What do you think?
Rate this book
Space Oddities - Forgotten Stories of Mankind's Exploration of Space
Nothing captivates the human imagination like the vast unknowns of space. Ancient petroglyphs present renderings of the heavens, proof that we have been gazing up at the stars with wonder for thousands of years. Since then, mankind has systematically expanded our cosmic possibilities. What were once flights of fancy and dreams of science fiction writers have become nearly routine – a continuous human presence orbiting the Earth, probes flying beyond our solar system, and men walking on the moon. NASA and the Russian space program make traveling to the stars look easy, but it has been far from that. Space travel is a sometimes heroic, sometimes humorous, and always dangerous journey fraught with perils around every corner that most of us have never heard of or have long since forgotten.
Space Oddities brings these unknown, offbeat, and obscure stories of space to life. From the showmanship and bravado of the earliest known space fatality, German Max Valier, to the first ever indictment under the Espionage Act on an Army officer who leaked secrets concerning the development of early U.S. rockets; and the story of a single loose bolt that defeated the Soviet Union’s attempt to beat America to the moon.
Author Joe Cuhaj also sheds light on the human aspects of space travel that have remained industry secrets – until now: how the tradition of using a musical playlist to wake astronauts up began, fascinating tales about inventions like the Fischer Space Pen, Omega watches, and even Tang breakfast drink.
In addition to fun and entertaining space trivia, Space Oddities also features stories of the profound impact that space travel has had on challenges right here at home, like the effort by civil rights leaders and activists in the 1960s to bring the money from the space program back home to those in need on Earth; NASA’s FLATs (First Lady Astronaut Training) program and the 13 women who were selected to become astronauts in 1960, but were denied a chance at flying even after successfully completing the rigorous astronaut training program; and, the animals who many times sacrificed their lives to prove that man could fly in space.
Filled with rare and little-known stories, Space Oddities will bring the final frontier to the homes of diehard space readers and armchair astronauts alike.
Space Oddities brings these unknown, offbeat, and obscure stories of space to life. From the showmanship and bravado of the earliest known space fatality, German Max Valier, to the first ever indictment under the Espionage Act on an Army officer who leaked secrets concerning the development of early U.S. rockets; and the story of a single loose bolt that defeated the Soviet Union’s attempt to beat America to the moon.
Author Joe Cuhaj also sheds light on the human aspects of space travel that have remained industry secrets – until now: how the tradition of using a musical playlist to wake astronauts up began, fascinating tales about inventions like the Fischer Space Pen, Omega watches, and even Tang breakfast drink.
In addition to fun and entertaining space trivia, Space Oddities also features stories of the profound impact that space travel has had on challenges right here at home, like the effort by civil rights leaders and activists in the 1960s to bring the money from the space program back home to those in need on Earth; NASA’s FLATs (First Lady Astronaut Training) program and the 13 women who were selected to become astronauts in 1960, but were denied a chance at flying even after successfully completing the rigorous astronaut training program; and, the animals who many times sacrificed their lives to prove that man could fly in space.
Filled with rare and little-known stories, Space Oddities will bring the final frontier to the homes of diehard space readers and armchair astronauts alike.
208 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2022
8 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Joe Cuhaj
30 books4 followersJoe Cuhaj is a former radio broadcaster turned author and freelance writer. He began his radio career following his enlistment in the Navy at a station just outside of New York City -W.W.U.U. - in 1980 then moved to Mobile in 1981 with his wife who is from the Port City. His radio career flourished as he worked for the next several years a different stations.
Joe fell in love with Alabama’s bio-diversity and continued one of his favorite pastimes, hiking and backpacking. In 2000, he combined his love of hiking and writing and penned his first book, Hiking Alabama. Since then, Joe has written several outdoor recreation books for Falcon Guides. His outdoor writings can also be found on RootsRated.Com.
Joe left radio and became a software programmer but continued his passion for writing. In addition to outdoor recreation, Joe has a love and passion for history which he had a chance to delve into when he co-authored Baseball in Mobile for Arcadia Publishing and a look at some uknown history from Mobile in his book, Hidden History of Mobile.. He has also written historical articles and web content for several sites and publications on a wide variety of subjects, and falling back on his radio career, he has produced a number of humorous short story podcasts that can be heard on his website, www.joe-cuhaj.com.
Joe fell in love with Alabama’s bio-diversity and continued one of his favorite pastimes, hiking and backpacking. In 2000, he combined his love of hiking and writing and penned his first book, Hiking Alabama. Since then, Joe has written several outdoor recreation books for Falcon Guides. His outdoor writings can also be found on RootsRated.Com.
Joe left radio and became a software programmer but continued his passion for writing. In addition to outdoor recreation, Joe has a love and passion for history which he had a chance to delve into when he co-authored Baseball in Mobile for Arcadia Publishing and a look at some uknown history from Mobile in his book, Hidden History of Mobile.. He has also written historical articles and web content for several sites and publications on a wide variety of subjects, and falling back on his radio career, he has produced a number of humorous short story podcasts that can be heard on his website, www.joe-cuhaj.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 13, 2022
An interesting collection of stories concerning mankind's quest to go to space. The author tells us background stories and anecdotes from both the American and Soviet side of the space race. Most people know the general big picture story of this rivalry, but this book goes into details such as the animals who were sent into space, often sacrificing their lives for the advancement of science. There's tales of practical jokes astronauts played with each other. There's discussion about the civil rights and gender rights movements and their impact on NASA. Overall, for someone who has an interest in mankind's space travels, this book is a good, quick read.
*Thanks to the publisher for the ARC provided for an honest review!*
*Thanks to the publisher for the ARC provided for an honest review!*
February 8, 2022
(3.25/5) When I saw this book, I immediately thought of Marcia Belsky's classic song "Proof that NASA Doesn't Know Anything About Women" which has a bad habit of randomly getting stuck in my head
Sadly, this tidbit of information was not included in the book (although I think Cuhaj would find it hard to surpass Belsky's presentation). Overall, I thought the book was interesting, if a bit repetitive at some points with a couple anecdotes told more than once. I learned a lot and it was the right level of seriousness. I think it covered a mix of funny, thought-provoking, and tragic (still sad about Laika). I wouldn't say that it produces anything new/groundbreaking that you wouldn't know if you were a big NASA/space nerd, but as someone who is generally interested but doesn't take family vacations to Cape Canaveral I thought it was very on the level. A good non-fiction read!
"Remember when NASA sent
a woman to space for
only six days
and they gave her
One hundred tampons.
One hundred tampons,
and they asked "will that be enough?"
Sadly, this tidbit of information was not included in the book (although I think Cuhaj would find it hard to surpass Belsky's presentation). Overall, I thought the book was interesting, if a bit repetitive at some points with a couple anecdotes told more than once. I learned a lot and it was the right level of seriousness. I think it covered a mix of funny, thought-provoking, and tragic (still sad about Laika). I wouldn't say that it produces anything new/groundbreaking that you wouldn't know if you were a big NASA/space nerd, but as someone who is generally interested but doesn't take family vacations to Cape Canaveral I thought it was very on the level. A good non-fiction read!
February 7, 2022
Space Oddities was a fun book to read. Even if you're familiar with the stories, the author manages to highlight an obscure fact, use a great quote, or offer a new perspective. He ties it all together by strking just the right tone and providing a great deal of information for a very readable narrative.
The book follows a fairly linear timeline, beginning with the first Chinese fire arrow before introducing the reader to 20th century (manned) rocket development with the work of Max Valier and subsequently Wernher von Braun. Many, if not all, stories include an international perspective, not limited to the US alone.
Serious topics include the use of animals in launch tests, malfunctions, the integration of women and minorities, and international politics; however, these are appropriately balanced with humorous tales of wake up music, practical jokes, and sex in space.
This is not a technical history and Cuhaj does a fine job bringing out the human element. I appreciated that the author deliberately pointed out that the impressive Women in Space program (nicknamed Mercury 13) was a privately funded venture and not a government/NASA sanctioned project. Animal lovers may find it difficult to read about the sad, though necessary, use of animals.
Overall, there is something for everyone who thinks they "know it all" about the space race. I highly recommend this book.
The book follows a fairly linear timeline, beginning with the first Chinese fire arrow before introducing the reader to 20th century (manned) rocket development with the work of Max Valier and subsequently Wernher von Braun. Many, if not all, stories include an international perspective, not limited to the US alone.
Serious topics include the use of animals in launch tests, malfunctions, the integration of women and minorities, and international politics; however, these are appropriately balanced with humorous tales of wake up music, practical jokes, and sex in space.
This is not a technical history and Cuhaj does a fine job bringing out the human element. I appreciated that the author deliberately pointed out that the impressive Women in Space program (nicknamed Mercury 13) was a privately funded venture and not a government/NASA sanctioned project. Animal lovers may find it difficult to read about the sad, though necessary, use of animals.
Overall, there is something for everyone who thinks they "know it all" about the space race. I highly recommend this book.
September 12, 2022
Nothing captivates the human imagination like the vast unknowns of space. From ancient times, Mankind has been gazing up at the stars with wonder. What were once flights of fancy and dreams of science fiction writers have become nearly routine – a continuous human presence orbiting the Earth, probes flying beyond our solar system, and men walking on the moon. Space travel is a sometimes heroic, sometimes humorous, and always dangerous journey fraught with perils around every corner that most of us have never heard of or have long since forgotten.
Space Oddities is a collection of the human stories behind space exploration. From the earliest known space fatality, German Max Valier, to the story of a single loose bolt that defeated the Soviet Union’s attempt to beat America to the moon, Space Oddities brings these unknown, offbeat, and obscure stories of space to life.
The book follows a fairly linear timeline – From Wan Hu (the first one to experiment with rockets in Ancient China) to Wernher von Braun (Nazi Germany defector who launched the US space program) the book takes a comprehensive look at all the efforts humankind has made towards space exploration. From the international space race, NASA’s FLATs (First Lady Astronaut Training) program, the role of civil rights, and other rarely discussed topics incl the use of animals in launch tests, malfunctions, the integration of women and minorities, and international politics; this book covers it all. Even fun topics like pranks and practical jokes in space, fascinating tales about inventions like the Fischer Space Pen, Omega watches, and even Tang make it a fun read.
We learn about the successes and failures (both US & USSR); From the first rockets failing in spectacular fashion, to the animals that were sacrificed for science, to the first humans who followed, culminating in Apollo 11 in 1969: The best thing about the book is the focus on human interest stories and the forgotten contributors, who had to overcome great obstacles to make a significant contribution to the successes we achieved.
Overall, I found this to be an engaging book with interesting stories that will keep you entertained and also inform you about several lesser-known facts about the space race. Cuhaj's writing style is engaging with the right mix of funny, facts and thought-provoking insights. Anybody who has an interest in space and the US or worldwide space programs will find this book interesting.
Many thanks to the publishers Prometheus/National Book Network and Edelweiss for the ARC.
Space Oddities is a collection of the human stories behind space exploration. From the earliest known space fatality, German Max Valier, to the story of a single loose bolt that defeated the Soviet Union’s attempt to beat America to the moon, Space Oddities brings these unknown, offbeat, and obscure stories of space to life.
The book follows a fairly linear timeline – From Wan Hu (the first one to experiment with rockets in Ancient China) to Wernher von Braun (Nazi Germany defector who launched the US space program) the book takes a comprehensive look at all the efforts humankind has made towards space exploration. From the international space race, NASA’s FLATs (First Lady Astronaut Training) program, the role of civil rights, and other rarely discussed topics incl the use of animals in launch tests, malfunctions, the integration of women and minorities, and international politics; this book covers it all. Even fun topics like pranks and practical jokes in space, fascinating tales about inventions like the Fischer Space Pen, Omega watches, and even Tang make it a fun read.
We learn about the successes and failures (both US & USSR); From the first rockets failing in spectacular fashion, to the animals that were sacrificed for science, to the first humans who followed, culminating in Apollo 11 in 1969: The best thing about the book is the focus on human interest stories and the forgotten contributors, who had to overcome great obstacles to make a significant contribution to the successes we achieved.
Overall, I found this to be an engaging book with interesting stories that will keep you entertained and also inform you about several lesser-known facts about the space race. Cuhaj's writing style is engaging with the right mix of funny, facts and thought-provoking insights. Anybody who has an interest in space and the US or worldwide space programs will find this book interesting.
Many thanks to the publishers Prometheus/National Book Network and Edelweiss for the ARC.
June 24, 2023
If you're like me and aren't really interested in the space science part of scifi, this is possibly the space science book for you. Rather than being about the science of space travel, it's more about what happens while the science is being discovered: animals in space (warning: a mostly very sad chapter if you love animals way more than NASA), marketing in space, a couple chapters about racism and civil rights in NASA and America's first Black astronauts, and even pranks in space. Informative but not overwhelming, and entertaining all around.
August 1, 2022
Did you grow up in the age of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo? Or are you just a space junkie who hoards details about the space program, actually any space program? Joe Cuhai fits in both categories. Space Oddities is the outpouring of his obsession with space that began when a 4-year-0ld Joe saw his first rocket launch in 1962.
Joe Cuhai opens with a look at some of the early space pioneers - Wan Hu, Max Valier, and Wernher von Braun. Von Braun ended up in the USA after WW2 still working with left-over German V-2 rockets. One launch went astray and blew up a cemetery in Mexico - dubbed the only attack on Mexico by Germans from their base in the US of A.. The second chapter covers the role of women in space, both as ground crew, calculators and astronauts/cosmonauts. The role of animals in space has its own chapter. International space exploration such as Zambian Afronauts and the Russo-American cooperation that lead, eventually, to the International Space Station also has a chapter. Cuhai discusses the objection many made to the cost of space exploration versus spending that money of problems on Earth which also examines how NASA and the Civil Rights marches of the 1960's interacted and affected each other. Another chapter looks at the safety concerns and risk analyses are a matter of life in death in space exploration. Did you know that there were wake-up calls for the space missions? In 1981, the crew of the Columbia were woken up by the crew of USS Swinetrek - "the puns were painful!" this chapter is followed by one in which Cuhai documents some of the pranks done on various crew members and/or ground crew. Then there is always the issue of what to pack and how much to pack. And for all you coders, there is a chapter entitled "Wrecked by the Most Expensive Hyphen in History." Anyone remember the "space pen" being sold on QVC? This phenomena and other space business stories are listed in "Space is Open for Business" The next last chapter asks the perennial question - "How do you have sex in space?" The final chapter looks back at the Earth and longs to go forth and spread humany's wings outside the cradle.
Space Oddities is a collection of miscellaneous stories brought together by Joe Cuhai and bound between the front and back covers. Each chapter could be a launching point for exploration by the interested reader. But the only links between the chapters are that these are the tales Joe Cuhai choose to share with the reader. Dip in and read what interests you!
Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title!
Joe Cuhai opens with a look at some of the early space pioneers - Wan Hu, Max Valier, and Wernher von Braun. Von Braun ended up in the USA after WW2 still working with left-over German V-2 rockets. One launch went astray and blew up a cemetery in Mexico - dubbed the only attack on Mexico by Germans from their base in the US of A.. The second chapter covers the role of women in space, both as ground crew, calculators and astronauts/cosmonauts. The role of animals in space has its own chapter. International space exploration such as Zambian Afronauts and the Russo-American cooperation that lead, eventually, to the International Space Station also has a chapter. Cuhai discusses the objection many made to the cost of space exploration versus spending that money of problems on Earth which also examines how NASA and the Civil Rights marches of the 1960's interacted and affected each other. Another chapter looks at the safety concerns and risk analyses are a matter of life in death in space exploration. Did you know that there were wake-up calls for the space missions? In 1981, the crew of the Columbia were woken up by the crew of USS Swinetrek - "the puns were painful!" this chapter is followed by one in which Cuhai documents some of the pranks done on various crew members and/or ground crew. Then there is always the issue of what to pack and how much to pack. And for all you coders, there is a chapter entitled "Wrecked by the Most Expensive Hyphen in History." Anyone remember the "space pen" being sold on QVC? This phenomena and other space business stories are listed in "Space is Open for Business" The next last chapter asks the perennial question - "How do you have sex in space?" The final chapter looks back at the Earth and longs to go forth and spread humany's wings outside the cradle.
Space Oddities is a collection of miscellaneous stories brought together by Joe Cuhai and bound between the front and back covers. Each chapter could be a launching point for exploration by the interested reader. But the only links between the chapters are that these are the tales Joe Cuhai choose to share with the reader. Dip in and read what interests you!
Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title!
January 13, 2022
I was really looking forward to reading “Space Oddities: Forgotten Stories of Mankind's Exploration of Space” by Joe Cuhaj, since I (like many) have been fascinated with our exploration of space; the science, engineering, and even politics of “putting a man on the moon” and all that has followed since.
And Mr. Cuhaj delivers some interesting stories and perspectives from the people who lived through this exciting time. We learn about the successes and failures (on both sides of the cold war) mostly from the early years but also what has happened since. From the first rockets failing in spectacular fashion, to the animals that were sacrificed for science, to the first humans who followed, culminating in Apollo 11 in 1969: Mr. Cuhaj tells us the forgotten histories (Laika!) and captures the competition that drove the US and the USSR to take risks to prove the superiority of their political systems. We also hear about the forgotten contributors who had to overcome great obstacles due to treatment of their race or gender to still triumph and make a significant contribution to the successes we achieved. Once the race was finished, we hear about the results: the pranks, the defunding and changes of direction, even the commercialization of space that we see today.
I found this book to be interesting, but maybe a bit disappointing in that nothing was tremendously revealing, breathtaking, or truly hidden, most of these stories were available to anyone interested in space before this collection. But still a pleasant way to recollect what the history of exploring the unknown involved in our recent past.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Rowman & Littlefield, Prometheus via NetGalley. Thank you!
And Mr. Cuhaj delivers some interesting stories and perspectives from the people who lived through this exciting time. We learn about the successes and failures (on both sides of the cold war) mostly from the early years but also what has happened since. From the first rockets failing in spectacular fashion, to the animals that were sacrificed for science, to the first humans who followed, culminating in Apollo 11 in 1969: Mr. Cuhaj tells us the forgotten histories (Laika!) and captures the competition that drove the US and the USSR to take risks to prove the superiority of their political systems. We also hear about the forgotten contributors who had to overcome great obstacles due to treatment of their race or gender to still triumph and make a significant contribution to the successes we achieved. Once the race was finished, we hear about the results: the pranks, the defunding and changes of direction, even the commercialization of space that we see today.
I found this book to be interesting, but maybe a bit disappointing in that nothing was tremendously revealing, breathtaking, or truly hidden, most of these stories were available to anyone interested in space before this collection. But still a pleasant way to recollect what the history of exploring the unknown involved in our recent past.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Rowman & Littlefield, Prometheus via NetGalley. Thank you!
June 22, 2022
If you read a lot of books about space exploration, you may know about payload, the Gemini missions or even how astronauts go to the bathroom (thank you, Chris Hadfield!). But did you know about that time when someone pulled a Thanksgiving prank that nearly caused a meltdown? Or how the Russians planned to detonate a nuclear bomb to prove they’d reach the moon? These are just two of the many, many fun details included in this book. Yes, Kennedy is included, with his magnificent speech about getting a man to the moon and back, but there are also the small stories that make up the History. This book made me laugh, cringe and almost cry. Big trigger warning: chapter 3 will be very painful for animal lovers. These are anecdotes more than science, which is fine by me. This is a truly enjoyable read for anyone even remotely curious about space.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Rowman & Littlefield, Prometheus!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Rowman & Littlefield, Prometheus!
December 14, 2024
Lots of cool tidbits and stories mainly focused on the space race, but also some more recent stories and mishaps made in our efforts to research space. The writing is a little choppy, like the author wrote all the chapters to be read individually and not as one cohesive book, and as such there’s a notable amount of repetition and whole chunks of text copy pasted between chapters, but overall this was a pretty fun, easy going read (if you fully ignore the chapter about animal experimentation during the race to orbit). It also didn’t talk about the Challenger explosion in anything more than mentions, which I think is an odd choice considering the topic, but I suppose the author wanted to focus more on the lesser known stories than one so publicized.
December 26, 2021
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great book!
More in depth than I expected this book spans a lot of the American experience of space exploration. The book shares stories from the international space race, the role of civil rights in getting Americans into space, and other small details about space I hadn't heard before.
There's a lot of different stories and the writing approaches each in a way that isn't too technical and is enjoyable to read. It was fun to learn more about behind the scenes of how these stories shaped the knowledge of the universe that we have today.
This is a great book!
More in depth than I expected this book spans a lot of the American experience of space exploration. The book shares stories from the international space race, the role of civil rights in getting Americans into space, and other small details about space I hadn't heard before.
There's a lot of different stories and the writing approaches each in a way that isn't too technical and is enjoyable to read. It was fun to learn more about behind the scenes of how these stories shaped the knowledge of the universe that we have today.
August 2, 2022
Space Oddities by Joe Cuhaj is a delightful collection of stories dealing with space exploration and the origins of the US and other space programs.
When I first requested this book, I thought it was going to be a book of interesting factoids about astronauts and space. What I got was so much more! While this book does give lesser known stories that range from humorous to serious, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the book put many of the stories in a broader social and historical context, which enhanced the reading experience for me.
I found Cuhaj's writing style to be simple yet informative, and his storytelling kept me engaged with the content throughout. I found this book to be one that could be enjoyed by anybody with or without prior knowledge of the US or worldwide space programs and with or without any sort of specialized scientific knowledge.
Overall, I found this to be an engaging book with interesting stories that kept me entertained and taught me a few new cool things about our astronauts and space programs! I would recommend this to anybody who has an interest in space and with lesser known history related to the space program.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rowman & Littlefield for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
When I first requested this book, I thought it was going to be a book of interesting factoids about astronauts and space. What I got was so much more! While this book does give lesser known stories that range from humorous to serious, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the book put many of the stories in a broader social and historical context, which enhanced the reading experience for me.
I found Cuhaj's writing style to be simple yet informative, and his storytelling kept me engaged with the content throughout. I found this book to be one that could be enjoyed by anybody with or without prior knowledge of the US or worldwide space programs and with or without any sort of specialized scientific knowledge.
Overall, I found this to be an engaging book with interesting stories that kept me entertained and taught me a few new cool things about our astronauts and space programs! I would recommend this to anybody who has an interest in space and with lesser known history related to the space program.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rowman & Littlefield for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 6, 2022
Thank you to Rowman and Littlefield as well as NetGalley for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Space holds me captive, and gazing out to the skies, knowing that others have done so for centuries is something that never gets old. This book does a wonderful job of bringing stories of every kind to life. There is trivia, humor, history and information...all put together in one book. I adored this book, and I highly recommend it for any age.
May 20, 2023
So-so writing, bad jokes and puns, repetition of information from earlier in the book, and a disjointed grab-bag of stories. I was going to be generous and give this 3 stars but the chapter on sex, and the “conclusion” chapter which had barely anything of interest to add to the book, convinced me to give this 2 stars because of the poor writing. A few new-to-me anecdotes, but barely worth my time.
February 8, 2022
I enjoyed this book. I found it well-written with great stories. There was some humor and I loved the author’s tone. There are politics, history and some science in the book. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone interested in space. Thank you to Netgalley and Rowman & Littlefield, Prometheus for the advance reader copy.
February 11, 2023
In the 50s and 60s, I spent my nights looking up at the stars and the early satellites. And yes, I did apply to be an astronaut before women in the US were allowed up there. This book brought back lots of old memories, and at the same time taught me lots of new stories. Thank you, Joe.
January 9, 2024
The rate of typos and factual errors make this a difficult read, and the light skimming over many interesting details means you don't get much out of it either. I wouldn't recommend even picking this book up.
September 15, 2022
Fun little book that even non spacophiles will enjoy.
October 3, 2023
A fun romp through some of the lesser-known oddities of the space Era. The best part was getting to know the personalities better.
May 16, 2024
A fun book, if a bit repetitive at times (I’m not sure how often the author can repeat that NASA astronauts and engineers know how to have fun too)
March 2, 2025
This read more like a series of essays than like a book with a coherent narrative or timeline.
July 6, 2022
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review.
As a big fan of space exploration and the like, I knew most of the stories in here already. Even though, I found the book interesting and informative, with the right mix of humorous and serious stories. Reading about the different pranks and practical astronauts have played on each other was a good contrast to reading about the animals sent into space, some of whom never made it back home. I also enjoyed reading about the struggles of the women trying to become the first astronauts. It's crazy to know that some of them were more qualified than their male counterparts, but weren't allowed to become astronauts simply because of their gender. I am glad we have moved beyond that. The story about sex in space seemed like an odd inclusion at first, until the point is brought up about colonizing Mars or other planets, or being stuck on spaceships for extended periods of time. If we ever get to the point where humans need to leave Earth, reproduction is the only way for the species to continue, so eventually we are going to have to think about some of those hurdles.
For anyone who enjoys books about space or is interested in space exploration and its history, this is a good collection of stories to read.
As a big fan of space exploration and the like, I knew most of the stories in here already. Even though, I found the book interesting and informative, with the right mix of humorous and serious stories. Reading about the different pranks and practical astronauts have played on each other was a good contrast to reading about the animals sent into space, some of whom never made it back home. I also enjoyed reading about the struggles of the women trying to become the first astronauts. It's crazy to know that some of them were more qualified than their male counterparts, but weren't allowed to become astronauts simply because of their gender. I am glad we have moved beyond that. The story about sex in space seemed like an odd inclusion at first, until the point is brought up about colonizing Mars or other planets, or being stuck on spaceships for extended periods of time. If we ever get to the point where humans need to leave Earth, reproduction is the only way for the species to continue, so eventually we are going to have to think about some of those hurdles.
For anyone who enjoys books about space or is interested in space exploration and its history, this is a good collection of stories to read.
Read
December 8, 2022I read this as an ARC from Netgalley.com.
Space Oddities by Jow Cuhaj is comprised of a collection of stories about human's exploits in (and trying to get to) space. I enjoyed reading this book, and I think Cuhaj really strived to humanize the people we grew up hearing about with tales of their practical jokes, musical wake up calls, and lucky peanuts.
Not every story is a happy one, but I think that just makes it all the more important to memorialize the people and animals that sacrificed in the pursuit of knowledge. All in all, I'd recommend this to anyone with an interest in space, as it's a quick and pleasant read.
Space Oddities by Jow Cuhaj is comprised of a collection of stories about human's exploits in (and trying to get to) space. I enjoyed reading this book, and I think Cuhaj really strived to humanize the people we grew up hearing about with tales of their practical jokes, musical wake up calls, and lucky peanuts.
Not every story is a happy one, but I think that just makes it all the more important to memorialize the people and animals that sacrificed in the pursuit of knowledge. All in all, I'd recommend this to anyone with an interest in space, as it's a quick and pleasant read.
August 31, 2022
3.5
This was an interesting collection of stories about the quest of mankind trying to get into space. It talks about the little stories and the big ones. I love space so it is really interesting learning about the background. Most of the stories are well known but it's nice to have them all in one book. It is well written. I enjoyed it and I reccomend it if you're interested in the subject matter.
This was an interesting collection of stories about the quest of mankind trying to get into space. It talks about the little stories and the big ones. I love space so it is really interesting learning about the background. Most of the stories are well known but it's nice to have them all in one book. It is well written. I enjoyed it and I reccomend it if you're interested in the subject matter.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews