Book Review: "Dr. Space"

If you could only buy one book on Dr. Werhner Von Braun, this is the one you should get. It has so many details on Von Braun's personal and professional life that all your questions will be answered. It is very well written in language the average person can understand.

I grew up in Huntsville during the 60's when the space program was at it's height. As a teenager, I wasn't very interested in what was going on outside my own little world. I really enjoyed the complete story of Werhner von Braun so I could relive some of the historic events, learn new things about Von Braun and find out how it all ended for him. Ward has taken an honest look at this man and revealed everything, warts and all--but with clear documentation, of course--so we have a more realistic idea of what made Von Braun tick.

Dr. Space - The Life of Wernher von Braun is one of the most detailed and readable books on Von Braun that I have read. The book not only highlights Von Braun's contribution to the space program, but also gives clues to his personality, his childhood and his working relationship with his German Rocket Team and governmental officials. In Dr. Space we see not only the vision for space that Von Braun had and was able to implement, but also the dream he had for future projects. Unfortunately, circumstances prevented him from making those dreams come true.

Bob Ward, former editor of The Huntsville Times, lived through the years that Von Braun was in Huntsville making history in the space program, "putting Huntsville on the map" and making headlines. His painstaking collection of notes and interviews are brilliantly incorporated into a first-rate story of this man who left a gigantic impact on the United States' space program.