I thought it was a good book too, Del. I didn't pick it up the first time I read it, because there have been so many books lately from the Heroes of the Golden Age of Spaceflight that the memoirs of a shuttle astronaut seemed mundane by comparison. But then I went ahead and got it, and it turned out it was those very differences that make the book special. Stories of George Abbey's tenure and the dynamics of the Astronaut Office during that era have leaked out, and Mullane provides a good insider look at the politics. He told his story straight, perhaps because he didn't have to worry about maintaining a heroic image for the history books, and it makes the book unique in many ways.

The book was funny, too, especially Mullane's self-deprecating portrayal of himself and the other military astronauts as troglodytes from "Planet Arrested Development". And that set the stage for what I thought was the most poignant part of the book, his description of his relationship with Judy Resnick. It's in character that Mullane says little about her after recounting their last conversation before her flight aboard Challenger--that's an eloquent silence.

But to end on a high note, I'll bet the story that had you laughing out loud took place on a White House elevator. Had me laughing out loud--am I right? Or was it "Nice butt, Tarzan", or the struggles with the UCD? Lots to choose from in this book. All in all it was a unique look at the real life of a real astronaut. Yeah, two thumbs up.