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High Calling: The Courageous Life and Faith of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband
Rick Husband wanted to be an astronaut since his fourth birthday, but it wasn't always for the right reasons. Initially, he thought it would be neat . . . cool . . . a fun thing to do. It wasn't until he came to a spiritual crossroads and was able to give that dream up to discover the true desires of his heart before he actually got into the space shuttle program at NASA. Three failed attempts didn't daunt this driven pilot-and the fourth interview process, though lengthy and difficult, proved successful for him. Husband's years at NASA served not only to develop his integrity and character, but also to increase his faith in a Creator that could not be denied in the vastness of space. His story is not only inspirational but exhilarating and invigorating, as readers will witness the life of a man who consistently pursued the desires of his heart even as he served a faithful God.
240 pages, Paperback
First published December 17, 2003
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403 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
January 8, 2017
I found a copy of “High Calling” on amazon.com while researching my current book, “Bringing Columbia Home.” The author is Evelyn Husband, wife of astronaut Rick Husband, the commander of Columbia’s final mission. Rick perished with his crew on February 1, 2003 when Columbia disintegrated 200,000 feet above Dallas.
Donna Vanliere is listed as the co-author of the book, which means that she likely ghost-wrote the book. She is an award-winning author who specializes in Christmas books. Her style fits nicely with the moods experienced by Mrs. Husband throughout her remarkable journey.
The book traces the relationship between Rick and Evelyn Husband going back to their first meeting in Amarillo High School and continuing through their 20-year marriage.
I’ve heard many wonderful things about Rick Husband from the astronauts and NASA engineers and technicians who worked with him. All described him as fun-loving, God-fearing, wise, energetic, and enthusiastic - the kind of man any astronaut would want as the commander of their mission.
With this book, Evelyn Husband shows us the sides of Rick the spouse, the active father, the singer with the amazing voice. We see that he was a humble man, comfortable with who he was, always seeking to put other people in the limelight so they could shine.
Most striking to me is that this book spends so much time discussing the events leading up to and during Columbia’s final mission. Evelyn even shares the emails that she and her children exchanged with Rick while Columbia was in orbit during the last two weeks of January. We see that he was having the time of his life, absolutely exultant in the work that he was doing and the experiences of being in space, and yet eager to see his family on his return.
She shares the incredible emptiness of waiting in vain for Columbia to appear in the skies over Florida, and the shock and horror of realizing that he was never coming home again. I find it incredible that this book was written in 2003, less than one year after the accident, and that Mrs. Husband could talk about such painful memories.
I talked to people that met Evelyn during the search for Columbia’s crew’s remains and the debris from the ship. She was “of good courage,” to use a quote from Joshua that Rick recited to his crew before their launch on January 16, 2003. She was gracious, appreciative, and strong. Her good courage shines through in her book.
While she’s a deeply religious person, as was her husband, she does not pull punches when she talks about how her faith was tested by the Rick’s death. “I have lost all sense of politeness with God,” she writes on page 232. “I have cried and wept and yelled at him, but I know He’s big enough to handle it.”
I learned a lot about courage and faith in the face of loss by reading this book. I’m glad to have it on my shelf.
Donna Vanliere is listed as the co-author of the book, which means that she likely ghost-wrote the book. She is an award-winning author who specializes in Christmas books. Her style fits nicely with the moods experienced by Mrs. Husband throughout her remarkable journey.
The book traces the relationship between Rick and Evelyn Husband going back to their first meeting in Amarillo High School and continuing through their 20-year marriage.
I’ve heard many wonderful things about Rick Husband from the astronauts and NASA engineers and technicians who worked with him. All described him as fun-loving, God-fearing, wise, energetic, and enthusiastic - the kind of man any astronaut would want as the commander of their mission.
With this book, Evelyn Husband shows us the sides of Rick the spouse, the active father, the singer with the amazing voice. We see that he was a humble man, comfortable with who he was, always seeking to put other people in the limelight so they could shine.
Most striking to me is that this book spends so much time discussing the events leading up to and during Columbia’s final mission. Evelyn even shares the emails that she and her children exchanged with Rick while Columbia was in orbit during the last two weeks of January. We see that he was having the time of his life, absolutely exultant in the work that he was doing and the experiences of being in space, and yet eager to see his family on his return.
She shares the incredible emptiness of waiting in vain for Columbia to appear in the skies over Florida, and the shock and horror of realizing that he was never coming home again. I find it incredible that this book was written in 2003, less than one year after the accident, and that Mrs. Husband could talk about such painful memories.
I talked to people that met Evelyn during the search for Columbia’s crew’s remains and the debris from the ship. She was “of good courage,” to use a quote from Joshua that Rick recited to his crew before their launch on January 16, 2003. She was gracious, appreciative, and strong. Her good courage shines through in her book.
While she’s a deeply religious person, as was her husband, she does not pull punches when she talks about how her faith was tested by the Rick’s death. “I have lost all sense of politeness with God,” she writes on page 232. “I have cried and wept and yelled at him, but I know He’s big enough to handle it.”
I learned a lot about courage and faith in the face of loss by reading this book. I’m glad to have it on my shelf.
July 6, 2022
Fascinating true story of a tragic event I remember hearing about as a 13 yr old girl. I never thought much about the families of these astronauts who died.
But hearing of the faith and boldness of Rick Husband as commander is refreshing. His wife is very transparent about their grief and processing, but they never lost their faith in Jesus. She said- in pain you can either run away from God or you can run to God. They chose the latter and have experienced such assurance, hope, and strength. ❤️
The audiobook includes the speech given by President Bush addressing the country and grieving families of the astronauts.
She shares so many beautiful moments of her husband- him making devotional videos for his kids before he left, his life song “Were it Not for Grace”, etc.
Tear-jerking story, but I found it sweet, beautiful, encouraging, and heartbreaking all at the same time. ❤️
Listen free on Hoopla!
But hearing of the faith and boldness of Rick Husband as commander is refreshing. His wife is very transparent about their grief and processing, but they never lost their faith in Jesus. She said- in pain you can either run away from God or you can run to God. They chose the latter and have experienced such assurance, hope, and strength. ❤️
The audiobook includes the speech given by President Bush addressing the country and grieving families of the astronauts.
She shares so many beautiful moments of her husband- him making devotional videos for his kids before he left, his life song “Were it Not for Grace”, etc.
Tear-jerking story, but I found it sweet, beautiful, encouraging, and heartbreaking all at the same time. ❤️
Listen free on Hoopla!
November 8, 2019
At times almost too heartbreaking to read.
March 12, 2012
This is a surprisingly touching book. I expected it to be somewhat dry, given that it isn't written by a professional writer, though I can see she had help, (except in the Epilogue, which seemed written like her ghost writer took the rest of the book off). I expected it to be filled with technical astronaut lingo and a list of Rick's accomplishments. What I discovered was a beautiful story filled with the little details that make up ordinary life and it was these details that pulled me in. By the end I felt as if I had been living all those moments with them. I smiled at the relationships of the crew members--as well as Rick's relationship with his family--and cried when February 1st arrived in the book. I was attached to these people, even more so because they were real. I remember crying back on Feb. 1, 2003, when I was fifteen, only a few years older than Laura. For whatever reason, they've always had a special place in my heart since then. Now, thanks to Evelyn, that place is much bigger. Perhaps I feel closer to them because I am a Christian; perhaps this story touches me more because my dad died too. I just know one day I will have the opportunity to know these people I've come to love and that fills me with hope and thankfulness. God really has used this tragedy to bring glory to His name.
"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." -1 Thess. 4:13-14
"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." -1 Thess. 4:13-14
January 22, 2025
Cried my way through this one but what a testimony.
September 11, 2012
This book is basically a biography of Rick Husband, the NASA astronaut who was the commander of the Space Shuttle Columbia on its final tragic mission. It was written by his wife, Evelyn Husband, who brings the book to life by sharing many emotional stories throughout their life together, and her experiences surrounding Columbia's accident. This book also falls into the class of Christian literature, as the book discusses at length Rick Husband's faith journey. I found this book very moving, and I would advise having a box of Kleenex close by. I loved how Evelyn used excerpts from her husband's journal which added validation to how she portrayed him. Rick Husband was a true American hero, and I highly recommend this book.
June 6, 2016
Fantastic book. Great story of hard work, adventure, triumph, and loss. Amazing look into the modern space program.
I was inspired by the stories of Rick Husband as told by his wife. I want to be that kind of husband and father and Christian.
Equally interesting were features unique to the audiobook: recordings of Steve Green singing for the Columbia crew, of President Bush's words at the memorial service, of Rick Husband himself singing in an Easter service the year before the Columbia mission, and of course, the voice of Rick's wife as she read her own book. She was emotional sometimes, but not overly. Her voice and even occasional laughter lent the audio version an immediacy almost never seen in traditional books.
Great story.
I was inspired by the stories of Rick Husband as told by his wife. I want to be that kind of husband and father and Christian.
Equally interesting were features unique to the audiobook: recordings of Steve Green singing for the Columbia crew, of President Bush's words at the memorial service, of Rick Husband himself singing in an Easter service the year before the Columbia mission, and of course, the voice of Rick's wife as she read her own book. She was emotional sometimes, but not overly. Her voice and even occasional laughter lent the audio version an immediacy almost never seen in traditional books.
Great story.
October 24, 2008
I worked at Nasa when all this happened. I never had the opportunity to meet Commander Husband, but I definitely felt a connection after reading this book.
November 8, 2007
Obviously with my connection to NASA I'd have to read this book. Not necessarily an insightful book, but good to read the personal side of an american hero. Evelyn's strength and religion pulls her through an incredibly public, tragic event. I can't imagine what the Columbia families went through - and continue to go through.
June 16, 2016
Rick Husband is one of the astronauts I most admire, because I admire the priorities by which he lived his life: devotion to his wife and two children, devotion to his faith, and devotion to his career in the Air Force and NASA. Here, his wife tells the story of his life and how she overcame the Columbia tragedy that took his life on February 1, 2003.
August 5, 2009
This will strengthen your faith and make you cry.
November 27, 2021
We actually had the cassette tapes set. What was special about this, is that our family listened to the tapes while traveling to visit my parents. The inclusion of Steve Green singing rounded out our experience of this true, amazing and tragic story. God's plans are often contrary to our own; yet, He always walks with us through both joys and trials.
March 29, 2017
Excellent read - I highly recommend everyone to read this book.
October 26, 2009
Evelyn’s husband (Rick Husband) was the captain of the crew on the Columbia space shuttle that blew up in 2003. Her husband was a very godly man and in the book Evelyn does a wonderful job highlighting his growth and faith in the Lord. She also shares how the Lord sustained her through his death and beyond. It is a sad book in some ways, but very encouraging and uplifting. It's wonderful to see the Lord taking care of people who go through things like that. There is no sorrow too deep for Him.
This is definitely a good read - The author’s writing style is very down-to-earth, engaging and humorous at times. You feel like you're sitting in her living room, sharing a cup of tea with her and hearing her tell her story. It's hard to put down.
This is definitely a good read - The author’s writing style is very down-to-earth, engaging and humorous at times. You feel like you're sitting in her living room, sharing a cup of tea with her and hearing her tell her story. It's hard to put down.
October 19, 2012
One of the most tragic events of recent memory is the explosion of the space shuttle Columbia. This book is more than a eulogy to a man of faith, it is a story of faith, hope and courage of a man who loved his God and his family more than anything. I enjoyed reading HIgh Calling very much. I like to know the backstories of people that made headlines and this book literally blessed my heart. Rick Husbands was a man who lived his life according to God and his ways and his desire was that his family would follow God as well. It is said that it is the tough times that make us who we are. The Husbands family has had those times and they are continuing to lean on the best strength possible--God.
October 17, 2016
My overall view of this book was great. The more I read it the more hooked I got into the book. It made me hooked more because of the way the author is very religious about her life and the way her whole family was. Especially with her husband trying everything he could to go the moon she made him believe and changed his mindset on just letting god take control of the situation basically putting his life in gods hands. Even though they had they're ups and downs they both managed to live a life full of joy together while it lasted.
May 12, 2014
I find myself on the way to the Rick Husband airport in Amarillo to salute a man and his family for their gifts to me and mankind. I have walked by his statue too many times without knowing who he was and why we re-named the airport after him. Now I know and it was the right thing to do.
The book is well written, very Christian oriented as well it should be, for that is what he was. I came to wish I had known him, not just known of him.
The book is well written, very Christian oriented as well it should be, for that is what he was. I came to wish I had known him, not just known of him.
December 15, 2016
Whatever you do DO NOT get the audio book. I am fairly tolerant of styles, but whoever left Evelyn Husband read this book did not do her a service. I put up with this for 45 minutes and called it quits. The story is wonderful, but the delivery is too fast with no respect for punctuation and no chance for the listener to let the words sink in. The story is wonderful. I will get the book instead and then grab the audio book for the music and President Bush's remarks at the memorial service.
October 30, 2010
Great book! I love how Evelyn shares their stuggles in the Christian faith. I can totally relate. This book also gives a peak into the life of an astronaut and the steps needed to make that dream a reality. God is everpresent in their life, and their life is a walking testament to God's faithfulness.
June 29, 2013
My 10 year old and I loved it. We read it together and cried at the end. Why did he half to die? Why didn't God keep him around? These are the good questions my son asked me. Generated good discussions. He was a very rare human being in both of our estimates. Truely God loving and God fearing with a transparency about him. We recommend!
May 20, 2008
Evelyn Husband writes about the life of her husband,
U.S. Commander Rick Husband and their marriage together
as christians. He believed in God and had a very scientific
career working for NASA. Their example as told in this story was very inspiring to me.
U.S. Commander Rick Husband and their marriage together
as christians. He believed in God and had a very scientific
career working for NASA. Their example as told in this story was very inspiring to me.
May 28, 2008
Interesting insight into training for astronauts. I found myself checking on line for more regarding the Columbia Space Shuttle. I also found the relationship between Rick Husband, his wife and children to be very inspirational.
February 19, 2010
This is a great book that is very inspiring. Rick Husband had amazing work ethic and focus. He was a Godly man who leaves you wishing you were more like him. A must read for someone who is interested in the space program or inspirational biographies.
May 8, 2010
The bio of a man who reverently loved and served God, in public and behind closed doors, while living his passion. Reading the book is bittersweet because of the inevitable outcome but incredibly inspiring none the less.
April 28, 2014
I have finished "High Calling". The book was okay. It was just hard to understand all the technical language of the space shuttles and all that. The whole book was basically Rick Husband's wife, Evelyn, mourning the loss of her husband and how much faith he had. I read for 300 minutes.
April 29, 2014
I though this book was okay. I didn't think it was well written. The whole book Evelyn kept on repeating how amazing her husband was and how strong his relationship with God was. That's great and all, but it started to get extremely repetitive.
February 22, 2015
I thought this was an interesting book because it really told the inside story of Rick Husband. This book also takes the reader through the spiritual journey Rick experienced. I think this is a great book for any audience.
February 1, 2015
I found this book because of an interest in the co-author, Donna VanLiere. This is the story about the Columbia commander, Rick Husband, by his wife, Evelyn. This was the first time I had read such in-depth stories about the training of an astronaut and the effects on the family.
November 26, 2007
I just read this book this weekend. True story of commander of Columbia space shuttle which disintegrated over Texas, his faith, his family, etc. Very inspiring!
August 26, 2008
Over all amazing book about the life of a courageous and Christian man. (besides the fact that I'm using it for my DI)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews