Endurance

(Or) How to keep your sanity during difficult circumstances

This is not a book that I would have ordinarily decided to read. However, I came across it during the first week of our state’s mandatory COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Safe quarantine.  Like many Michiganders, I was not looking forward to the notion of being cooped-up at home for several weeks or months.  However, when I saw this title, I thought it might provide some insights about being alone or in a crowded space with a small group of people for an extended period. 

Endurance is the author’s story of his year in space (2015-2016) along with his Russian colleague, cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, aboard the International Space Station.  Actually, this book tells two stories. One is Kelly’s unlikely biographical journey from growing-up as an underachieving student, to his career as a naval test pilot, and finally, to achieving his goal of being selected as an astronaut.   However, the main overarching tale chronicles the challenges of living in space on a long duration mission.  Throughout the year, Kelly and Mikhail along with a rotating crew of astronauts and cosmonauts encounter dangerous and life-threatening events that are typical of most space flights, not to mention, the intense feelings of isolation that are inherent in such a mission.

After reading Endurance, I must say, I wasn’t disappointed.  Readers will hopefully gain inspiration from his story, or at the very least, be treated to a wonderful escapist literary adventure.