Rightly hailed as the greatest technical accomplishment of all times, the race to the Moon has inspired entire generations with the daring exploits of astronauts, engineers and scientists who overcame seemingly impossible odds to set foot outside the confines of our earthy abode for the first time.
Beyond the dazzling feats that captured the public's imagination, however, there is an equally fascinating story of unsung heroes who toiled behind the scenes to make it all happen. In retrospect, when pondering upon the unbelievably frustrating aftermath of the space program post-Apollo, the greatest lessons to be learned are those gleaned from attempting to understand all that went right during that golden era when a whole nation and many others all over the world were galvanized by the promise and allure of space exploration.
"From Out of this World: Leadership and Life Lessons from the Space Program" tries to do just that. Through some of the iconic events and milestones in the space program, the book captures the essence of some invaluable leadership and life lessons that are applicable beyond the field of space exploration and that are more current than ever at a time in which uncertainty and complexity can be equated to the challenges faced at that time by the space pioneers. From the Kennedy Speech to the Challenger Accident, the Apollo 13 crisis and the search for Life on Mars, the space program provides a unique mirror to reflect upon our leadership challenges at the most fascinating and yet tantalizing time in history.