I was given this as a gift. As a space program enthusiast I have read a lot. This one is not written by a historian, author, or journalist. It is a memoir of a person who was right there working it as it happened. Kranz was there from the beginning, and helped design how the training and rehearsing was done.
This is a must read if you want to get an insider's point of view of how history was made. It answered a lot of questions for me as to how NASA's magical team made the impossible become a reality.

I have an insatiable interest in NASA and the space program, so I try to read as many books as I can (and as many books as I have time for) on the subject. Bearing that in mind, I was very excited to read Gene Kranz's memoir of his time in Mission Control from Project Mercury to the end of Apollo. I was in no way disappointed with this captivating read.

Most of the books about the space program are either biographies/memoirs of the astronauts or an overall history of NASA. Gene Kranz gives us a different perspective - that of those left behind on the ground. These were the guys who had to figure out what to do when things went wrong, the people who carried the lives of the astronauts in their hands. Gene takes this responsibility seriously, candidly speaking of strengths and weaknesses within the institutional framework of NASA.

Kranz' handling of the crisis moments are the most riveting - specifically, the fire of Apollo 1 and the crippled Apollo 13 voyage (made famous by the movie that starred Tom Hanks.) The reader gets a behind the scenes look at these crises, as well as the missions we don't hear about as often- the Gemini missions, without which landing on the moon would never have been possible, and the post-Apollo 13 missions. Kranz also gives his opinions on other astronauts and personalities within NASA. He never hesitates to be honest, which is refreshing in a book such as this. One of my personal favorite parts of this memoir is when Kranz discusses Gus Grissom and his Liberty Bell 7 flight, specifically, that Gus did NOT blow the hatch early (for more information on this, see the movie The Right Stuff - or read the book by Tom Wolfe).

I can't recommend this book highly enough. Admittedly, it is not the best quality of writing - the sentences are choppy and the words don't flow as smoothly as they could. But that can be easily forgiven because it makes it all the more apparent that Kranz did indeed write this remarkable novel himself.

Generally speaking, the lack of public interest in the exploration of space bothers me to a great degree. I'm not spoiling for a fight or desirous of debating where our tax dollars should be spent, but in my opinion, we have no choice but to see what's out there. Exploration is in our nature as humans; by exploring the vastness of the heavens, we learn more about ourselves. As readers, we understand the pull of the imagination - we tend to be the thinkers and dreamers who choose to explore the worlds through the words of another. But I think it is equally important reach for the stars physically, as well as mentally. I'm one of those few who believes we still have much to learn by returning to the Moon, going to Mars, and moving beyond. And that's why I think it is so important for people to read books such as Kranz's memoir. It is reminiscent of a time when space travel was new and exciting, rather than the humdrum routine it has become. As a country, we have lost our way in the exploration of space - here's hoping that we find our way again.

Failure is not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond
This book came highly reccommended by other teachers at Advanced Space Academy for Educators. It is a great companion to A Man on the Moon.

Gene Kranz is an inspiration for us all. In today's world we need his message. He makes one feel that if we can go to the moon then we can accomplish anything that we set out as a nation to do.

Failure is not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond
This book came highly reccommended by other teachers at Advanced Space Academy for Educators. It is a great companion to A Man on the Moon.

Gene Kranz is an inspiration for us all. In today's world we need his message. He makes one feel that if we can go to the moon then we can accomplish anything that we set out as a nation to do.

Gene Kranz does an amazing job of showing what people can do if they have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment and passion.

The book allows us to see Kranz's perspective as flight controller, (and later flight director) during his tenure on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs and beyond.

From the tremendous successes, to the gut wrenching failures, to the heroism, to the practical jokes, this book has it all. Gene Kranz was a key player in helping to create a culture of Tough and Competent flight controllers who had discipline and morale. They knew the true meaning of teamwork.

One of the stories that impressed me most was after the devastating tragedy of the Apollo 1. A fire on the pad killed Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffe while they were training in the capsule. Afterwards Kranz got in front of his flight controllers and said:

"Spaceflight will never tolerate carelessness, incapacity, and neglect. Somewhere, somehow, we screwed up. It could have been the design, build, or test. Whatever it was we should have caught it."

Kranz and his people (as well as everyone else on the space program) took responsibility for their actions and went on to amazing successes. We crawled out the cradle of this home we call earth and explored another world. Twelve men in all walked on the moon. Also, three astronauts were brought back home safely from the brink of disaster in Apollo 13. We had truly gone where no man had gone before.

These were human beings, and they are the best of the best. Not an Astronaut was lost during any of the following Apollo missions. The tragedy on the pad drove the commitment of everyone on the space program to an entirely new level. As a matter of fact, not a man was lost once they left earth on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs.

Gene Kranz sums up how he gained his skills to be a top flight director when he said:

"The flight director's ultimate training comes at the console, working real problems, facing the risks, making irrevocable decisions."

This book belongs on any bookshelf, but not to be looked at, but to be read and understood. We all have the makings of greatness, we just have to take responsibility for our actions and do the very best we know how. What other amazing things can we accomplish as a species if we have the right leadership, teamwork, commitment, and passion?

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

Gene's memories from the first halting attempts to launch rockets into space through the successfull Apollo moon program paint vivid pictures of what happened inside the space agency on a non-technical level in building the space program. Good review of challenging and motivating people to envision the what-if and do it step by step. Small references to lack of vision in senior leadership of space program after the Kennedy moon goal was achieved.

My teenage interest in rocketry, launching about 1000 tiny rockets in all, my dreams of extraterrestrial voyages from reading science fiction, and being involved in real countdowns for liquid propellant rocket motors in the MIT Rocket Research Society all came back from reading this book. This is the perfect follow-on to Chris Kraft's "Flight: My Life in Mission Control" which came out a year later. Both are excellent. Kraft and Kranz were the guys we saw most of on TV during the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo Programs -- more than could be seen of any single astronaut.

The first major Flight Directors of Mission Control of NASA were much more than masters of ceremonies. They had to make decisions on continuing or aborting or modifying missions, and any decision could have led to deaths. Because of the short times in which some decisions had to be made, Kraft (yes, Kraft) wrote the job description for his own position as Flight Director that said he had the final say, knowing that a mistake would be the end of his career at NASA, but also knowing that delayed decisions could kill the astronauts or the program. This necessitated building a team of specialists for each of the many aspects of the missions (communications, computing, engine status, crew status, etc., etc.) and trusting their decisions.

Kranz was deeply affected by the deaths of three astronauts by fire on the ground in the Apollo 1 capsule. He was point man in the Apollo 13 explosion (as in the movie), and safe return to Earth of 3 astronauts. The details of how thorough simulations of missions were was a revelation to me. It all paid off, because almost no missions ran without failures. On-board computers were too slow or had too little memory, thrusters failed to turn off, all kinds of failure indicators would give false readings, hatches or seals would leak.

Much that was kept from the public during the missions came out. The enthusiasm for the projects was incredibly high among the early birds in NASA, including the first administrators, who had to fight often for continuation of funding, especially after the USSR lost momentum, even to get the first mission to the moon. NASA pay was low, so the committment of so many on the team was not financial. The cooperation of contractors, notwithstanding some lapses in quality, was excellent, and included turning over copies of engineering drawings of all parts of a capsule or component. The willingness to take risks by NASA personnel and others during the Moon progrtam is awe-inspring, especially compared with today's timidity. Fom p383: "Lacking a clear goal, the team that placed an American on the Moon, NASA, has become just another federal bureaucracy beset by competing agendas, and unable to establish discipline within its structure. Although NASA has an amazing array of technology and the most talented workforce in history, it lacks top-level vision."

Kranz was aware that he was making history. While he was steady and decisive (like Kraft) while on duty, Kranz revealed his extreme emotions at many points. While you should read books by astronauts, such as "Off the Planet" by Jerry M. Linenger, 2000, and "Last Man on the Moon" by Gene Cernan, the best overview for me has been through the eyes of the Flight Directors.

While I confess to being a lifelong space buff, this book is the first of many memoirs I have had the pleasure of reading from the actual men and women who participated in one of the greatest adventures in human history. I read it nonstop from the moment I brought it home, and have reread many sections of it numerous times. I believe it is a useful historical record of the golden era of the space program, but also holds many lessons for those who find themselves in formal or de facto positions of technical leadership in all types of organizations - churches, consulting firms, technical contractors, manufacturers, and probably many others with which I am not personally familiar. Thank you Mr. Kranz for all you have shared!

I highly recommend this book to all the poor men who already believe today that APOLLO is a whole fake
KRANZ tell the truth it is obvious when you read him

The book arrived within the scheduled delivery time in excellent condition.

Thank you,

Mark & Francine Keehnel

"Failure is Not An Option" is not a bad book, but it is not a great one either. Kranz provides certain insight into the role of NASA Flight Directors and the book is interesting to the extent it serves that function. However, Kranz occasionally gives major events fairly short shrift, while writing at length on an array of banal topics which are of limited interest. The reader is often left wanting greater details about events that shaped the space program and less information on subjects such as Kranz's management style or his trademark vests.

Moreover, Kranz's writing style is a little too compact and terse to make this book a consistently engaging read. Kranz uses the word "crisp" in seemingly every other paragraph. His writing style might be described in the same way. Unfortunately, it can make sections of "Failure Is Not An Option" a bit tedious at times.

Lastly, although a small point, Kranz makes no attempt to hide his political bent. The book is replete with praise for Kennedy and obvious (though unarticulated) disdain for Nixon. Kranz speaks with almost boy-like ardor of Kennedy's far-sightedness and vision for the space program despite the fact that many regard Kennedy's interest in space to have arisen solely out of a political desire to beat the Soviets - not for scientific or human advancement as Kranz would have the reader believe. At times, the political commentary proves irritating and distracting and Kranz's idolatry of Kennedy excessive and simplistic.

That said, this book is worth the read for the information it does impart and to supplement other texts on the space program, but it is not as gripping or engaging as "Lost Moon" or a host of others.

"Failure is Not An Option" is not a bad book, but it is not a great one either. Kranz provides certain insight into the role of NASA Flight Directors and the book is interesting to the extent it serves that function. However, Kranz occasionally gives major events fairly short shrift, while writing at length on an array of banal topics which are of limited interest. The reader is often left wanting greater details about events that shaped the space program or the technical and mechanical roles of the Flight Director and less information on subjects such as Kranz's management style or his trademark vests.

Moreover, Kranz's writing style is a little too compact and terse to make this book a consistently engaging read. Kranz uses the word "crisp" in seemingly every other paragraph. His writing style might be described in the same way. Unfortunately, it can make sections of "Failure Is Not An Option" a bit tedious at times.

Lastly, although a small point, Kranz makes no attempt to hide his political bent. The book is replete with praise for Kennedy and obvious (though unarticulated) disdain for Nixon. Kranz speaks with almost boy-like ardor of Kennedy's far-sightedness and vision for the space program despite the fact that many regard Kennedy's interest in space to have arisen solely out of a political desire to beat the Soviets - not for scientific or human advancement as Kranz would have the reader believe. At times, the political commentary proves irritating and distracting and Kranz's idolatry of Kennedy excessive and simplistic.

That said, this book is worth the read for the information it does impart and to supplement other texts on the space program, but it is not as gripping or engaging as "Lost Moon" or a host of others.

"Failure is Not An Option" is not a bad book, but it is not a great one either. Kranz's book provides some insight into the role of NASA Flight Directors and the book is interesting to the extent it serves that function. However, Kranz often gives interesting events fairly short shrift, while writing at too great a length on topics which are likely of limited interest to most readers. The reader is often left wanting greater details on the events that shaped the space program or more information on the technical and mechanical roles of the Flight Director and less information on subjects such as Kranz's management style or his trademark vests.

Moreover, Kranz's writing style is a little too compact and terse to make this book a consistently engaging read. Kranz uses the word "crisp" in seemingly every other paragraph. His writing style might be described in the same way. Unfortunately, it can make sections of "Failure Is Not An Option" a bit tedious at times.

Lastly, although a small point, Kranz makes no attempt to hide his political bent. The book is replete with praise for Kennedy and obvious (though unarticulated) disdain for Nixon. Kranz speaks with almost boy-like ardor of Kennedy's far-sightedness and vision for the space program despite the fact that many regard Kennedy's interest in space to have arisen solely out of a political desire to beat the Soviets - not for scientific or human advancement as Kranz would have the reader believe. At times, the political commentary proves irritating and distracting and Kranz's idolatry of Kennedy excessive and simplistic.

That said, this book is worth the read for the information it does impart and to supplement other texts on the space program, but it is not as gripping or engaging as "Lost Moon" or a host of others.

The book begins as Gene Kranz enters NASA in the early Mercury years. Back then, the U.S. space programs were disastrous (see "The Four Inch Flight"). Yet, through the sheer will of the determined individuals, the leadership from people such as Chris Kraft and George Low, and president Kennedy's challenge to go to the moon, NASA cut through its difficulties and finally surpasses the Soviet space program.

The author takes the reader through the 1960s and 70s, through the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions with details so vivid the reader feels that he/she is in the Mission Control room, wear headsets and working through every crisis, lament every failure, and celebrate every achievement.

Also, as NASA develops, the tenets of the Mission Control matures. Kranz defines the characteristcs of the controllers as Discipline, Competence, Confidence, Responsibility, Toughness, and Teamwork, with each mission as supporting evidence.

This is a great book, written first hand by a former flight director. I definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to learn about NASA's history or anyone who simply wants an exciting adventure book.

I enjoyed reading this eye opening book. I've read others about the space program and it's interesting to see the different perspectives of the men involved.

I enjoyed reading this eye opening book. I've read others about the space program and it's interesting to see the different perspectives of the men involved.

Reading Gene Kranz's experience as mission controller at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration brought back childhood dreams of being a "space man". Gene Kranz lead an exciting life, and he relates his story through exciting tales from is tenure at NASA.

Many times during his recollection of events at NASA I felt the the exhilaration of a mission accomplished, and the defeat and sadness during NASA's failures. I felt the adrenaline coursing through my veins during the reentry into the atmosphere of Apollo 13, and felt saddened when reading the account of the electrical fire that took the lives of three brave astronauts.

Much can be learned from Kranz's life experiences in both making career decisions and in facing conflict head on without surrendering or admitting defeat. Often Gene Kranz's bravery and persistence during a seemingly impossible situation, has inspired me during challenges in life.

I would recommend keeping this book in your library for reference in dealing with your own seemingly impossible tasks. This book will help you in making decisions concerning your career and your life.

It must have been difficult for Gene to give up his flying job for a desk job, but the world and our country are the better from his selfless decision.Gene's dedication to his family, the space program, and the the United States of America is evident in his memoirs. Gene's memoir's truly attest to his being a great Man and a great American.

Let's be very upfront on one point: Kranz is not a gifted prose writer. He is a celebrity as a flight director, a competent test pilot, a keystone of one of the finest scientific and engineering achievements in the history of mankind, and probably one of the excellent leaders of the last century. But he is not a gifted writer.
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This probably doesn't matter very much because people who read this book are intensely interested in the space program and the subject matter will hold this audience despite any style of writing. And that's fine.

The moonshot as a technical marvel is described in great detail with particular emphasis on the human element: the qualities of flight directors, controllers, astronauts, and the people who succeeded or failed in this massive start-up organization called NASA, which occurred long before the term "start-ups" was even used. Everything is fascinating: from the early failures (the "four-inch flight"), to the idiosyncrasies of different astronauts (John Glenn versus Neil Armstrong et al), to the different challenges of all the various missions. Of particular interest are those personal characteristics: Kranz's wife sewing vests for each mission, the problems the controllers had with local law enforcement and speeding tickets, the haze of cigarettes, the bickering between some of the staff, how Flight Control dealt with grumpy astronauts and rebellions in foreign lands... it can read--for people who are interested in historical detail--with all the suspense of a thriller novel with the wonder that it actually happened.
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Kranz is most famous for his role in Apollo 13 (not the movie... this stuff really happened and Kranz is the real guy!) and the rescue of those astronauts. Indeed, a rather large section of this book is devoted to describing those events and how they were dealt with. Obviously, Apollo 13 looms in Kranz's mind because it frames a great deal of the remaining book both before and after descriptions of the actual event. But we don't think people should purchase the book solely for Apollo 13. If you're some kind of aficionado obsessing over the actual event like people obsess over the Kennedy assassination, by a different book. Kranz is writing about everything.
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However, critically speaking Failure reads like a mixture of a diary and lecture notes. It is compelling... but not artistic. The defining books of the space race will probably belong to other writers using Failure as a source text. One can hear this in the reviews quoted on the trade paperback book cover: "An important addition" says The Baltimore Sun, "A welcome contribution" says The New York Times, "A must read for space buffs interested in the details of flight control" quotes Chris Kraft (former flight director and author in his own right). These are complimentary but hardly ringing endorsements for a book-even these promoters of the book are not claiming it is a defining work in the history of space flight. Indeed, the TV documentary Failure is not an Option-based upon Kranz's book-is extremely well done. The production is sharp, the things Kranz does: coining "Tough and Competent", his praise of John Aaron as a legendary controller for his "SEC to Aux" call, and the fiery death of Gus Grissom and his crew are as vivid and sharp as any piece of film ever done on the subject. The fact, the documentary's way better than the movie Apollo 13 (directed by Ron Howard). The show should be required viewing for all business managers. The sad fact is, the documentary is better than the book too... we cannot recommend the book to all business managers. For those readers who want to get to the "bottom of things" and read the source texts, this will be an invaluable book. Yet that's a pretty select audience.
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As a character study of who the NASA people were and are, this is a fascinating book. Kranz reaches all the way back to his own test pilot days, to his job interview with NASA (such as it was) and his rise to flight director status. Along the way, you get a feeling for his patriotism, his passion for the military, his tremendous respect for his peers and the work that they did, and his near worshipful love of human accomplishment. There are few books where, at the end, the reader feels like he knows the author but this is one of them. As an honest, real portrayal of NASA-that time when all the engineers were in their 20's, drank beer, smoked cigarettes, wore pocket protectors, and were as male as males can be-this is also an invaluable book.
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One of the other tremendously interesting things about Failure is probably unintentional. Existing in the subtext all through the book is a kind of reverence for President John F. Kennedy. Not exactly a reverence for the man himself, but certainly a reverence for his vision. Kennedy's martyr status loomed large-at least in the mind of Kranz-as NASA took terrible risks to reach the moon on his timetable. Reading about the casual bravery of the astronauts is extremely impressive. Until reading Kranz, one doesn't realize the shockingly aggressive timetable or how unreliable and untested the different systems were. That the astronauts were orbiting in little more than aluminum foil, batteries, and a radio is incomprehensible to our modern minds who regard it in the same astonishment we regard Polynesians crossing the Pacific in rafts. That kind of unity in purpose: a presidential edict, a newly formed community of engineers, scientists, and pilots, and the bravery (and luck) necessary to make this amazing feat come to pass is truly breathtaking when pondered.
Fans of science-fiction who grew up thinking starships can be run by five guys on a bridge should definitely investigate this book and discover what space flight truly means. Certainly this book is required reading for any one interested in actually researching the moonshot and the early years of Apollo. Anyone if casually interested in modern American history or leadership should avail themselves of the documentary under the same name.

Having been interested in this period of the initial years of the space program, I was hoping to gleen more insite into events and people during this period. I was not let down as some of the details and specifically the difficult logistics of operations was layed out and described. All this without the technology that we have today for satellite communication/Internet etc. Superb description of the Apollo 11 landings and mindset for success of the Apollo 13 events, showing the stunning and legendary team building abilities and decision making insites of the period. Worth reading for anyone interested in those years of Space Exploration.

...I am afraid this book misses the mark. Kranz
is defintely one of the great heroes of the glory
days of the American space program and one of those
who "wrote the book", along with Chris Kraft
and John Hodge (the original "Red, White and Blue
Team flight directors!) defining the mission of
the flight controllers and directors. Unfortunately,
this book does not really give the reader a good idea
of what it is that the controllers and flight director
do. If it did, the reader would be in even greater
awe of these men who had intelligence, nerves of steel,
and the ability to make life-or-death decisions within
a split second.
In order to learn what is really involved in these
jobs, I strongly recommend the book "Apollo: The
Race to the Moon" by Murray and Bly-Cox. They give
a good description of what went on in the MOCR
(Mission Operations Control Room) and the various
jobs of the different controllers and the flight
director himself, and what qualities these men
had to have. Kranz unfortunately does not include
this in his book, probably feeling that the general
reader would not find it interesting, but this is
the kernel of what it was that made him the outstanding
personality that he is. He should have taken a typical
mission and given a sequential description of the things
he had to do and the decisions he had to make.
Having said this, the book is still worth reading, even
for someone who has considerable knowledge of the history
of the space program. What is particularly interesting
is his description of the major disagreement that occurred
on the Gemini 9 mission (flown by Stafford and Cernan) when
it was suggested to carry out an emergeny EVA (spacewalk)
in order to try to open the shroud that failed to open
on the Agena target vehicle which prevented docking.
Kranz vehemently opposed doing this, thinking that it was
too dangerous and being only the second EVA, they didn't
have enough experience. When senior management decided
to go ahead with it anyway, Kranz muttered to his boss,
Chris Kraft that he had enough and this would be his
last mission, if they weren't going to listen to him.
In the end, the EVA was cancelled and Kranz withdrew
his threat to quit. In Kraft's book, he blandly mentions
that it was decided NOT to carry out the EVA. Apparently,
Kraft (who does also mention some mild criticisim of Kranz
in his book) didn't want to remind people that he had
been on the wrong side of a potentially bad decision.

...I am afraid this book misses the mark. Kranz
is defintely one of the great heroes of the glory
days of the American space program and one of those
who "wrote the book", along with Chris Kraft
and John Hodge (the original "Red, White and Blue
Team flight directors!) defining the mission of
the flight controllers and directors. Unfortunately,
this book does not really give the reader a good idea
of what it is that the controllers and flight director
do. If it did, the reader would be in even greater
awe of these men who had intelligence, nerves of steel,
and the ability to make life-or-death decisions within
a split second.
In order to learn what is really involved in these
jobs, I strongly recommend the book "Apollo: The
Race to the Moon" by Murray and Bly-Cox. They give
a good description of what went on in the MOCR
(Mission Operations Control Room) and the various
jobs of the different controllers and the flight
director himself, and what qualities these men
had to have. Kranz unfortunately does not include
this in his book, probably feeling that the general
reader would not find it interesting, but this is
the kernel of what it was that made him the outstanding
personality that he is. He should have taken a typical
mission and given a sequential description of the things
he had to do and the decisions he had to make.
Having said this, the book is still worth reading, even
for someone who has considerable knowledge of the history
of the space program. What is particularly interesting
is his description of the major disagreement that occurred
on the Gemini 9 mission (flown by Stafford and Cernan) when
it was suggested to carry out an emergeny EVA (spacewalk)
in order to try to open the shroud that failed to open
on the Agena target vehicle which prevented docking.
Kranz vehemently opposed doing this, thinking that it was
too dangerous and being only the second EVA, they didn't
have enough experience. When senior management decided
to go ahead with it anyway, Kranz muttered to his boss,
Chris Kraft that he had enough and this would be his
last mission, if they weren't going to listen to him.
In the end, the EVA was cancelled and Kranz withdrew
his threat to quit. In Kraft's book, he blandly mentions
that it was decided NOT to carry out the EVA. Apparently,
Kraft (who does also mention some mild criticisim of Kranz
in his book) didn't want to remind people that he had
been on the wrong side of a potentially bad decision.

Fantastic book for any "space cadet". When read with "Flight My Life In Mission Control", you have the true story of NASA when risk was accepted, not avoided.

Fantastic book for any "space cadet". When read with "Flight My Life In Mission Control", you have the true story of NASA when risk was accepted, not avoided.

Leaders are dealers in hope.

Throughout the Apollo 13 episode, Gere Kranz never lost that insight. He had complete confidence that he'd get his crew back to earth safely, when a lot of "smart money" said that it was not possible.

This book, despite its title, actually spends only a little time on Apollo 13. Rather, it concentrates much more heavily on Kranz's participation in the Mercury and Gemini programs, leading up to Apollo.

Kranz defines so many qualities sorely needed in leaders: unfailing faith and optimism, confidence in subordinates (and avoiding micro-management), and knowledge of people in all their strengths and weaknesses. You'll enjoy this book a lot.

Leaders are dealers in hope.

Throughout the Apollo 13 episode, Gere Kranz never lost that insight. He had complete confidence that he'd get his crew back to earth safely, when a lot of "smart money" said that it was not possible.

This book, despite its title, actually spends only a little time on Apollo 13. Rather, it concentrates much more heavily on Kranz's participation in the Mercury and Gemini programs, leading up to Apollo.

Kranz defines so many qualities sorely needed in leaders: unfailing faith and optimism, confidence in subordinates (and avoiding micro-management), and knowledge of people in all their strengths and weaknesses. You'll enjoy this book a lot.

...or at least a highly-detailed insight as to what happened, from the perspective of the man in the white vest who was sitting in the Flight Director's chair at the time?

Then look elsewhere. (Jim Lovell's book, "Lost Moon" and the movie that it inspired, "Apollo 13" both feature much more detail about that ill-fated flight than Kranz does in "Failure.")

That being said, it is STILL a very good book, although it can get a little tedious, given the overwhelming use of technical abbreviations. Many of them may be familiar to most people, (i.e., "CapCom" or the Capsule Communicator... who is the guy in Mission Control that actually TALKS to the astronauts), but there are plenty of others, (TLC... Trans-Lunar Coast; SPC... Stored Program Command) that are not generally used outside of a control room, and therefore serve to slow down the readers' comprehension.

Former Flight Director Gene Kranz, (who was portrayed by Ed Harris in the aforementioned film "Apollo 13"), details much of his life, from his introduction to Mission Control at the dawn of the Space Age through the final Apollo 17 moon mission.

The book is layed out chronologically, and perhaps BECAUSE most people know so much about the aborted Apollo 13 mission, he wastes very little time writing about it. For example, much more ink is devoted to the horrifying Apollo 1 disaster, in which three astronauts, Grissom, White, and Chaffee, were incinerated during a training exercise in the command module while it sat on the launch pad, firmly attached to the ground.

He also provides interesting facts and stories for virtually every one of the Mercury and Gemini missions that led up to the Apollo project.

One interesting tidbit of info that I knew as a kid, but had since forgotten... the longest Gemini missions lasted 14 days; longer than any of the Apollo missions. While that might not seem to be all that difficult a feat in light of the amount of space afforded modern astronauts, on the Gemini craft they were basically strapped into their seats for the ENTIRE two weeks. There was no getting up, floating around the cabin, ducking away for a bathroom break... nothing.

Back then, they really did have to have "The Right Stuff" in order to endure the extremes they were subject to.

And, thankfully, Kranz has taken the time to let us know what it was like to sit in the Director's chair, leading the United States through a momentous decade of exploration.

...or at least a highly-detailed insight as to what happened, from the perspective of the man in the white vest who was sitting in the Flight Director's chair at the time?

Then look elsewhere. (Jim Lovell's book, "Lost Moon" and the movie that it inspired, "Apollo 13" both feature much more detail about that ill-fated flight than Kranz does in "Failure.")

That being said, it is STILL a very good book, although it can get a little tedious, given the overwhelming use of technical abbreviations. Many of them may be familiar to most people, (i.e., "CapCom" or the Capsule Communicator... who is the guy in Mission Control that actually TALKS to the astronauts), but there are plenty of others, (TLC... Trans-Lunar Coast; SPC... Stored Program Command) that are not generally used outside of a control room, and therefore serve to slow down the readers' comprehension.

Former Flight Director Gene Kranz, (who was portrayed by Ed Harris in the aforementioned film "Apollo 13"), details much of his life, from his introduction to Mission Control at the dawn of the Space Age through the final Apollo 17 moon mission.

The book is layed out chronologically, and perhaps BECAUSE most people know so much about the aborted Apollo 13 mission, he wastes very little time writing about it. For example, much more ink is devoted to the horrifying Apollo 1 disaster, in which three astronauts, Grissom, White, and Chaffee, were incinerated during a training exercise in the command module while it sat on the launch pad, firmly attached to the ground.

He also provides interesting facts and stories for virtually every one of the Mercury and Gemini missions that led up to the Apollo project.

One interesting tidbit of info that I knew as a kid, but had since forgotten... the longest Gemini missions lasted 14 days; longer than any of the Apollo missions. While that might not seem to be all that difficult a feat in light of the amount of space afforded modern astronauts, on the Gemini craft they were basically strapped into their seats for the ENTIRE two weeks. There was no getting up, floating around the cabin, ducking away for a bathroom break... nothing.

Back then, they really did have to have "The Right Stuff" in order to endure the extremes they were subject to.

And, thankfully, Kranz has taken the time to let us know what it was like to sit in the Director's chair, leading the United States through a momentous decade of exploration.

Gene Kranz's experience from inside mission control is one that not many Americans experience for themselves. This riveting book expresses the problems that he had to encounter and overcome. Kranz was a major contributor to the success of the space flight operations and all of his accomplishments are revealed right in this book. Kranz's competitive edge to segue America's "space world" into the number one position and his daringness in the Mercury to Apollo missions not only helped unite Americans, instigating a feeling of national pride, but it also wired the world together to work in one common effort. Kranz is able to provide behind the scene information, sharing the myths and stories of the media about the men in the mission control and thus providing the reader with the true untwisted story.
Through this novel, Kranz takes us back to the primitive age of technology when there were no books previously written on the actual methodology of space flight. This book is truly enthralling for everyone, not just space buffs interested in the detail of flight control. The network of trust and driven scientists motivates the readers to read hours on end. The emotional conflict and skepticism provided by Kranz illustrates the intense life of these men. This book takes us behind the scenes of Apollo 13 and lays out all of the problems and obstacles that the controllers on the ground had to solve and overcome. By the end of the novel one can truly say that failure is not an option, especially not for Gene Kranz.

Gene Kranz's experience from inside mission control is one that not many Americans experience for themselves. This riveting book expresses the problems that he had to encounter and overcome. Kranz was a major contributor to the success of the space flight operations and all of his accomplishments are revealed right in this book. Kranz's competitive edge to segue America's "space world" into the number one position and his daringness in the Mercury to Apollo missions not only helped unite Americans, instigating a feeling of national pride, but it also wired the world together to work in one common effort. Kranz is able to provide behind the scene information, sharing the myths and stories of the media about the men in the mission control and thus providing the reader with the true untwisted story.
Through this novel, Kranz takes us back to the primitive age of technology when there were no books previously written on the actual methodology of space flight. This book is truly enthralling for everyone, not just space buffs interested in the detail of flight control. The network of trust and driven scientists motivates the readers to read hours on end. The emotional conflict and skepticism provided by Kranz illustrates the intense life of these men. This book takes us behind the scenes of Apollo 13 and lays out all of the problems and obstacles that the controllers on the ground had to solve and overcome. By the end of the novel one can truly say that failure is not an option, especially not for Gene Kranz.

Gene Kranz's amazing story of NASA's beginnings from inside mission control is a view most Americans never get the chance to experience. Kranz's hard work while in the military as a pilot and his strong sense of competition led him to become a part of a young space program, competing with the Russians for records in space exploration. His compelling story shares everything from the risky Mercury missions to the dramatic Apollo missions, all of which pulled the heart strings of Americans but, in the end, united all over one accomplishment and circumstance. Kranz discussed the media and their perceptions of the men inside mission control. In writing this book, Kranz gave himself the chance to break stereotypes and myths and tell the public what was happening behind closed doors.

This book is truly riveting to everyone, not just "science" people. The ideas behind space exploration and the amazing risks the first adventurers took can keep you reading for hours on end. Kranz shows us the raw emotions and conflicts the men had to deal with while trying to propel the United States into space. This gives us the real truth behind the men in the control room of the movie Apollo 13 and puts a story behind Ed Harris' character. Kranz is also not afraid to share with us mistakes, miscalculations, and mishaps that occurred in mission control. The raw realism with which Kranz presents his story, along with the conversational tone, makes the book a quick and enthralling read.

Gene Kranz's amazing story of NASA's beginnings from inside mission control is a view most Americans never get the chance to experience. Kranz's hard work while in the military as a pilot and his strong sense of competition led him to become a part of a young space program, competing with the Russians for records in space exploration. His compelling story shares everything from the risky Mercury missions to the dramatic Apollo missions, all of which pulled the heart strings of Americans but, in the end, united all over one accomplishment and circumstance. Kranz discussed the media and their perceptions of the men inside mission control. In writing this book, Kranz gave himself the chance to break stereotypes and myths and tell the public what was happening behind closed doors.

This book is truly riveting to everyone, not just "science" people. The ideas behind space exploration and the amazing risks the first adventurers took can keep you reading for hours on end. Kranz shows us the raw emotions and conflicts the men had to deal with while trying to propel the United States into space. This gives us the real truth behind the men in the control room of the movie Apollo 13 and puts a story behind Ed Harris' character. Kranz is also not afraid to share with us mistakes, miscalculations, and mishaps that occurred in mission control. The raw realism with which Kranz presents his story, along with the conversational tone, makes the book a quick and enthralling read.

Read Craft's book instead. It's the same series of events, better written and much more interesting. I found myself skipping the build up to Apollo 13.

Read Craft's book instead. It's the same series of events, better written and much more interesting. I found myself skipping the build up to Apollo 13.

This is a well-written account of the space program from the perspective of a mission controller. The author does a great job of telling the "behind the scenes" story of each Mercury, Gemini and Apollo mission. In the end, I was left with a profound feeling of respect for the men and women who worked together using technology that was, by today's standard, ancient to put men on the moon and bring them back safely. I was also left with a deep feeling of sadness that my children are unlikely ever to experience the awe and pride that we as a country experienced as we watched their achievement unfold.

This is a well-written account of the space program from the perspective of a mission controller. The author does a great job of telling the "behind the scenes" story of each Mercury, Gemini and Apollo mission. In the end, I was left with a profound feeling of respect for the men and women who worked together using technology that was, by today's standard, ancient to put men on the moon and bring them back safely. I was also left with a deep feeling of sadness that my children are unlikely ever to experience the awe and pride that we as a country experienced as we watched their achievement unfold.

Everyone else has reviewed the technical and historical aspects of this book, which I also found enthralling. However, a side benefit is that it can also be seen as a great how-to book on leadership. The Mission Control "mission statement" and the struggles that Krantz went through to lead the fledgling agency are a great study in teambuilding and the power of visionary leadership through integrity. I've posted the Mission Statement by my desk at work.

Everyone else has reviewed the technical and historical aspects of this book, which I also found enthralling. However, a side benefit is that it can also be seen as a great how-to book on leadership. The Mission Control "mission statement" and the struggles that Krantz went through to lead the fledgling agency are a great study in teambuilding and the power of visionary leadership through integrity. I've posted the Mission Statement by my desk at work.

I thought Gene Kranz did a fine job of re-living the space race from Mercury to Apollo. His remarks and recall put you right in the control center and his accounts of some of the more interesting moments make you appreciate everything that test pilots and astronauts went through in those early years. If you have want a great account of the space program, the early years, this is the book you won't be able to put down.

I thought Gene Kranz did a fine job of re-living the space race from Mercury to Apollo. His remarks and recall put you right in the control center and his accounts of some of the more interesting moments make you appreciate everything that test pilots and astronauts went through in those early years. If you have want a great account of the space program, the early years, this is the book you won't be able to put down.

Gene Kranz's book tells a similar story, as told in books by Eugene Cerman, Scott Carpenter, and Chris Kraft, without being dominated by the author's ego. The others wrote good books. But Kranz avoids using personal attacks to tell his tale. The antidotes differ from those in other stories, as Kranz does not have a Boy Scout image to preserve. However, Kranz covers mission control only through Apollo 17.

This book is an excellent story of the space race from the ground.

In my boyhoood, I collected news clippings of space flights like some others collected stamps. While I knew of the the complete or near-disasters of Apollo 1 and 13 which never escaped media attention, I could not imagine how many more instances of nervous questions there were on the ground at Mission Control Center (MCC) during many of the celebrated successful space shots.

Gene Kranz's book provides an insider's view into the inner workings of MCC, all the way from the Mercury program to the final Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Probably better suited than almost any one else to tell this story on how things looked from the ground, Kranz worked his career in NASA up to Flight Director, including for the memorable Apollo 11 and 13 flights which provide some of the most dramatic passages in the book. While the world savored the euphoria of the first men landing on the moon, Kranz tells of how he and his team were worrying about near fatal computer problems with the lunar lander. Most readers will be familiar with the Apollo 13 episode which was well enacted on the big screen with Tom Hanks , but Kranz's book provides some of the finer detail that the movie misses.

The book not only provides flight details of the manned spaced shots, but discuss some of the important management and technical issues which need to be resolved to move from Mercury through Gemini and Apollo. Kranz's epilogue concludes with some of his broader observatons and recommendations for future space policy.

Readers will be struck by the authoritarian and disciplined management style in the program, which Kranz does not easily hide. The author would probably have done well to use a ghostwriter or good editor. But apart from its prose which lacks elegance and an easy flow, this book provides an illuminating insight into how such a complex management feat was accomplished.

I consider myself an afficianado of the U.S. space program of the 1960s and early '70s, so I eagerly anticipated the arrival of Kranz's book.

Kranz has always seemed to be a man of the utmost integrity, dedication and competence. But a page-turning writer he is not. If he used a ghost writer on this book he was ripped off, seeing as how the prose is dry as dust.

The book is likely a valuable contribution to history, but it will probably be more referenced in future books than it will be read in its entirety.

I picked up this book out of interest in the Apollo program (thanks to Ron Howard and Tom Hanks). I just wanted more details, but found out I have an interest in the entire space program. This auto-biography of Gene Kranz's years at NASA reads like a well-written novel. It's a great first hand account of the early years of the space program. From Mercury to the final days of Apollo, this book is a fast paced thrill ride from start to finish. It shows the unwavering intelligence, engenuity and shear willpower of the American people.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, particularly since I was born in 1965, and as a result was only vaguely aware of all the events that led to landing a man on the moon. The contrasts between now and then, particularly in computers and communication give you an even better appreciation for the ingenuity and determination of astronauts and mission control alike.

I enjoyed reading this book, especially that Mr. Kranz wrote it himself without the help of a ghost writer. Once you get over the fact that this author clearly thinks of himself as a hero, and wants to remind the reader of his personal accomplishments once or twice a chapter, this book contains alot of very interesting information related to the early days of NASA.

This was clearly a dynamic time, full of technological developments born out of a need at NASA. A time worthy of such an interesting book.

I was disappointed that although the cover talks about events through to the 80's there was no lengthy discussion on events after the Apollo program. There nothing discussing the events of the Challenger disaster, a period in which NASA operations pushed a "Failure Is The Only Option" approach. But this would fly in the face of the NASA Mr. Kranz believes that he helped to create.

All in all: a good book to read, about a remarkable time, from a man with an enormous ego.

"They made it look easy," said a reviewer for another Apollo book, and it's true. When I was a kid, I loved to watch the space program - I realized it was dangerous - but the sheer amount of hard work needed to pull it off never dawned on me. This is a book by one of the guys who made it look easy.

The author seems pretty straight-up, dedicated, hard working, decent.

The topic is interesting, and the author well-placed to describe the inner workings of the space program.

I love that he wrote the book himself, without the polish of a ghostwriter. Seems like unabashed, unvarnished straight goods.

Perversely, the lack of polish is probably the book's biggest drawback.

However there are lots of interesting goodies about Mercury and Gemini, in addition to Apollo.

Also, I never realized how important a military background seemed to be in the program. It was a civilian program, but a good number of people seemed to have been ex-military. I found myself wondering how I would shape up.

I had a good chuckle with some of his comments on engineers - I'm sure I've given the same "non-answers" myself many times.

Some slight negatives:

I thought he might have described some of the background information better.

I was looking for some idea of how NASA was organized - how did they manage to pull off something so complex? The book doesn't spend a lot of time explaining job titles and such - which at first, seemed frustrating - but maybe that is the answer, that organizational charts and bureaucracy don't really matter - dedication and competency do matter.

Curiously, post-Apollo events get little coverage, but many other books have the same fault. I would look forward to seeing a post-Apollo book by the same author.

No one who saw "Apollo 13" can forget the heroic image of Ed Harris, as the man in the white vest, who held the team of Apollo controllers together and made the safe return of the three astronauts happen, against all odds. Now read the true account, written by the real hero, whose story is even more heroic than you dreamed.

I myself got in on the ground floor, joining NASA in 1959 to help send men to the Moon. It was my life's work for the next 10-12 years. But I had no idea what Chris Kraft and Gene Kranz were doing, and only the vaguest notion of the flight control center they helped to create. What they did was nothing less than to create a whole new engineering discipline: that of the space flight controller. It was a monumental achievement, one that changed history. It also took a level of dedication to excellence and to purpose that few humans in the history of mankind have ever experienced.

Everyone needs to read this book, if for no other reason than to understand the things mankind is capable of, when we set our minds to it.

Gene's account provides historical background to the development of the backroom operations of the space flight, thing that he made glamorous. His TV appearance on the Apolo 13 was more forceful, the book is subdued and at time repititious. On the whole it's a readable account, particularly for those who are trying to round out the events.

Gene Kranz not only helped to bring home the Apollo 13 crew, he was part of Mission Control from day one. He explains in detail how he and many others "wrote the manual" for space flight operations. You realize how critical it is to be perfect when you're a flight controller, and a bad day at work could mean death to a crew thousands of miles away. Kranz tells his story in such a way, that you don't have to be a mathematical engineer to understand how we really pushed our luck in achieving our ultimate goal... The Lunar Landing.

Not a typical "author", but written in a style that keeps in moving. Read this or give this away to get motivated - especially if you are facing issues "you can not solve". Because you can !!