
Challenger
A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space
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Narrated by:
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Jacques Roy
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Stunning…A heart-pounding thriller…Challenger is a remarkable book.” —The Atlantic • “Superb…Compelling and exhaustively researched.” —The Washington Post • “Devastating…A universal story that transcends time.” —The New York Times • “Gripping history.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
From the New York Times bestselling author of Midnight in Chernobyl comes the definitive, dramatic, minute-by-minute story of the Challenger disaster, based on fascinating in-depth reporting and new archival research—a riveting history that flows like a thriller.
On January 28, 1986, just seventy-three seconds into flight, the space shuttle Challenger broke apart over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all seven people on board. Millions of Americans witnessed the tragic deaths of the crew, which included New Hampshire schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. Like the assassination of JFK, the Challenger disaster is a defining moment in twentieth-century history—one that forever changed the way America thought of itself and its optimistic view of the future. Yet the full story of what happened, and why, has never been told.
Based on extensive archival research and meticulous, original reporting, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space follows a handful of central protagonists—including each of the seven members of the doomed crew—through the years leading up to the accident, and offers a detailed account of the tragedy itself and the investigation afterward. It’s a compelling tale of ambition and ingenuity undermined by political cynicism and cost-cutting in the interests of burnishing national prestige; of hubris and heroism; and of an investigation driven by leakers and whistleblowers determined to bring the truth to light. Throughout, there are the ominous warning signs of a tragedy to come, recognized but then ignored, and later hidden from the public.
Higginbotham reveals the history of the shuttle program and the lives of men and women whose stories have been overshadowed by the disaster, as well as the designers, engineers, and test pilots who struggled against the odds to get the first shuttle into space. A masterful blend of riveting human drama and fascinating and absorbing science, Challenger identifies a turning point in history—and brings to life an even more complex and astonishing story than we remember.
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Even though I have read a lot of books about this disaster. This has been the most comprehensive and enjoyable.
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If this is a subject you're interested in, trust me, go ahead and get it. The storytelling is excellent, incredibly detailed without falling into mundanity, the pace and framing holding your attention the whole way through. The narration is also excellent, a very enjoyable voice. I learned a lot things I didn't know, and I thought I had a detailed understanding of what happened.
Worth your time and your audible credit, even if the sample fails to show it.
Don't hesitate
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Detailed account of a probably avoidable disaster.
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Great book.. Tons of interesting information
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details added but not much new, kind of nice for it all to be in one place.
Same story with a few more details
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Gripping
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I did find the narration to be a bit more on the dry side than I’d prefer. Especially because some of the book describes technical aspects that are already over my head and hard to picture. In my opinion, still a very interesting read!
Fascinating story but dry narration
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Those who complain about the real and ongoing cancer of racism and gender bias do not understand context. Their loss.
Holy Sh1t
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Life of astronauts and engineers
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An excellent book
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