Book SummaryAn Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, by Chris Hadfield

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth

What can you learn about life on our planet by leaving Earth? Retired astronaut Chris Hadfield explores this question in his memoir, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth. Hadfield recounts his years as an astronaut and reflects on valuable life lessons he learned while on the job. He says that while he was up in space, he learned how to live a better life on Earth—and by adopting the perspective and behavior of an astronaut, you can also improve your life.

Hadfield served as an astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency for 21 years. During those years, he completed two Space Shuttle missions and spent five months commanding the International Space Station. He may be best known outside the astronaut community for filming and...

An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth Summary Part 1: Hadfield’s Journey to Becoming an Astronaut

Early Aspirations to Be an Astronaut

Hadfield can pinpoint the exact moment he decided he wanted to be an astronaut. It was 1969, he was nine years old. He and his family were crowded around the TV, watching Neil Armstrong take his first steps on the Moon. Hadfield wanted a life like Armstrong’s—a life of exploring space and contributing to scientific knowledge.

(Shortform note: The 1969 Apollo 11 mission and moon landing, led by Armstrong, inspired many children to become space scientists and engineers. According to a recent survey, over a quarter of US adults claim that when they were children, they aspired to become astronauts. However, fewer children today share this aspiration: Another recent survey reveals that more of today’s children in the US and UK aspire to become YouTube stars than astronauts—around 30% dream of careers as Youtubers, compared to the 10-11% who want to be astronauts.)

During his childhood, **Hadfield...

An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth Summary Part 2: Hadfield’s Career as an Astronaut

Although Hadfield technically became an astronaut the day he received his acceptance call from the CSA, he claims that he actually became an astronaut after years of rigorous, exciting training—training that taught him how astronauts think and behave.

(Shortform note: While Hadfield emphasizes the training he did after receiving his acceptance call, Canadian astronaut Dave Williams claims in his memoir, Defying Limits, that his astronaut training began before his own acceptance call. This training began when he was a kid: His childhood experiences exploring the woods, cooking over a fire, and tinkering with electronics taught him to work independently, pursue his curiosity, and learn from his failures. These skills prepared him for the joys and challenges of being an astronaut. For instance, Williams claims that the diving certification he earned as a teen prepared him to later start an underwater training program at NASA that trained astronauts for microgravity or weightlessness.)

Although most people assume that astronauts spend the majority of their time in space, Hadfield...

An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth Summary Part 3: Life Lessons Hadfield Learned as an Astronaut

Hadfield claims that the lessons he learned in space improved his life on Earth—and can improve yours as well. In this section, we’ll explore five of the lessons he learned.

(Shortform note: Hadfield’s claim that he learned lessons about life on Earth from his vantage point of space may be a result of what psychologists call “the overview effect.” This is the tendency for astronauts to experience awe, feelings of connection to humanity, and a shift in their perspective after viewing Earth from space. Astronauts have described that the “overview effect” is often bittersweet: In viewing the Earth from afar, they’re been overwhelmed by its beauty, its fragility, and the heartbreaking reality that many of its creatures suffer due to environmental degradation and social inequality. Perhaps this bittersweet, powerful feeling contributed to Hadfield’s desire to share the lessons he learned in space.)

Lesson 1: When You’re a Novice, Aim to Have a Neutral Influence

Hadfield’s early experiences as a new astronaut...

Shortform Exercise: Apply Hadfield’s Lessons on Teamwork to Your Life

Several of the lessons Hadfield learned during his career as an astronaut relate to teamwork. Take some time to explore how to apply these lessons to your life on Earth.

Describe a team endeavor you’re a part of in which you’re a novice or relatively new to the team. (Examples include starting a new career, coming aboard a new committee at your workplace, or joining a sports team or activist group.)