Customer Reviews

The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, Second Edition (Library of Flight Series)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

An astonishingly successfull attempt to take a one-page idea and repeat it enough to create an entire book. The author's premise is valid: Human beings who have looked at the earth from space return with a different view of of our planet not only literally, but philosophically as well. However, rather than expand on this idea, he simply repeats it. Page, after page, after page. I stuck with the book hoping the last section containing interviews with space travelers would redeem the work, but each interview was merely a copy of the first, which went something like this: "When I first glimpsed the earth from space, I was overwhelmed with its beauty. I gained a sense of how everything on earth was interconnected, and I knew I would never look at life the same way again". Save your money, and read this review a couple of hundred times for the same "Overview Effect" as you would receive from the book.

Frank White's "The Overview Effect" is one of those rare books that gives a reason for NASA's existence that goes far beyond spin-offs, national pride, or even an investment in our future.

White explains how going into Space will change us, and make us better. The process starts with the Overview Effect that turns the entire Earth into our neighborhood. It continues from the Moon, when a single gloved thumb at arms length can cover everything we've ever known. This view is the Copernican Perspective, and it exposes our insignificance and vulnerability. Finally there is the Cosmic Insight, which occurs from the outer reaches of our Solar System, and inspires us to take our rightful place in the Universe.

White explains all this much better than I can in this quick review.

I am very puzzled by the negative reviews of this book. Maybe these people believe that "if you've seen one star you've seen them all". My guess is that there are some important differences in metaphysical assumptions about reality that cause people to either love or hate this book.

I'm not exactly sure what that difference is, but I suspect it has to do with our preconceived notions about humanity's place in the universe, and in our capacity to wonder.

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Speaking plainly, this is a wretched book. White's commentary is dull, pretentious and stupefyingly repetitious. The snippets of interviews with astronauts are short, scattershot and basically worthless. The book was inexplicably recommended by Lynn Margulis, which is why I tried it. Avoid, avoid!

Truth in reviewing: I didn't come close to finishing this turkey. Trust me, you don't even want to start it.

Sadly,
Peter D. Tillman

A must read for any aspiring space hero.
Get inspired. Get in action.

Edition 2 features interviews with Female space explorers as well.