The Forum Book Club

[Kerbalsaurus]

Eww, books. Who uses those anymore? As would be expected from a community of literal rocket scientists and astrophysicists, many of us on the forums appear to be quite well read. I feel like it's a shame there's no dedicated thread to talk about the books we read. To share our thoughts on them, and discuss with other people what they think of the book. Maybe there was a dedicated thread at one point, but it probably hasn't had a reply in like 5 years, so it'd be pointless to dig it up. I'll start this with the most recent book I've finished, Escape from Earth, but Fraser MacDonald.

The book's about the unknown fathers of rocket science, the scientists and engineers who came before von Braun. The book mainly focuses on Frank Malina though. It's a really interesting story that evolves from this small passion project between scientists. It follows the many trials and hearings that Malina and his colleagues went through, during the beginning of the Red Scare, and the constant questioning from the U.S. government and officials in their lives simply because they were part of the communist party like ten years before the trials even began. The parts about the actual engineering on the rockets were probably the best though, at least from my perspective. I like it goes in depth into the largely trial and error process that was trying to find the right propellants for rockets. Many rocket engines simply blew up before they even ignited, and after a while it really started to annoy the scientists.

I'd go into further detail about the book, but it's like 10:00 at night at the time I'm writing this, and my eyes are burning. I'd rate the book an 8/10. It was good, and as a sucker for drama, I enjoyed reading about the conflict that emerged between the scientists.

[Nuke]

i like to read, i just read slow and dont have a lot of time.  audiobooks work, so long as its a human narrator, but half the books i want to read dont have audiobooks.

[Fizzlebop Smith]

I love reading and discussion is a wonderful way to ensure that the subject matter has a much better chance of long-term retention / understanding.  I use reading as an escape and prefer fictions if all types.

Usually, a book club predicates a group that chooses. I may put down the reading list to give this a gander because i have a feeling its going to touch on L. Ron Hubbard and Jet Propulsions laboratory. Ive read a few other tangential texts and bet its pretty good. Might be back in a week or so after i knock out this series. 

[AstroWolfie]

I'm trying to start reading the Horus Heresy. 

 

60. books. of. depression.

 

good fun!