Preview
  • An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth

  • By: Chris Hadfield
  • Narrated by: Chris Hadfield
  • Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (621 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth

By: Chris Hadfield
Narrated by: Chris Hadfield
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.72

Buy for $15.72

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

This audiobook is fascinatingly read by the author, Chris Hadfield.

Back on the earth after three spaceflights, Chris Hadfield's captivating memoir
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth reveals extraordinary stories from his life as an astronaut, and shows how to make the impossible a reality.

Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and has logged nearly 4,000 hours in space. During this time he has broken into a Space Station with a Swiss army knife, disposed of a live snake while piloting a plane, and been temporarily blinded while clinging to the exterior of an orbiting spacecraft. The secret to Col. Hadfield's success – and survival – is an unconventional philosophy he learned at NASA: prepare for the worst – and enjoy every moment of it.

In An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, Col. Hadfield takes listeners deep into his years of training and space exploration to show how to make the impossible possible. Through eye-opening, entertaining stories filled with the adrenaline of launch, the mesmerizing wonder of spacewalks and the measured, calm responses mandated by crises, he explains how conventional wisdom can get in the way of achievement – and happiness. His own extraordinary education in space has taught him some counterintuitive lessons: don't visualize success, do care what others think, and always sweat the small stuff.

You might never be able to build a robot, pilot a spacecraft, make a music video or perform basic surgery in zero gravity like Col. Hadfield. But his vivid and refreshing insights will teach you how to think like an astronaut, and will change, completely, the way you view life on Earth – especially your own.

©2013 Chris Hadfield (P)2013 Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Editorial reviews

Deeply moving in its ability to engage, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth is written by NASA Astronaut and YouTube star Colonel Chris Hadfield with the complete and unabridged audiobook narrated by the author. Hadfield’s writing is exquisite, his stories exceedingly entertaining and wisdom unbounded. His lifelong determination to make his dreams come true is tremendously inspiring. This is one of those books that makes you look internally at yourself and your life and question if you’re living it the way you should. Available now from Audible.

What listeners say about An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    458
  • 4 Stars
    134
  • 3 Stars
    27
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    442
  • 4 Stars
    112
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    430
  • 4 Stars
    107
  • 3 Stars
    31
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Authentic and excellent

What did you love best about An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth?

The authenticity of the narrative. The (mostly) gripping storylines. The useful, first-hand insight into the life of an astronaut. The very useful lessons from it.
What I really enjoyed, is that Chris Hadfield doesn't "preach" on what to do and what not. He doesn't give a 10-point self-improvement list of things to learn or do. He simply tells his story, and the perceptive reader can apply the lessons Chris had learned to his/her own situation, or not.
There are precious jewels hidden in Hadfield's story. Take this one example: "No situation is so bad that you cannot make it worse."

Who was your favorite character and why?

Chris Hadfield himself, of course. But then, his sons and wife seem to be worth getting to know better.

Which character – as performed by Chris Hadfield – was your favorite?

Chris Hadfield himself.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, but I did recommend it to several friends and gave it as a gift to one friend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiring!

An amazing story from an inspiring human being, delightfully delivered by Chris Hadfield himself.

Square astronaut, round hole.
Thank you for sharing Chris!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good thoughtof mingling experiences with others' and teachings derived from such withextension to everyday life

Would be nicer if he could have covered other, unmentioned aspects of a person's life, his spouse and family's life and the view from others who are not as .... as he is

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

"Aim to be a zero."

If you're new to Audible, start with this one.

I could listen to Colonel narrating for ages. If everyone aspired to be even 1% of what he is, world would be a better place!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow... Just wow 😀

Absolutely loved this book! I've always been fascinated by space and hearing stories from someone who's been there is just amazing. If Chris ever feels like telling more stories about his journey, I'm ready to listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

got me to cry

got me to cry.
the book is pretty great with everything. i like it very much.
Chris is such a human. He totaly down to earth explains how he experienced everything.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed it!

A wonderful book. Real guide to improve yourselves and to be a really good earthling.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story

I loved every minute of the read! A must read/hear for everyone who ever dreamt of becoming an astronaut or has big dreams in general.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiring!

An inspiring story of great achievements, read by the author. I've listened to it twice and I think will give it another listen in a month or so.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good book

Interesting book about the story of Chris Hadfield and his reflections on life. The book is well narrated. It gave an insight insight to the operations of NASA, as well as the mindset of successful astronauts.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!