Book Log 2006 #33: Moondust by Andrew Smith

What do you do to top walking on the moon? That is, in some respects, the thesis of Moondust, where the author interviews all of the living astronauts who have trod on the dusty lunar surface. Interspersed with his own memories of moon landings and reflections on the space program, Smith discovers that the trip was life-altering for all of the men. It's just that the alteration wasn't always for the best.

It's an interesting idea for a book, and the descriptions of the interviews are as telling as the actual discussion. From Neil Armstrong's reticence to Buzz Aldrin's borderline paranoia to Charlie Duke's New Age leanings, it's clear that this once in a lifetime experience was liberating for some, but is an albatross for others.

Anyone interested in space or recent history would enjoy this book quite a bit, and the book is well-written and engaging enough to keep readers with a passing interest in the subject around until the end.