Very nice recount of an astronaut's personal experience, with the focus not on his time in space, but on the long, demanding, and stressful preparation required. What I took away from this book is that no matter what your goals in life, be focused on the process, not the achievement. If you don't enjoy the time it takes to get there, then when you do achieve your life's goals, it may be fleeting at best. I also liked the mix of drama and the serious side of space travel (people have died), with some light, humorous anecdotes that occasionally made me laugh out loud.