To Rule the Night [Hardcover]

James B. Irwin (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Baptist Sunday School Board (June 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805472274
• ISBN-13: 978-0805472271
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,670,789 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you like space, read this book., November 25, 1999

By 

Bill MacLean (Scottsdale, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Rule the Night (Hardcover)

I wish this book wasn't out of print, because I think it is worthwhile to read it.

I read this book when I was in high school. I was able to pick up a copy at a used book store and have been reading to my children, who really like it.

The book gives you a good feel of what it was like to fly to the moon (well I guess it does, obviously, I can't compare how well the book does vis a vis the real experience!). I have come away with a much clearer impression of just how detailed and complete the planning and training for the mission was. It was really an amazing effort and monumental achievement.

The second half of the book deals with Irwin's life, and his Christian faith.

I don't agree with the other review that says Irwin thought his "life was micro managed by God", and that Irwin somehow engaged in exclusivism on the U.S. taxpayer's dime. Irwin himself says in the book that when he landed on the moon it was as a representative of all people on the earth.

It appears that Irwin had a strong faith, and his experience on the moon deepened it, which I don't find to be scandalous or "wrong" in any way.

I think you will like this book. One word of caution if you read this book to children: Irwin is quite honest about the difficulties in his first marriage. It seems to me that he was really very cold and harsh to his first wife. He doesn't talk about it a lot, but you might want to skip that part when reading out loud.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Take a trip to the moon, October 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: To Rule the Night (Mass Market Paperback)

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to go to the moon, this book will take you there. Go with Astonaut James Irwin on Apollo 15 to explore the moon. From lift off to splash down, it's like being right there on top of the massive Saturn V rocket, or having fun on the lunar rover. "To Rule the Night" captures in brilliant detail the beauty and awe inspiring view of seeing the earth from 250,000 miles out.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Astronauts are people, December 13, 2001

By 

Kenneth J. Williams (San Diego, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Rule the Night (Hardcover)

This book takes the reader on a candid look at the life of an astronaut and how he saw his trip to the moon in the context of his own spiritual beliefs. In some parts he confesses his faults and in others, he delights space enthusiasts with the details of Apollo 15. Jim Irwin was a man who happened to go to the moon. For all the hero worship involved in the early space program, this book is a reminder that these people were human and that they weren't oh so perfect. If there is any real lesson to be learned by anyone reading this book, it is to show respect for others and for nature. There are risks here on earth and definately a lot of risks in space.