Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly

Endurance: A Year In Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly is a first-hand account of the astronaut’s historic one-year mission in space, from his childhood fascination with space exploration all the way through to his return to Earth 12 months later. In this gripping narrative, Kelly details his physical and psychological struggles as he pushed himself to the limit both mentally and physically. Along the way, he encountered dangers, mishaps, and extreme moments of beauty that often pushed him to the brink but ultimately helped him to gain a deeper appreciation of humanity, the human spirit, and the power of the human will to persist in the face of ultimate challenges.

At the age of 47, Scott Kelly was selected to be one of the few astronauts to take part in the ambitious one-year mission to the International Space Station. His compelling story chronicles the incredible physical, emotional, and mental journey of his stay aboard the large, complex, and vulnerable platform in outer space. On board, he was tasked with a multitude of duties, tasks, and experiments and he spoke of the deep satisfaction that came from the successful completion of each task. At the same time, he suffered the physical demands of deep space travel, the psychological traumas of separation from family and friends, and the vulnerability of being confined in a pressurized space with no escape.

Kelly’s narrative goes beyond a straightforward recounting of the many challenges to which he was subjected during the yearlong mission. Along the way, he offers moments of insight into his experience and how it shaped his worldview. By focusing on the universal qualities of human perseverance, strength, and courage, Kelly’s story is both incredibly inspiring and incredibly insightful. In a narrative that is both deeply personal and profoundly scientific, he details the incredible advances in space science made possible by his unique experience. He also shares the observations he made during his mission, enabling readers to gain a deeper understanding of outer space, our progress in space exploration, and the question of whether we are alone in the universe.

Finally, in a narrative that expands far beyond his mission into the realm of science, politics, and the essence of the human spirit, Kelly shares the wide-ranging implications of his experience. He speaks candidly of his physical and psychological transformation and the unique insight that allowed him to gain an appreciation of our place in the universe. Interspersed throughout the book are powerful short essays that stretch across each of the major points of his journey including faith, courage, and humanity. As Kelly himself wrote in his epilogue, “A year in space is the ultimate test of endurance and the ultimate celebration of the human spirit. It gave me new insight into its depths and opened my eyes to the potential within.”