When Tim began his ascent into space in December 2015, the world watched with awe and bated breath. His liftoff heralded the start of a six-month journey that saw him visit the International Space Station on a mission titled ‘Principia’. Eventful and busy, in his time on board Tim participated in numerous experiments to help research, including having his lungs studied via an airlock. Undertaking a spacewalk to repair the craft’s power supply was another memorable moment for this Chichester born astronaut.
Since his return to Earth in June 2016, Tim has been inundated with questions about his mission, from ‘Was it fun to do a spacewalk?’ to ‘How squashed were you in the capsule on the way back?’. To answer all these, and more, Tim pooled his knowledge and expertise into his latest book Ask an Astronaut, the ultimate guide to life in space. With the introduction narrated by Tim himself, this is an enlightening and fascinating listen.
Discover more recommendations from authors and narrators here and browse Tim's essentials below.
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Land of Men
- Wind, Sand and Stars
- By: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton
- Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall51
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Performance47
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Story47
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is known universally for the gentle charm of Le Petit Prince, but it is this book, Land of Men - known originally in English as Wind, Sand and Stars - which is his masterpiece. First published in 1939, it documents Saint-Exupéry's life as a pilot in the pioneering days of long-distance flying and in particular his experiences as a pilot transporting mail across countries, across continents.
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'At the heart of mystery'
- By Rachel Redford on 23-03-17
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's Wind, Sand and Stars
"I didn’t read as much as I wanted to whilst in space, mainly because what limited free time I had at the weekends and evenings was spent taking photographs of Earth or calling friends and family. However, if I was stranded, I would choose books that make me laugh, that inspire me, and books about human endeavour that might just help keep me alive. Don't be fooled into thinking this is just a book about flying - it's one of the most beautifully told stories of what makes life worth living. I loved every page."
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Into Thin Air
- By: Jon Krakauer
- Narrated by: Philip Franklin
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall2,199
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Performance1,960
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Story1,954
One of the inspirations for the major motion picture Everest, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Keira Knightley. This is the true story of a 24-hour period on Everest when members of three separate expeditions were caught in a storm and faced a battle against hurricane-force winds, exposure, and the effects of altitude, which ended the worst single-season death toll in the peak's history.
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Exceeded expectations
- By Steve S on 08-11-16
Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air
"You probably won’t be surprised to learn that space comes at a premium when you are traveling in a Soyuz spacecraft and living on board the International Space Station. As a consequence, packing a suitcase full of books for a 6-month mission unfortunately isn’t an option. However, as a book lover I was delighted to learn that in space astronauts can read ebooks, or (more commonly) listen to audiobooks. This is an extraordinary account of what humans are capable of, both good and bad, when pushed to the absolute limit."
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In the Shadow of the Moon
- A Challenging Journey to Tranquility, 1965-1969
- By: Francis French, Colin Burgess
- Narrated by: Gary L. Willprecht
- Length: 18 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall28
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Performance25
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Story25
In the Shadow of the Moon tells the story of the most exciting and challenging years in spaceflight, with two superpowers engaged in a titanic struggle to land one of their own people on the moon. Drawing on interviews with astronauts, cosmonauts, their families, technicians, and scientists, as well as rarely seen Soviet and American government documents, the authors craft a remarkable story of the golden age of spaceflight as both an intimate human experience and a rollicking global adventure.
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The journey to the Moon, in fascinating detail
- By Richard Southworth on 06-09-19
In the Shadow of the Moon by Francis French and Colin Burgess
"A brilliant book that captures the human element behind the golden age of space exploration. Reading it makes you feel a part of the extraordinary missions that accomplished one of humanity's greatest achievements... setting foot on the moon. For any budding astronaut out there, I highly recommend."
Tim Peake's personal guide to life in space
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Ask an Astronaut
- My Guide to Life in Space
- By: Tim Peake
- Narrated by: Robin Ince, Tim Peake
- Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall470
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Performance429
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Story427
How does it feel to orbit the Earth 10 times faster than a speeding bullet? What's it like to eat, sleep and go to the toilet in space? And where to next - the moon, Mars or beyond? Ask an Astronaut is Tim's personal guide to life in space, based on his historic Principia mission and the thousands of questions he has been asked since his return to Earth.
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A good informative listen.
- By steeledarren1973 on 25-10-17
Ask an Astronaut, the latest book by Tim Peake
Shortlisted for the British Book Award 2018, this awe-inspiring best seller is based on Tim’s historic Principia mission and the thousands of questions he has been asked since his return to Earth. From ‘How does it feel to orbit Earth ten times faster than a speeding bullet?’ to ‘What’s it like to eat, sleep and go to the toilet in space?’, Tim has a fascinating answer to everything you ever wanted to know. Accessible and written with his characteristic warmth, he reveals the extraordinary secrets, cutting-edge science and everyday wonders of life aboard the International Space Station.