Kindle
$9.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$30.20
Paperback
$19.37
Buy new:
-16% $19.37
FREE delivery Monday, May 13 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon
Sold by: Newday Book Store
$19.37 with 16 percent savings
List Price: $23.00

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Monday, May 13 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 9. Order within 10 hrs 54 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$19.37 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$19.37
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon
Ships from
Amazon
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$9.46
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Item in acceptable condition including possible liquid damage. As well answers may be filled in. May be missing DVDs, CDs, Access code, etc. Item in acceptable condition including possible liquid damage. As well answers may be filled in. May be missing DVDs, CDs, Access code, etc. See less
FREE delivery Saturday, May 11 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 10 hrs 54 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$19.37 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$19.37
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

See all
Tom Hanks
Follow
Hecmoks Chen
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts Paperback – Illustrated, August 28, 2007

by Andrew Chaikin (Author), Tom Hanks (Foreword)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 936 ratings
See all formats and editions
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
View Kindle Edition
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$19.37","priceAmount":19.37,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"19","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"37","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"WUcARAJN6Ke%2F0P9IyNwu8kjGoWTJthRjiNCH%2B7RaVOe%2FrGjhdNw1tHfBfonUtSpTnlHR5D8DZco1Rr%2B3r8drLUiUdEsi5uEiKkpFUBoPbgYkkjkR7j4RtteQqhaSJxl%2BPiUC7hl2CXKAosevfMC0o6JfIHlHJs3Y%2BCqSqEnaon0tnYEAE34WE2nagNLvSqq%2F","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$9.46","priceAmount":9.46,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"9","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"46","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"WUcARAJN6Ke%2F0P9IyNwu8kjGoWTJthRjc0fSsRoicQ2vuWiJsCY%2BGijuaygi9K5FZ%2BRprj8NYOlv0%2Fs%2F6gXQL%2Fkw%2FJdcNaIau2%2Bo%2FFc2G7RefHZsO11%2BzJY7RGDPCxsYKqFawfpYCodIteuSaE5aE5KAGcaBGHrmATRXhrUjuVEGhRccTzHLEdMNNkYQvhnd","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

"The authoritative masterpiece" (L. A. Times) on the Apollo space program and NASA's journey to the moon

This acclaimed portrait of heroism and ingenuity captures a watershed moment in human history. The astronauts themselves have called it the definitive account of their missions. On the night of July 20, 1969, our world changed forever when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon. Based on in-depth interviews with twenty-three of the twenty-four moon voyagers, as well as those who struggled to get the program moving, A Man on the Moon conveys every aspect of the Apollo missions with breathtaking immediacy and stunning detail.

A Man on the Moon is also the basis for the acclaimed miniseries produced by Tom Hanks, From the Earth to the Moon, now airing and streaming again on HBO in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    720 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Books
  4. Publication date
    August 28, 2007
  5. Dimensions
    5.3 x 1.64 x 7.88 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    014311235X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0143112358
  8. See all details
Next page
Books with Buzz
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more

Frequently bought together

A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts
$19.37
Get it as soon as Monday, May 13
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by Newday Book Store and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
Failure Is Not an Option: Mission Control From Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond
$11.99
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
RIGHT STUFF
$16.83
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Recounts in loving detail the standing Apollo epic . . . with verve and intelligence."
-The New York Times Book Review

"The power of A Man on the Moon truly astounded me. . . . I found myself transported, reminded of all that was wonderful about Apollo. I laughed and cried."
-Dava Sobel, author of Longitude and Galileo's Daughter

"More inside stories, more details, recollections, and feelings of all the men who traveled to the moon than any other account of the Apollo program."
-The Christian Science Monitor

About the Author

Andrew Chaikin is the author of the acclaimed A Man on the Moon and several other books about space. He is a commentator for NPR’s Morning Edition and had appeared on Good Morning America, Nightline, Fresh Air, and Talk of the Nation.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; Reissue edition (August 28, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 720 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 014311235X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143112358
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.27 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.3 x 1.64 x 7.88 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 936 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Previous page
  1. Tom Hanks

    Tom Hanks

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

    See more on the author's page
  2. Hecmoks Chen

    Hecmoks Chen

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

    See more on the author's page
  3. Andrew Chaikin

    Andrew Chaikin

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

    See more on the author's page
Next page

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
936 global ratings
Best book on the space program !
5 Stars
Best book on the space program !
I actually have a hardback first edition, but I keep buying copies to give to friends. The details, narrative, and style of the book is just fantastic. One example of this is the page in the book, where the author describing Apollo 15's decent to the moon and comparing to the astronauts' work in the simulator. It is so well done, you feel you are in the Lunar Module with the Astronauts.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Narut Ujnat
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for Apollo fans ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
I read this years ago and wanted to reread this again. I've read more than a few books about the Apollo program, but this is one of the best. A satisfying journey through all the Apollo missions with lots of astronaut interviews providing lots of interesting anecdotes that I had mostly never read before.

Totally worth reading and highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Vance Forrest
5.0 out of 5 stars Brings Out the Space Enthusiast in Us All
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2017
Verified Purchase
I’ve long been fascinated with space. I’ve admired our accomplishments from humble beginnings in the 50’s to the pinnacle of human achievement in 1969, and all the way through the shuttle program today. I stand in awe every time I watch footage of a rocket launch. It’s hard to wrap your mind around the magnitude of what we accomplished 50 years ago.

I’ve seen great documentary and highlight reels of space exploration but hadn’t read any detail to get more behind the curtain. So I set out go find a truly engrossing book that chronicled this impressive journey. “A Man on the Moon” delivered in every detail.

This book follows closely the astronauts of each mission. They are the key theme. The book provides key details into the their character, because the fortitude of what it took to be an astronaut was founded on something truly special. It was different for all of them, but they all shared an unyielding conviction. Their conviction drove them to do great things, brought out the best in each other. My ego always told me I could have been an astronaut and I was jealous of them especially in the early NASA days, but after reading this book I’m not sure I had the “right stuff”

There are “sciency” parts of the book but Chaikin does a great job simplifying technical topics. Like summarizing orbital dynamics and rendezvous.

The book also goes beyond man and machine, and dives into the culture at the time. The challenges faced changing public and political opinion. They had carts blanche for a while, but then what?

My admiration and wonder were amplified by this book. It’s hard not to respect all the missions. Sure we think of Apollo 11 landing on the moon and Apollo 13 with the tremendous story on “how do you get home”, but this books rings out the significance of each mission. Apollo 8 was a very daring mission; first men around the moon. Come to find out the Apollo 9 crew passed on it? How could anyone do that? These men were at their core pilots as well. Those fascinating details are what bolstered respect.

The saddest part was finishing it. It’s sad because we know now after 50 years we haven’t returned, and when you read this it’s heartbreaking to see how they thought their journey was just the beginning. The book did such a good job of engrossing me in that world, it saddened me to come back to reality and recognize the little progress we’ve made. There has been some no doubt. But compared to what was accomplished in a matter of 10 years and on primitive technology by today’s standards, makes the early years of NASA further impressive. I might even be a little jealous.

I absolutely recommend this book, from the fleeting interested person to the most intense space junky out there. It chronicles one greatest chapters in our history and will leave you with a new found respect.

I recommend reading this book and “Failure is Not an Option” because it took way more than astronauts to get to the moon. It’ll help you recognize the human power and unsung heroes pivotal to conquering space.
33 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Terry McAdams
5.0 out of 5 stars Man on the Moon.
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is by far the most comprehensive study written on the APOLLO missions to the moon. Well written and mind blowing in scope. The author truly captures the countries single mindedness in its quest to reach the surface of the moon. Great emphasis on the brave men who risked everything in order to become memorialized in the pantheon of our countries history. Many people behind the scenes were also included in this fascinating period of our history. Simply a great read. I finished this book in a week, couldn’t put this down.
Helpful
 Report
Solipso
5.0 out of 5 stars I don't think there's a better written account of the Apollo program
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2013
Verified Purchase
This book was everything I expected it to be: an account of the Apollo program that did not bury me in technical details. But even with respect to the human side of the story, Andrew Chaikin shows compassion for readers by being selective. He does not list every item of clothing in the astronauts' dirty laundry. He writes like a novelist, presenting only details of interest, focusing on prominent events like Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon, while not neglecting domestic facets that reveal an astronaut's character.

In other words, A MAN ON THE MOON is not a literally FULL story of an extremely technical human endeavor. On the other hand, Chaikin's book is not like Tom Wolfe's THE RIGHT STUFF, which seems to deliberately omit any mention of science and technology. When an explosion aborts Apollo XIII, Chaikin explains what happened. When astronauts collect rock samples, Chaikin writes about the geological evolution of the moon. But his descriptions meld with his narration, and understanding them is a breeze.

In this book's Foreword, Tom Hanks says that in his TV miniseries FROM EARTH TO THE MOON, he hoped to convey what Chaikin has "captured so well." For me, what Chaikin captured was the whole moon experience, the journey to and fro and the activities on the surface. From my reading, I remember craters, high-resolution vistas of tan-gray desolation, moon rocks with white cystals, moon rocks with green crystals, struggles while trying to extract bore samples, explorations in the lunar rover, and bouncy romps in 1/6 of Earth's gravity.

And I remember that Apollo ended. Christopher Columbus at least had a concrete excuse: he was ignorant. He terminated his quest for China because he thought he had arrived. But we KNEW how to get to the moon. We terminated our quest with a flimsy excuse called "budget." Now here we are, voraciously consuming Earth's resources, which will soon be depleted. If we had continued our trips to the moon, we would be consuming a non-depletable resource from the sun. Solar-energy stations on the moon would be transmitting microwaves of power.

Okay, I don't really know if that last is true, but maybe we should not have stopped the Apollo missions and more missions to the moon. We should not have burned our bridge. In his Epilogue, Chaikin refers to David Criswell, an engineer who says the moon could transmit enough power to supply all of Earth.
10 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
2L8
4.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative and Well Written
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2019
Verified Purchase
A good history of the Apollo program for a space enthusiast, such as myself. A nice balance of historical information about the program and personal information about the astronauts.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Marquinius
5.0 out of 5 stars a perfect read
Reviewed in the Netherlands on December 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
I am biased, having been woken by my mother to watch the first landing. Middle off the night, 11 years old, black an white tv. Never cleared my brain.

But this book tells the complete story, including the deeper feelings and thoughts of the people going through it all. And what a tale to tell.

The best feeling after having finished this extremely well written book? We’re close to sending people back to the moon. Good on the Apollo astronauts pointing the way.
Report
Grant C Robinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling!
Reviewed in Canada on September 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
The detail of this book takes you right back to the events like you were there watching them again. Very well written with accurate information that came right from the people who worked on the project. A must read for any anyone who lived and breathed the Apollo program as a kid.
One person found this helpful
 Report
Marcio
5.0 out of 5 stars Que livro bom!
Reviewed in Brazil on September 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
Encarar 580 páginas em inglês não é fácil, mas este livro é tão bom que quando acabou, desejei que estivesse apenas na metade. O autor conta a história das missões Apollo em detalhes. A leitura é um imenso prazer para quem gosta do assunto. Se o autor escrevesse outro volume sobre as missões Mercury e Gemini, eu não teria dúvidas em lê-lo também. A minissérie "From the Earth to the Moon" da HBO é parcialmente baseada neste livro. É um livro muito bacana. 580 páginas que valem qualquer esforço para uma leitura em inglês. Muito, muito bacana!
4 people found this helpful
 Report
Mimi
5.0 out of 5 stars Passionnant !
Reviewed in France on December 15, 2020
Verified Purchase
Livre très bien écrit qui nous fait rentrer dans les aventures Apollo, même si l'on est profane comme moi !
Les passages techniques sont un peu difficiles parfois, mais franchement je n'ai jamais eu envie d'arrêter ma lecture. On trouve des anecdotes sur chaque voyage. Un bémol : les photos au centre du livre auraient mérité un papier glacé.
La couverture est un peu fragile car recouverte d'une fine pellicule qui donne un toucher "peau de pêche" très doux, très agréable, mais cette pellicule a tendance à se décoller sur les bords du livre au fil de la manipulation, et pourtant je suis très soigneuse. C'est dommage car je compte bien garder ce livre en bonne place dans ma bibliothèque, tant il m'a plu !!
One person found this helpful
 Report
Peter Kubasch
5.0 out of 5 stars Kompetente Darstellung aller Aspekte auf dem Weg zur Mondlandung
Reviewed in Germany on February 9, 2020
Verified Purchase
Technische Herausforderungen, menschliche Typologie der Astronauten, das ungeheuere Team Work zwischen Bodenstationen und Astronauten, Patriotismus und Risikobereitschaft, das Vertauen auf die Technik und aufeinander und natürlich: das Spektakuläre der Tatsache, dass Menschen ihren Fuß auf den Mond setzen und sicher nach Hause zurück kommen.
Eine grandiose, vielschichtige Darstellung von Gemini bis zum Ende des Apollo-Programms.
One person found this helpful
 Report