Customer Reviews

To Rule the Night

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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.

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.

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.

This book is a good book if you want to know about space or things they do on the moon.

3 and 1/2 stars...This is an excellent companion to Chaiken's "Man on the Moon" for the account of the Apollo 15 mission...Irwin confirms the relentless/intense desire of mission commander Dave Scott to "give his all" for science and he also honestly discusses the "stamp" scandal that essentially ruined this crew's chance to fly again. All the important details of the mission and Irwin's feelings about being on the moon are all covered very well as well as enough technical detail to keep the Apollo buffs (like me) happy. I realize that Irwin became a minister following his astronaut career, so it was an essential part of the story, but he spent too much time and detail discussing his religious feelings and I personally think that this detracted from the story. Good read for the general Apollo enthusiast, great for the detailed Apollo 15 review, but definetly a turn for the worse when he enters the ministry portion of the story.

Jim Irwin believed the his life was being micro managed by God. Why did he have an airplane crash and why did he have a heart attach? It was the will of the Lord. Everything both good and bad, big and small, it was all God's doing. And who am I to say, perhaps he was rightBut I have a hard time comprehending the ego involved. Imagine, God chose him, Jim Irwin, to fly to the Moon! Irwin was given a One-in-a- Billion opportunity and why? So that he could return to Earth to serve as a spokesman for the Baptist church!True the American tax payer funded Apollo and true Irwin was free to say what ever he liked. But Apollo was built upon centuries of scientific progress by people from all over the world and many diffrent religious backgrounds. Therefore the moon landing should be something that we can all take pride in. As humans we should all be able to claim it as our own.When Irwin returned from the moon he did so with an incredibly privileged position. How many of us have walked on another world? For him to use this privileged position as proof of the superiority of his God was wrong.