Story: The Way of Water

by Anne Lenehan and Story

Story Musgrave has an insatiable passion for life. From his childhood on a dairy farm in western Massachusetts, to payload commander on the Hubble Space Telescope rescue mission, share Story’s... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0975228609
• ISBN13: 9780975228609
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Communications Agency
• Length: 467 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.5" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Motivational

This book is the first major work by a young author. It has been written with passion, based on incredible research. This book is both educational and motivational as you witness Story's persistent efforts leading to extraordinary achievements. You are encouraged to follow his example in some small way in your own environment.

A stella career

Don't let anyone say that they failed because they were dealt a poor set of cards. Starting out from a dysfunctional family of high achievers, Story Musgrave rose from a fractured childhood - scarred by bitter divorce engendered by a violent father and a loving but alcoholic mother; a rebellious nature and spectacularly failed school grades at a brutally regimented Massachusetts boarding school - to become an American hero. His first job was with the US Marine Corps as an aviation electrician on an aircraft carrier in the Korean War. This might have been it, but tests with the Marines startlingly revealed a person of exceptional aptitude with a strong mathematical bent, an insatiable curiosity and impatience for the next challenge. Here on, Story's stellar career would be launched as from an aircraft ejector seat, his astonishing non-linear trajectory whizzing through medicine and aviation - Story excelling firstly as a physiologist and then T-38 jet pilot after joining NASA in 1967 and embarking on the Space Shuttle Challenger's maiden voyage in 1983. Along the way, he would harness his engineering and medical skills in designing space suits, developing techniques for walking in space, and being selected to perform the harrowing task of surgically tinkering with the Hubble telescope on the first repair mission. At NASA Story simply 'set the standards for training and preparation' and this would later be carried into a corporate context - encouraging people to stretch their abilities and achieve new heights. He would become one of the longest serving members of the NASA space team finally bailing out in 1997. Anne Lenehan meticulously and caringly introduces us into the world of this remarkable Renaissance man and the NASA environment in a beautifully written book. Here, we are taken from the launch pad into the blue void as part of the space team and invited to share Story's abiding spiritual appreciation and respect for nature, a defining quality that would set him apart from almost all other astronauts. Anne also gently provides clues about a complex man who for some reason reminds the reviewer of John Irving's New Hampshire Garp - in his sometimes infuriating pursuit of life and truth. After reading this engrossing book, liberally sprinkled with Story's candour, you feel that you have lived his life, and certainly it is an interesting ride. This is a book that anyone interested in space and metaphysics must read. It is also the sort of inspirational text that we might plunge into to garner that additional edge towards achieving dazzling success. While this would be a profitable exercise, one cannot ignore that fact that it is Story's uniqueness that stands in high relief. Anne Lenehan has given us the story of the journey through life of a remarkable person and the way he has dealt with his demons and his experiences. But this is the author's journey also, and that is a great part of the pleasure of the read.

A Great Story

"Biographer Anne Lenehan paints an exquisite and detailed portrait of NASA's premiere astronaut, Story Musgrave. She gives the reader an in-depth view of this multi-faceted Renaissance man while she gives her subject a lovingly and tenderly crafted mirror with which he can see aspects of himself that perhaps had previously gone undiscovered by this modern day Christopher Columbus. Our family is proud to have three copies, one for each of our children, of Anne Lenehan's Story book on our bookshelf."

awesome!

An amazing read! Anne Lenehan's approaches this biography in an extraordinary way. Story's life unravels chapter by chapter bringing incredible images, thoughts and feelings to the reader. Through Story's journals, Anne captures the very essence of life- a gift from Story to the world. An absolute must read. A journey not to miss!

An Outstanding Book about a Great Man!

"Story: The Way of Water" is not a typical astronaut book. It is a compelling, philosophical journey into the life and mind of one of America's most accomplished men. The reader travels a path that chronicles the challenges and triumphs of this intrepid pioneer. Author Anne Lenehan intersperses poetry and literary references to connect life and literature in a way that adds dimension to both. Richly told, the book imparts resounding respect and admiration for its subject, Story Musgrave -- the doctor, astronaut, poet, pilot, performer, and philosopher who overcame enormous obstacles to fulfill his destiny. What makes him different than others who've dreamed of -- and succeeded in -- becoming an astronaut is what sets him, and this book, apart. To convey the essence of this complex individual, a multitude of interviews and extensive research were conducted to describe every angle of Story, from the deeply personal to the professional. As someone who knows Story well enough to have been interviewed by the author, I can attest to the accuracy of this portrayal. Lenehan truly captures the passion, determination and uniqueness of this multi-faceted scientist and artist. This is a great story not only for aspiring astronauts, philosophers and biography fans, but anyone facing challenges or searching for meaning in their own life. This literary endeavor will inspire the greatness in all of us and, like Story himself, encourage you to "reach for the stars."