Space and the American Imagination [Paperback]

Howard McCurdy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 17, 1999

Examining popular images that have helped motivate the most ambitious civil space program in the world, the author argues that the spacefaring dream tapped into several of America's most deeply rooted cultural ideals. 43 photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The popular image of spaceflight has historically drawn on American cultural ideals such as the endless frontier, the heroic explorer, and faith in progress through technological advancement. This masterly study by McCurdy (coeditor of Spaceflight and the Myth of Presidential Leadership, LJ 10/15/97) examines the role that imagination and popular culture played in the formulation of national space policy that eventually sent Apollo astronauts to the moon in 1969. Unfortunately for space boosters, the reality of space exploration has fallen far short of the promised vision of lunar bases or manned interplanetary flight. McCurdy concludes that space advocates need to create new images to attract public and government support or witness the end of manned space flight. His thought-provoking analysis is highly recommended for large public and academic libraries.?Thomas J. Frieling, Bainbridge Coll., Ga.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

McCurdy's volume gives the reader a solid and complete look at where we were and how far we've come in engendering support for conquering the vastness of space. -- Larry Lawrence, Abilene Reporter-News, February 15,1996

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Smithsonian (January 17, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560984457
• ISBN-13: 978-1560984450
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,600,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good book that covers a lot, February 25, 2001

By 

Michael Valdivielso (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Space and the American Imagination (Paperback)

The book shows you the battle between what we can do with science and what we want to do. It starts with a short history of rockets and the idea of space exploration than moves swiftly into the mid and late 20th century. The book allows you to see the huge rift between what people wanted and what governments could deliver. Its about the many sided battle between politics of leadership, military goals, dreams of a new frontier and a more limited, but maybe mature vision. It deals with the cold war, space stations, rocket ships and even the search for life in space. Any person interested in the space race between the US and the USSR or the space programs of the USA should read this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun history to read, August 1, 2003

By A Customer

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This review is from: Space and the American Imagination (Paperback)

McCurdy explores the space age by explaining its relationship to popular culture. He explains how and why public opinion shaped the space age, as well as how the space age shaped public opinion. Plus he examines how American history, both real and romanticized, shaped our culture. He makes many references to literature, television, and movies, making it a book everyone can relate to at least a little bit. I would have given it 5 stars, but he does go off subject sometimes and leaves you not quite sure where he's going.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Is Spaceflight so Popular? Or Is It?, December 21, 2003

By 

Roger D. Launius "Historian" (Washington, D.C., United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Space and the American Imagination (Paperback)

Actually, spaceflight seems to be generally popular with Americans, but not a high priority for most. Commitment to it, therefore, is widespread but not deep.

This book seeks to understand and explain the relationship of space exploration to the larger popular culture. It is one of several recent works to do so in a serious way in recent years, and clearly the most important of all of them. "Space and the American Imagination" presents a significant analysis of the interplay between popular culture and public policy. Howard McCurdy concludes that how closely the dominant trends in science fiction literature and film, as well as public perceptions, reinforce actual events in spaceflight fundamentally affects public support for spaceflight.

McCurdy notes that during the 1950s and 1960s the relationship between reality and perceptions drew tightly together and created an expectation that allowed the accomplishment of the lunar landings. Since that era, the paths of public perceptions and actual events has diverged. A challenging interpretation that requires skepticism but also continued consideration, McCurdy has demarked an important area of consideration that will keep scholars working for years testing his hypotheses.

This is a highly recommended book!