Listen free for 30 days
Wally Funk's Race for Space
People who bought this also bought...
-
Carrying the Fire
- An Astronaut's Journeys
- By: Michael Collins
- Narrated by: David Colacci
- Length: 20 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 76
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 69
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 71
In July 1969, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins piloted the Apollo 11 spacecraft to the moon. Fifty years later, it is still one of the greatest achievements in human history. In this remarkable memoir, a defining classic, Michael Collins conveys, in a very personal way, the drama, beauty, and humour of that adventure.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Second time around.
- By Steve Royall on 01-07-19
-
War Doctor
- Surgery on the Front Line
- By: David Nott
- Narrated by: David Nott
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 855
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 790
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 791
For more than 25 years, David Nott has taken unpaid leave from his job as a general and vascular surgeon with the NHS to volunteer in some of the world’s most dangerous war zones. From Sarajevo under siege in 1993 to clandestine hospitals in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, he has carried out lifesaving operations and field surgery in the most challenging conditions, and with none of the resources of a major London teaching hospital.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Inspiring,sad and mind blowing
- By Anas Nashawi on 28-02-19
-
Erebus: The Story of a Ship
- By: Michael Palin
- Narrated by: Michael Palin
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 848
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 783
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 776
In his major new work, Michael Palin - former Monty Python stalwart and much-loved television globe-trotter - brings to life the world and voyages of HMS Erebus, from its construction in the naval dockyards of Pembroke, to the part it played in Ross’s Antarctic expedition of 1839-43, to its abandonment during Franklin’s ill-fated Arctic expedition, and to its final rediscovery on the seabed in Queen Maud Gulf in 2014.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Epic tale, written and narrated by Michael Palin.
- By Heisenberg on 24-09-18
-
Safely to Earth
- The Men and Women Who Brought the Astronauts Home
- By: Jack Clemons
- Narrated by: Tom Perkins
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Performance0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Story0 out of 5 stars 0
In this one-of-a-kind memoir, Jack Clemons - a former lead engineer in support of NASA - takes listeners behind the scenes and into the inner workings of the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs during their most exciting years. Discover the people, the events, and the risks involved in one of the most important parts of space missions: bringing the astronauts back home to Earth. Clemons joined Project Apollo in 1968, a young engineer inspired by science fiction and electrified by John F. Kennedy's challenge to the nation to put a man on the moon.
-
Becoming
- By: Michelle Obama
- Narrated by: Michelle Obama
- Length: 19 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 20,163
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 17,925
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 17,852
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites listeners into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her - from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work to her time spent at the world's most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it - in her own words and on her own terms.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Audio better than print
- By Fersh on 03-12-18
-
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
- By: Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows
- Narrated by: Charlie Norfolk
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 6
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 6
It’s 1946. The war is over, and Juliet Ashton has writer’s block. But when she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams of Guernsey - a total stranger living halfway across the Channel, who has come across her name written in a second hand book - she enters into a correspondence with him, and in time with all the members of the extraordinary Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Through their letters, the society tell Juliet about life on the island, their love of books - and the long shadow cast by their time living under German occupation.
-
Carrying the Fire
- An Astronaut's Journeys
- By: Michael Collins
- Narrated by: David Colacci
- Length: 20 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 76
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 69
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 71
In July 1969, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins piloted the Apollo 11 spacecraft to the moon. Fifty years later, it is still one of the greatest achievements in human history. In this remarkable memoir, a defining classic, Michael Collins conveys, in a very personal way, the drama, beauty, and humour of that adventure.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Second time around.
- By Steve Royall on 01-07-19
-
War Doctor
- Surgery on the Front Line
- By: David Nott
- Narrated by: David Nott
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 855
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 790
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 791
For more than 25 years, David Nott has taken unpaid leave from his job as a general and vascular surgeon with the NHS to volunteer in some of the world’s most dangerous war zones. From Sarajevo under siege in 1993 to clandestine hospitals in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, he has carried out lifesaving operations and field surgery in the most challenging conditions, and with none of the resources of a major London teaching hospital.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Inspiring,sad and mind blowing
- By Anas Nashawi on 28-02-19
-
Erebus: The Story of a Ship
- By: Michael Palin
- Narrated by: Michael Palin
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 848
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 783
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 776
In his major new work, Michael Palin - former Monty Python stalwart and much-loved television globe-trotter - brings to life the world and voyages of HMS Erebus, from its construction in the naval dockyards of Pembroke, to the part it played in Ross’s Antarctic expedition of 1839-43, to its abandonment during Franklin’s ill-fated Arctic expedition, and to its final rediscovery on the seabed in Queen Maud Gulf in 2014.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Epic tale, written and narrated by Michael Palin.
- By Heisenberg on 24-09-18
-
Safely to Earth
- The Men and Women Who Brought the Astronauts Home
- By: Jack Clemons
- Narrated by: Tom Perkins
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Performance0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Story0 out of 5 stars 0
In this one-of-a-kind memoir, Jack Clemons - a former lead engineer in support of NASA - takes listeners behind the scenes and into the inner workings of the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs during their most exciting years. Discover the people, the events, and the risks involved in one of the most important parts of space missions: bringing the astronauts back home to Earth. Clemons joined Project Apollo in 1968, a young engineer inspired by science fiction and electrified by John F. Kennedy's challenge to the nation to put a man on the moon.
-
Becoming
- By: Michelle Obama
- Narrated by: Michelle Obama
- Length: 19 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 20,163
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 17,925
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 17,852
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites listeners into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her - from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work to her time spent at the world's most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it - in her own words and on her own terms.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Audio better than print
- By Fersh on 03-12-18
-
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
- By: Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows
- Narrated by: Charlie Norfolk
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 6
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 6
It’s 1946. The war is over, and Juliet Ashton has writer’s block. But when she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams of Guernsey - a total stranger living halfway across the Channel, who has come across her name written in a second hand book - she enters into a correspondence with him, and in time with all the members of the extraordinary Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Through their letters, the society tell Juliet about life on the island, their love of books - and the long shadow cast by their time living under German occupation.
Summary
In 1961, Wally Funk was among the Mercury 13, the first group of American pilots to pass the ‘Women in Space’ programme. Wally sailed through a series of rigorous physical and mental tests, her scores beating many of the male candidates, including those of John Glenn, the first American in orbit. But just one week before she was due to enter the final phase of training, the programme was abruptly cancelled. A combination of politics and prejudice meant that none of the women ever flew into space. Undeterred, Wally went on to become one of America’s first female aviation inspectors and civilian flight instructors, though her dream of being an astronaut never dimmed.
In this offbeat odyssey, journalist and fellow space buff Sue Nelson travels with Wally, now approaching her 80th birthday, as she races to make her giant leap - before it’s too late. Covering their travels across the United States and Europe - taking in NASA’s mission control in Houston and Spaceport America in New Mexico, where Wally’s ride to space awaits - this is a uniquely intimate and entertaining portrait of a true aviation trailblazer.
More from the same
Narrator
What members say
Average customer ratings
Overall
-
4.5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars12
-
4 Stars3
-
3 Stars1
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
Performance
-
4.5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars12
-
4 Stars1
-
3 Stars2
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars1
Story
-
4.5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars12
-
4 Stars3
-
3 Stars1
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Holly
- 05-12-18
A road trip with two brilliant women
Wally Funk could have been the first woman on the moon. We’re reminded of this often by author and science journalist Sue Nelson in this inspiring, and also intimate, audiobook. Hearing about Wally’s achievements and escapades over the years, along with other women in space science, is a wonderful thing, but what made this book so fabulous for me was the relationship between Sue and Wally: one clearly very talented woman documenting the life and ambitions of another, on a series of a adventures and road trips, all with the backdrop of Wally striving to get her rightful place in space. I want to travel with them always.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- BAHAREH
- 18-11-18
what a book! amazing
The book puts you in places and make you feel the moments....I always looked forward to pick up my phone and listen...
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hannah Mallott-manning
- 31-10-18
Wally Funk! Amazing woman
One of the best audio books about one of my heroines. clearly read and thoroughly captivating.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 02-07-19
A brilliant book about a brilliant woman
Where does she get her energy? Found myself really liking Wally Funk, hoping so much that she gets to experience her dream of going into space and wanting to meet her! Great insights into a fascinating world of space exploration and well read. Loved it.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms. H. Ramsden
- 05-04-19
Fascinating true story
A really interesting book, recounting the achievements of a wonderful female aviation pioneer. Sue is an excellent author and narrator, sharing both Wally's story and their adventures together, set in the context of other women's experiences in aviation and space flight. Highly recommended.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- HSH
- 31-01-19
Brilliant! Just that...
Wonderfully inspiring Sue Nelson tells of the amazing Wally Funk. You have my daughter hooked!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms
- 16-12-18
Great story dreadful narration
Very interesting story and great history of women in the space sector but spoilt by poor narration. Would have been greatly Improved by a professional narrator.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- T. Fulford
- 10-12-18
Outstanding good book best this year so far
I love anything to do with space and Iwould have loved to meet Wally and Sue. Gripping, funny, sad, interesting, beautfully read what else can I say? I met Helen Sharman when she came to officially open my technology centre at my school when I was the head of the department, she was the most down to earth, humble and interesting person I have ever met. I’m not surprised she was upset with the way the press treated her. She deserves, like Wally much higher praise and standing in our technological society.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Katherine Avery
- 20-10-18
Incredible and inspiring
If you’re looking for some motivation...this is a must read! I loved every minute of this book. Being a female in the men’s working world myself I appreciate women like Wally because if it was not for her and other women who paved the way, I would not be in the job I am today in the military. I am also a lover of aviation with my husband. (He even enjoyed listening too!) Being raised in it because of my dad it brings more appreciation of the aviation history and space history as well. I imagine that when I am Wally’s age... I will most likely have the same enthusiastic “glass is half full” look on life. This is incredibly inspiring to me also because of the challenges we face and to never give up on your dreams... Wally doesn’t give up!