia and the United States in space during the cold era; the Chilean miners’ rescue, and numerous other mass collaboration projects) to illustrate how powerful each and every single one of us can be if we rally our efforts. The key really is we.

[C. A. Vulliamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you could journey into orbit and look upon humanity's entire sphere of existence, how would your mindset about life on Earth be altered?

When Astronaut Ron Garan embarked on his second mission to ISS in 2011, he succeeded in taking a great many people with him. His desire to share the amazing experiences of his first mission to ISS led to a ground-breaking initiative that succeeded in elevating people from being mere spectators to becoming active participants. To me, this outreach was several orders of magnitude more impactful than anything that had gone before and when I heard about this book, it quickly became clear that its content would be hugely important to anyone wanting to make a positive and significant impact on the world.

The book is, at it's heart, a call to action: It challenges the reader to find ways of using the principles illustrated throughout its pages to take collaborative action toward addressing the most significant challenges facing our global society.

Supporting this call to action is a message of hope. The book threads together a rich tapestry of insights gleaned from exposure to some of the most remarkable events of our age. The greatest feats of international cooperation aptly serve as examples of the potential for humanity's new-found ability to solve many of the world's most pressing challenges.
In the light of these endeavours, people's tendency to think that because something has never been done before it must therefore be 'impossible' is shown to be a flawed and very limiting mindset. This book succeeds in liberating us from such restrictive ways of thinking by visiting examples of success in collaborative efforts which had previously been deemed by many to be impossible to accomplish.
From these examples, several principles that can be usefully applied to future collaborative efforts are identified.


Part 1 of the book presents an excellent case in point: illustrating the challenges faced by the early Cosmonauts, Astronauts, Roscosmos and NASA staff in working together and how they managed to overcome issues that threatened to derail their collaborative efforts.
Anyone who experienced the Cold War would agree that back then, the very concept of the two superpowers actually sharing hard-won military technology, setting aside the idea of space as the new military high ground and agreeing to explore it together would be an abstract dream... A virtual impossibility.

And yet, that which many had deemed 'impossible' to accomplish has become a celebrated reality, yielding a modern wonder of the world.

While these lessons in cross-cultural cooperation will be of special interest to anyone who has experienced the detrimental impact of poor collaboration or the pointlessness of destructive competition, there are many takeaways from the insights into US / Russian cooperation in space that can be of great value to everybody who is willing to weigh them against their own experiences, providing valuable guidance and new approaches to future collaborative ventures.


Moving through the frame of this great achievement, the reader is brought forward to 2008 by which time US / Russian collaboration in space exploration had blossomed into the fifteen-nation ISS partnership.

Beginning with the visceral experience of being launched into space aboard STS-124 on the mission to integrate the ISS's Kibo module, moments of reflection punctuate the demanding work schedule. When seen through the eyes of a humanitarian, the sublime beauty of our Planet belies the difficulties that many of its inhabitants face.
At several points, the author is struck by the sobering juxtaposition between the tranquil beauty of our Planet and the harsh discord that exists between many of it's peoples.
Although this dichotomy is rarely visible from low earth orbit, one such instance is the India-Pakistan border - floodlit at night and visible from orbit - standing as a pertinent symptom of humanity's dire need to focus on global collaboration and find ways to put disagreements aside.

The book promotes the adoption of an Orbital Perspective in applying ourselves to the challenges we face - it is a perspective that everyone should become familiar with... I would summarise the concept of an Orbital Perspective here, but my attempt to do so would detract from the overall message so eloquently presented throughout this book - the only way gain a proper understanding of it is to read the book, digest its content and then take action! ...Suffice to say that it synthesises an all-encompassing overview with a full understanding and consideration of the intricate details of how things operate at ground-level.
It engenders respect, compassion, elevated empathy, creativity, a sense of gratitude, of interconnectedness and - most significantly - Unity among all people.
The phrase 'unity among all people' may at first sound cliché, but to those who have crossed into the great cosmic void of space and looked back at Earth, they come to see humanity as a collective whole - as crewmates aboard Spaceship Earth.

Most significantly, readers are reminded that they don't need to have seen the Earth from orbit in order to integrate an Orbital Perspective into reappraising their goals and lives - another of the book's strengths is the manner in which it relates this message of hope by taking the reader on a progressive process of insight and realisation bolstered by many examples which reinforce the core message - this is important because when it comes to truly formidable goals such as eradicating poverty globally, people may naturally feel that they can't make any real impact on such vital global issues because the efforts of individuals seem insignificant when compared to the sheer size of the challenge. Therefore good intentions often remain mere intentions and don't precipitate into decisive action due to this 'conventional thinking'. This book proves by example that individuals can have a significant positive impact if their effort is scalable and they collaborate well - initiatives that start as small-scale collaborative efforts can grow, giving rise to exponentially positive impact which can lead to significant advances being made toward solving major challenges.

I hope that you too will heed the call to action presented in this book.
I'm mindful of the adage that reminds us 'When a wise man points to the sky, it would be foolish to only look at the finger'. Just as when reading this book, it is important to remember that it resolutely points toward a far better future for the human family and our Planet. We have merely to follow the trajectory it defines.

[Lavanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A collection of individuals is more likely than a collection of nations to make real progress toward solving our biggest challenges."

Astronaut Ron Garan's book, The Orbital Perspective is truly a beacon of hope in an otherwise challenging world. The message is clear: in order to ensure our survival, we must collaborate with one another and join hands across states, nations and continents to help solve the world's most pressing issues. We are one. We are interconnected. We are capable of rising above borders and across seas. We NEED to collaborate.
Humanity has had great success in technology and in medicine. So why are we unable to eradicate conditions such as poverty, war and hunger that continue to ravage our planet? In this book, Ron Garan acknowledges the enormity of the task, yet beautifully explains why it shouldn't be overwhelming or unimaginable to improve these conditions. He presents lessons learned from the construction of the International Space Station and applies them to current issues that we face on Earth. Ron has flown in space twice and spent over five months orbiting our Fragile Oasis. These experiences have given him a unique outlook, aptly termed an orbital persepective. He explains how the orbital perspective isn't merely a unique view of the Earth from space, but that it is a call to action. It is the ability to zoom out, consider all the ways in which we are interconnected on Earth; it is the ability to have an elevated empathy for our fellow humans and to come together in such a way that we better the lives of all of humanity. In this book, Ron explains how a worm's-eye view of an issue, coupled with an orbital perspective is key to ensure success.
My biggest takeaway from this book was that we CAN change the world by working WITH each other. We don't necessarily need to look to governments or to major bureaucratic organizations. We need to have the willingness to shed egos, the desire to place global priorities above our personal wishes, and the ability to expand our web of trust to our fellow humans so that true progress can take place.
Ron's words are thought-provoking and insightful. It is evident that writing this book has been a labour of love for him. I can truly say that The Orbital Perspective has given me a restless energy: it has enriched my knowledge, but more so, it has made me want to find ways in which I can make a difference in this world and uplift humankind. As Ron eloquently puts it, "It doesn't require going into space to realize that we are all living on a precious, fragile planet, that we are all in this together, and that together we have a great number of challenges to overcome."
The Orbital Perspective is a must-read for everyone who is interested in leaving this planet a better place than one into which they entered. It is an engaging read that will prompt you to take action. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to extending my hand to Ron and the rest of the OP Crew as we look towards ensuring a better future for our co-passengers on spaceship Earth. #TheKeyIsWe

[Sara Chardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a growing fascination with space, dating back to the first ever shuttle launch, I found astronaut Ron Garan’s firsthand accounts of his missions into space truly insightful.

But I discovered this book is much more than an astronaut’s memoirs. It is a call to action.

His views of Earth from 240 miles above, led Garan to see the world as a whole, without the dividing lines of nations, peoples or religions. Yet he also knew at ground level, deep conflicts and poverty exist.

He saw the need for global collaboration, rather than division. The complex emotions he felt, gave him, what he describes as, “The Orbital Perspective”. This has led him to reject our planet’s current status quo, and embark on a quest to help eliminate suffering and conflict.

Garan’s future hopes for the planet are not unfounded. In the book, he reflects on examples of successful collaboration. One of these showed how nations joined together to build the most complex structure ever built, the International Space Station (ISS), previously unthinkable against the backdrop of the Cold War.

Garan makes it clear that it’s not a prerequisite to travel into space to gain an Orbital Perspective. He says it is gained from an acknowledgment that we are all travelling together on our fragile planet. An Orbital Perspective should lead us to empathize with our fellow human beings, no matter what race or religion.

Garan’s call to action is to share the Orbital Perspective and spread the message of cooperation around the world. He hopes individuals and organisations will work together to find long-term sustainable solutions to help improve life on Earth for the whole of global society.

The message from this book is profound and inspiring: “Nothing is impossible.” #TheKeyIsWe

A longer review can be found on my blog: https://sarachardin.wordpress.com/201...
Join the Orbital Perspective Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OrbitalPersp...

[Keith Heitner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ron Garan has written an incredibly inspirational book on how to create a better world. Using the history of the ISS as one example, he explains in clear concise language how it is possible for disparate groups of people to come together for the greater good. With all the problems and conflicts that are occurring on our planet, Ron outlines attainable solutions to combat poverty and hunger which he rightly sees as the seeds for said conflicts. He tells the story of his 2 space missions and how that experience moved him to take action to improve life down here on Earth. Fighter pilot turned Astronaut turned Humanitarian, Ron Garan hits a home run with this book. Highly recommended!

[David Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This inspiring book profiles Astronaut Ron Garen's experience in space and it expanded his global worldview. He is now working hard to bring people from all over the globe to the same table to collaborate and care for our one common earth. The enhanced edition on the Apple iBookstore and Google Play includes over an hour of video and amost 60 color photos. Definitely worth the extra $2 over the text-only version if you are reading the e-book instead of the hardcover.

[Ron Garan]

"The Orbital Perspective" is my first book. It was truly a labor of love. I'm excited to report that my next book is coming out soon. "Floating in Darkness - A Journey of Evolution" is not only a labor of love but it is also a baring of the soul. Please stay tuned I will share more information about this follow-on to the "Orbital Perspective" soon. Thanks, Ron

[Johnathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Orbital Perspective: Lessons in Seeing the Big Picture from a Journey of 71 Million Miles by Ron Garan is a thoughtful, inspiring, and earnest reflection on humanity's ability to stimulate meaningful change and tackle global challenges through large-scale, purpose-driven collaboration.

As author, humanitarian, entrepreneur, and accomplished NASA astronaut, Ron offers a compelling vision of hope, progress, and possibility when confronting many of the issues that burden our world today.

Ron shares real stories of incredible teamwork and impressive accomplishments at the community, national, and international levels that vividly demonstrate the type of ingenuity, resourcefulness, and compassion critical for success.

He takes the reader on a journey highlighting the U.S.-Russian partnership in the aftermath of the Cold War that eventually spawned the International Space Station; the contribution of NASA toward an urgent international effort to rescue Chilean miners trapped under extreme conditions; the strides of young children escaping and transcending violent conflict in Sudan to spread messages of peace; the sustainable development of and large impact on indigent communities in Rwanda and Kenya; and several other heartening experiences and movements that emerge despite significant hardship.

What I appreciated the most about this book was Ron's knack for instilling pragmatic optimism while acknowledging there is no panacea to solving the world's problems. He distills concrete, insightful anecdotes into workable foundational principles. He outlines the core characteristics and structured frameworks necessary to facilitate broader societal change. He also dissects important lessons learned about group dynamics that undoubtedly influence outcomes, such as how to build trust, encourage empathy, nurture positive mindsets, strengthen communication skills, bridge cultural divides, and reach beyond perceived differences to attain shared goals -- objectives that could not otherwise be achieved alone.

Ultimately, Ron solicits a call to action for a nuanced, unassuming, and long-term integrated approach to work together to preserve the world for future generations and to improve our collective well-being.

I recommend this book to anyone who seeks inspiration, values collaboration, envisions a greater purpose, aspires to be a global citizen, and believes that smart, persistent efforts can make a substantial difference.

"Adopting an orbital perspective simply involves incorporation of a big picture and long-term awareness of the full effects of the decisions we make, and an ability to put yourself in another’s shoes. It requires that we develop empathy for the struggles that our crewmates on Spaceship Earth endure."

"Pulling back to the orbital perspective helps us to realize...we’re all riding through the universe together. There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth, only crewmates, and we all have a responsibility to mind the ship and take care of [each other]."

[Blanca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ron Garan, author of The Orbital Perspective, reminds us that nothing is impossible. His story takes us through his life as an American astronaut, as a humanitarian through his work with the Manna Energy Foundation and Engineers Without Borders, and includes stories of others’ work that have inspired him. It is the historical account, however, of the Russian-US collaboration to save the space program, that helps to highlight that relationships matter and that in order to make something great happen, you must establish trust.

This story is a fascinating look at the barriers faced today as we all try and fail at solving the world’s biggest problems - clean water for all, creating self-sustaining communities, eradicating poverty. Ron takes us through the successful launch of the International Space Shuttle (ISS), a collaboration of 15 countries across the world and shares his viewpoint on why it worked. His experiences at, and incredible views from, the ISS, help him develop a shift in mind-set, a realization that nothing is impossible. What happens once we realize that as human beings “our sphere of influence is in fact global”? That is, “the orbital perspective”. The Orbital Perspective is a wake up call to all of us whose efforts and intents are to make life better for others.

How do we find the balance between making a living, living to work, and demonstrating social responsibility to our fragile oasis? You may find the inspiration you need in this book. The Orbital Perspective is Ron Garan's call to us with concrete examples of "democracy in action" showcasing ordinary citizens with passion and talent pushing the limits of their creativity with others, in a shared global space, to solve Earth's problems.

Garan succeeds at conveying the image of the world as a fragile oasis. He includes practical ideas about collaborating and co-laboring globally, using social media to expand efforts - all that can be applied to our own lives. He also has some interesting nuggets about DuoLingo, Uber, and AirBnB.

I highly recommend reading this book and delving deeper into the work that Garan and others are involved with and if you can, try it from the comfort of a window seat, 36K miles up, with a view of the sun setting on the horizon. It is nothing short of spectacular.

[Cian O'Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never reviewed a book before. I've read lots of them, sure, but I've never gotten around to sharing my thoughts on something I've read. However after reading "The Orbital Perspective," the newly released book by astronaut Ron Garan, I've never felt so compelled to spread a universal message before. That is, the message of trust, hope, and global collaboration.

Having flown in space twice, including a five and a half month flight to the International Space Station in 2011, Garan has seen the beauty of planet Earth from space. He beautifully recalls the history and stories of the US-Russian space programmes, and how both nations have evolved from being the bitterest of enemies, into the friendliest of partners on board the ISS.

"The Orbital Perspective" is more than just a good book, nor is it just a book that only the space enthusiasts in your life should read. It appeals to everyone of all ages and nations who would like to see the Earth in a better state than it's already in. Astronauts and cosmonauts always say that if everyone could get the opportunity to see our planet from space, that the world would be a better place. The same is true for this book. If everyone could get their hands on Ron Garan's new book "The Orbital Perspective," the world and we, the citizens of "spaceship Earth" would be much better off.

After reading it, one immediately feels that all of the problems that we face on planet Earth today are able to be overcome. The only question we need to ask ourselves is how exactly do we knock down the barriers that stand in place between nations being able to trust one another, and Ron Garan certainly does a fantastic job in coming up with possible solutions.

Garan has successfully just written the textbook that will provide people from all corners of the globe with the information on how to view ourselves and our planet a little differently- by shifting our perspective to that of the orbital perspective. Immerse yourself in a journey around the world, hearing first-hand stories of successful cooperation between different nations and organisations working toward a common good, all from the comfort of your home.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

An illuminating and informative read, on a topic very close to my heart.

Spending time in space (189 days in the author’s case), orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes, causes deep and profound shifts in a person’s perception of our planet; this was especially true for Ron Garan.

Orbital Perspective begins with Looking Skyward:
The first of three sections contains enlightening aspects of how the USSR-Russia and USA overcame deep hostilities to achieve highly successful partnerships in space-related projects, starting with Apollo-Soyuz, then Shuttle-Mir, and finally the grand achievement of the International Space Station.
By using similar, smaller steps, it’s possible that current deeply-rooted global problems can be overcome.

The book continues with Looking Earthward and Looking Forward:
Frank White’s brilliant book “The Overview Effect” (there’s a great summary video here: http://vimeo.com/55073825) explains the change in thinking, a cognitive shift, that takes place when seeing the Earth from space. Orbital Perspective derives from that and is a call to action for worldwide collaboration (particularly among development workers) and new longer-term perceptions of global problems.

Garan advocates the benefits of and need for collaborating effectively on a global scale, using examples such as Vision Zero, which explores ways to eliminate traffic accidents through vehicle sensing and smart roadways, and the Chilean mine rescue, the success of which was aided by a shift from short-term to long-term thinking by international participants.

Earth is our one and only ride through space and time; we’d have a better chance at a better future by embracing the forward-looking, long term thinking outlined in this book.

Ron Rosano
Twitter:  @ronrosano   https://twitter.com/ronrosano

[David Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing book on how we can change the world around us by simply working together. Ron Garan takes us on a well written journey on how “we is the key” through the “Orbital Perspective”. The Orbital Perspective is the view that by working together, we can overcome obstacles that we couldn't do alone. Using the International Space Station as a primary example of the Orbital Perspective, we see how collaboration works. It took a total of 15 countries, all with multiple cultural differences to collaborate to build the largest space stations, which improves our lives every day.

One of the sections of this book that stands out to me the most is a photo of the Indian-Pakistan border from space. It is a massive stretch of light that shows how divided we can be and it is disturbing that we can create physical barriers that large in this day and age. It shows that barriers that shouldn't exist do exist because we put our own interests first, even if they are harming in the long run.

We are a global community, living in what Ron calls a “Fragile Oasis”. Humanity is now connected in ways never before, yet we don’t use the global connections to collaborate to make sure our Fragile Oasis doesn't fall apart. Ron shows us how we can use those connections to do just that, to work together to help others. In short, this book shows us that if humanity wants to improve, to make the world a better place, we have to work together because together we can achieve anything.

[Rose Tanega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ron Garan's The Orbital Perspective calls to light a necessary message in a prose ready to be shared. From the historical context of the US/USSR collaborations to Garan's own experience as an astronaut, all manners of ethos make this a compelling read. Garan's unique background and insight into international relations cannot be compared to any in the realm of contemporary activism.

Colonel Garan, on contrary to his humility, has a message that deserves to be propagated from the highest echelons to plebeian leaders of tomorrow. His book is a testament to a future whose inception lay just over the horizon if we can just work together. Let's choose to start seeing from The Orbital Perspective, I highly recommend this book and will not hesitate to do my part and pass on this title to others.

[Clay Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author seems to almost have a messiah complex. The basic notion of the book is that if we can explore space we should be able to do x. Goodreads said this book was 240 pages long it only has 185. The length of the book was good.

[Andrew Chandler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up by accident, getting it confused with The Overview Effect by astronaut Frank White. Both books center on the overview effect, the effect experienced by astronauts when they see earth from space and are overwhelmed with earth's fragility when seen from this vantage point. However, Garan rebrands this experience, saying that the new way of seeing the world after after such experience is called the orbital perspective, and entails looking at the big pictures when tackling some of the worlds problems (like hunger, poverty, etc).

Garan then later explains that his "orbital perspective" wasn't a result of his spacewalks but an idea he had been considering before his time in space. So while Garan gives a great summary of US-Soviet Union/Russian relationships in space and the early days of ISS and also details his successes with Engineers Without Borders, the actual "orbital perspective" and its relationship to his work as an astronaut feels contrived. And his recommendations (look at the big picture, but focus on the details, be innovative, but don't innovate when practical, simple methods already exist) are the type that have filled tons of books before.

[DenFYM · Rating 5 out of 5]

My home is earth. Along with many others, I probably take my ‘home’ for granted, but I’ve read enough by various astronauts to know that, once you’ve seen our planet from way above - the ‘orbital perspective’ - you see it differently.

Garan’s book starts out in a similar vein to other books by astronauts. As a space fan, I was highly entertained by the space stories and some previously unheard snippets of information - complemented in the enhanced ebook by the sometimes hilarious (obviously a good sense of humour is important for astronaut selection) videos between chapters. But this book explores more than just space. This book makes you THINK. As a human being, I couldn’t help but be inspired by Garan’s enthusiasm to improve life for everyone in our ‘home’. Like many others, I have long been frustrated by the injustices in this world, but … how could I do anything? Simple - ‘the key is WE’.

‘The Orbital Perspective’ tells that, by working together, we can improve things both off and on the earth. By using examples of highly successful collaboration between, shall we say ‘competitors’, Garan explains how better progress can be made towards a shared goal. The international space programme exists because the many partners recognised, understood and accepted their cultural differences, learned to trust each other and pooled their individual expertise to run, arguably, the biggest successful project of our generation. If we can cooperate in this way to achieve amazing feats off the planet, why can’t we do it ON earth too?

It’s a simple message, but sometimes we don’t see the obvious when it’s right in front of us. Every astronaut mentions how beautiful and fragile our earth looks from space. How there are no visible borders. How small and isolated we really are. Garan wants us all to think of it this way and outlines ideas to make a difference.
OK, so we’re not going to change the ways of the world overnight but, if everyone who reads this book - and I’m sure millions will - passes on the message, our earth WILL become a better place for it.

And I will never again listen to Led Zeppelin’s ‘Kashmir’ in the same way!
 

[Anastasia Trifontsova · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Из космоса границ не видно" - книга, написанная Роном Гараном, американским астронавтом, который провел на околоземной орбите более 178 дней и 27 часов в открытом космосе. По его словам, именно вид нашей планеты с борта космического корабля кардинально изменил его взгляды на жизнь и помог сформировать "орбитальную точку зрения".
Он отметил, что если разные государства смогли отбросить разногласия и объединиться ради создания настолько сложной структуры как МКС, то и в планетарном масштабе страны могут действовать сообща для преодоления глобальных проблем и достижения общего блага, а не только удовлетворения собственных интересов.
"Из космоса границ не видно" - своеобразный манифест Рона Гарана, его призыв к действию и осознанию того, что планета Земля - наш общий дом. В книге он делится как историями из своего внеземного пребывания, так и самыми различными случаями из современной истории, наглядно иллюстрирующими как слаженные действия людей могут решать самые сложные проблемы на Земле.
Что же касается моего мнения, то мне книга показалась через чур идеалистичной, идея бескорыстного сотрудничества между государствами и людьми прекрасна, но это утопия. Человек по природе своей эгоистичен, и, помня пирамиду потребностей Маслоу, можно понять, что в первую очередь каждый житель Земли думает о себе и своих близких, о том, что касается его непосредственно здесь и сейчас, а потом уже о таянии льдов Антарктиды и голодающих детях Африки.
По большому счету "Из космоса границ не видно" сводится к одной мысли -"перестаньте мыслить узко, встаньте на орбитальную точку зрения", она повторяется настолько часто, что набивает оскомину, но звучит крайне неубедительно. Количество же "воды" в этой книге просто зашкаливает, мне порой приходилось пропускать целые куски текста, чтобы не заснуть.
Но вот в чем Рон Гаран хорош, так это в рассказывании историй из своего космического прошлого, от глав с ними было настолько трудно оторваться, что я бы с удовольствием почитала его мемуары на эту тему. Надеюсь, что когда-нибудь он их издаст.

[Tom Donaghey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Orbital Perspective: Lessons in Seeing the Big Picture from a Journey of 71 Million Miles by Ron Garan is a plea put out by the author to every inhabitant of this planet. The question is a simple one. Do you care enough about this place you live to be able to put aside your petty differences, see beyond mine, and try to unite to make this world a better place.
Ron Garan is a guy who does things such as being a college graduate, an Air Force officer, an astronaut and a shepherd of the Earth. He has used his past, his many flights into space, his time while on the International Spaces Station, to wonder about why we can’t put aside our differences and become greater than what we have been. He looked at the cooperation of the space agencies that united to first put man into orbit and later to keep him there for extended periods of time.
The thought is simple. If we can put aside or doubts and fears, our selfishness and greed, could we find a way in which too bring the peoples of the Earth together. The execution is not so simple, but he and many others are already working on that better tomorrow. This book is the introduction to the thoughts and actions of these people.
This is a beautiful book, long on ideas and hope, but a book that may just herald in a new world. Perhaps you might like to join up.
I won this book through Goodreads.

[Kirk Astroth · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I heard Ron Garan speak at the Tucson Festival of Books in March, I was inspired by his message of one people, one planet, one destiny. His book is a powerful statement about the need for both an orbital perspective and the worm's eye view. Collaboration, cooperation and trust are critical to solving the world's most intractable problems. Nothing is impossible. He gives many examples where people are doing the impossible. Impossible.com for one. Uber and Air BNB as examples built on provisional trust. Geeks without Borders and Random Hacks of Kindness. And he gives great examples of how international development efforts can be more productive--but it will take a mind shift. The videos that go with his Coursera class are great. "War is humanity's greatest failure."

[Jason Bellamy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this book a higher rating but I just couldn't get past the vague statements. There was not enough concrete examples. Also I wish I had a penny for every time orbital perspective was repeated. I'm a space fan but I just couldn't get into this book.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely. Inspiring. Weighty. You can't read this book without it changing how you think about the world. Four stars not five because I feel like it was written for people who are already in a position to do big things. As an ordinary person, I have no idea where to begin.

[Brenda Greene · Rating 2 out of 5]

The preface of "the orbital perspective" briefly (one sentence) describes the profound impact that seeing the earth from orbit had on Ron's life. This experience inspired Ron to write this book as part of his journey to solve world problems e.g., war, poverty.

After thinking about it, Ron's insight is that humanity needs to cooperate and collaborate more. He issues a call to action for every reader to join him on that quest via an organisation he has set up, called Fragile Oasis.

The book's introduction outlines relationships between Russia and the USSR space programme and how this evolved over time as an example of how his vision can work.

It's best to skip both of these chapters as there is nothing new here that isn't better told in other books.

The remaining chapters provide more detail about USSR and USA cooperating to operate the ISS and how the lessons learned can be applied globally. The lessons are repetitive, well meaning and well known.

There are glimpses into his life in space and ideas about how humanitarian causes on earth have worked.

Ron is politically naiive at best. He appears unaware or does not address that the expense of the ISS and other space exploits is opposed by many who believe that the resources could be better spent on solving the exact world problems that fuel his concerns.

The colour photos, of Ron, rockets etc, are used to promote the "orbital" perspective. His son is a talented photographer but there is no mention of this or links between the photos and text.

There is little sense in the book about the importance of the ISS, the work he undertook or his personal relationships with others e.g his son, wife, other astronauts, Russians.

I wanted to know more about what makes him tick and how he approached or changed his approach to life's challenges. I would have also liked examples of how he has applied his lessons learned to his own life.

This is the manifesto of a personal organisation based on the opinions and experiences of a highly priviledged man. He is following that manifesto via considerable humanitarian work. That's what the book should be about.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK
I love the idea of the power of the orbital perspective. And I love how he explained it is possible to have an orbital perspective WITHOUT going to space.

Clips & bookmarks:
African proverb: fast = alone but far = together.
Rarely does anyone get credit for maintenance - instead installing new things is valued - this reminds me of civil engineering infrastructure, HS2.
National interest always trumps planetary interest.
Servir
Impossible.com by Lily Cole
When he landed on Earth he saw out his window a rock, a flower and a blade of grass and thought, I am home. He had landed in Kazakstan not his hometown of Houston Texas and in that moment realised the planet was his home, not just his city.
When we connect more than 7 billion creative, problem solving minds into a global conversation, we will find solutions we never dreamed of, coming from places we've never heard of.
Impact Collab.