JUST FOR FUN
For a future that ’ s ‘ out of space ,’ find this book
By Terri Schlichenmeyer Syndicated Book Reviewer
Liftoff is in three .... two ..... one .... And from that point , you ’ re off to your future . No matter what your situation or your age , when you start something new , there ’ s a kind of catapult that you feel , like a rock from a slingshot or like being propelled into a whole different world . And as in the new book “ Ready for Launch ” by astronaut Scott Kelly , that goes for your someday success , too .
If you had known Scott Kelly when he was a kid , you might ’ ve been surprised at what became of him . Though he was “ fearless ,” by his own admission , Kelly was a lousy student in school because he “ couldn ’ t pay attention in class ” and didn ’ t focus on anything a teacher said to him . Even when he started college and promised himself that he ’ d do better , his mind wandered in the classroom . It wasn ’ t until he was 18 and stopped by a bookstore “ for gum or something ” that he found his calling on the check-out counter : the book The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe gave him direction that he ’ d never had before .
In his life and career , he says he ’ s learned a thing or two that can translate into success for others . The first is that “ Change is scary ...” but mastering it and learning to risk again is the only way to move forward . On that note , don ’ t fear failure ; remember that it ’ s “ only when you ’ re willing to risk failure are you aiming high enough .”
Don ’ t get “ too comfortable when things aren ’ t perfect ,” he says , and don ’ t stop making “ small adjustments ” on the path to success . Look for unusual places to learn how to be a leader , and seize them — but remember that there are different “ styles ” of leadership , and you ’ ll want to employ them all with empathy . Meetings are nice , but crowdsourcing your decision “ could be deadly .” Diversify your teams and learn how to tap into the experiences and viewpoints of everyone in the room . Own your mistakes . Insist that facts matter . Plan on doing the impossible . At first glance , “ Ready for Launch ” doesn ’ t look like enough .
It ’ s a skinny book , and small in surface area ; there are a lot of pictures inside here , and short-short chapters that can probably be read in just a few minutes . In a way , it reads more like the transcript for a graduation speech or a board meeting : succinct , spare in words , and loaded with advice that ’ s useful , if not quite commonsensical .
But a glance isn ’ t going to tell you ( here ’ s that word again ) enough . You ’ ll be glad when you dig a little deeper because what makes these pages work is that author Scott Kelly uses his own stories to illuminate his advice and , because his early life wasn ’ t like you might surmise it to be , the tales become more impactful .
The size of “ Ready for Launch ” makes it handy to slip in a jacket pocket or purse , so you can browse the chapters as needed , and learn . When you need over-the-moon advice , this book is the one .
“ Ready for Launch : An Astronaut ’ s lessons for Success on Earth ” by Scott Kelly , 119 pages , c . 2022 , Crown $ 17.99 .
• Terri Schlichenmeyer of The Bookworm Sez is a self-syndicated book review columnist . Schlichenmeyer ’ s reviews include adult and children books of every genre . You may contact her at bookwormsez @ yahoo . com
46 • TIMELESS MERIDIAN