Genesis, the Story of Apollo 8

Originally from from Four Walls Eight Windows, October 1998, now from Mountain Lake Press, October 2012

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"The significance of the 1968 mission around the moon was not only scientific. As science journalist Zimmerman demonstrates here, in sending humans outside Earth's gravitational pull for the first time, the mission proved a major technological triumph; it was also a political triumph... With great intelligence and an eye for enjoyable reading, Zimmerman highlights a period in American history when everyday heroes still existed and we had not lost our capacity to be awed by scientific achievement."-- Publishers Weekly, 9/28/98
"Well-told... Provide[s] a unique perspective... Zimmerman's work is the first to cover this flight alone and to stress its monumental significance as the most important Apollo mission." -- Library Journal, 11/1/98
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs." --San Antonio Express-News
Zimmerman is accurate and thorough in his approach, giving the reader insights into Apollo 8 and the U.S. Space Program that might never have been told at the time. He weaves an exciting and thought provoking tale. . . . he not only tells the big picture - the politics, the Cold War, the titanic struggle between the Soviet Union and the United States and their "Race to the Moon" - but he vividly portrays the little pictures as well. --Destination Space (read the full review)
"Genesis captures the essence of the space race and the Apollo program." -- Frank Borman (Apollo 8 commander)
"The flight of Apollo 8 brought a shining ending to a year of turmoil. Zimmerman tells the reality of that story with vigor." -- Jim Lovell (Apollo 8 astronaut)
"Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 successfully weaves together the flight to the moon with the political backdrop of that very troubled decade of the sixties." -- Bill Anders (Apollo 8 astronaut)

Check out the reviews on amazon.com's webpage.

Check out the excerpt available at msnbc.com.

6 comments

  • Hi Robert — the documentary I made for the BBC on the Apollo 11 tenth anniversary is now back on vimeo and youtube. It’s in two parts.

    The Men Who Walked on the Moon http://vimeo.com/46124444
    A celebratory piece

    The Other Side of the Moon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puWbQ1b-ljU
    A more cynical view. You should like this because it has a lot of material on Apollo 8, including interviews with George Low and Thomas Paine.

  • Attempted to post here the last time I heard you on John Batchelor’s show, but I guess it didn’t take.

    Just wanted to let you know I discussed your book Genesis last year on my blog, here:

    https://walkingcreekworld.wordpress.com/2015/01/14/follow-up-genesis/

    Cheers. I enjoy your contributions to John’s show, when I happen to catch them.

    /Mr Lynn

  • Andi

    Just bought your book. Looking forward to a good read, and thanks for this site!

  • R. Travis

    I just purchased the book and look forward to the read..

    As a former USAF fighter pilot and current airline pilot, the awe inspiring event of hearing those first humans to ever travel to the moon reading from Genesis on Christmas Eve 1968 was so motivating in shaping and guiding my own aviation career.

    Sure, Apollo 11 and the first moon landing will always take top billing for the Apollo program, but this mission was a “first” that doesn’t get proper recognition in aviation circles or the public in general, IMHO. Not to mention Anders (and Borman/Lovell) took one of the most iconic photographs of all time: Earthrise.

    RIP Frank Borman !

  • Robert Travis

    I just purchased the book and look forward to the read..

    As a former USAF fighter pilot and current airline pilot, the awe inspiring event of hearing those first humans to ever travel to the moon reading from Genesis on Christmas Eve 1968 was so motivating in shaping and guiding my own aviation career.

    Sure, Apollo 11 and the first moon landing will always take top billing for the Apollo program, but this mission was a “first” that doesn’t get proper recognition in aviation circles or the public in general, IMHO. Not to mention Anders (and Borman/Lovell) took one of the most iconic photographs of all time: Earthrise.

    RIP Frank Borman !

  • Robert Travis: Thank you for your purchase.

    It is an unfortunate thing that my book is not considered a worthwhile history by the powers-that-be in the educational community for advanced junior high and ordinary high school students. It would in a very entertaining manner teach them some very important and very fundamental facts about American history.

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