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Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon by Buzz Aldrin, Ken

Archives Books Inc
(138976)
Registered as a business seller
US $43.31
Approximately£32.00
Condition:
Very Good
First edition, 5th printing. Jacket in Very good condition. No markings.
Breathe easy. Returns accepted.
Postage:
US $6.50 (approx £4.80) Economy Shipping.
Located in: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
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Estimated between Fri, 25 Jul and Mon, 28 Jul to 94104
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eBay item number:313603893902
Last updated on 18 Jul, 2025 15:46:20 BSTView all revisionsView all revisions

Item specifics

Condition
Very Good
A book that has been read and does not look new, but is in excellent condition. No obvious damage to the book cover, with the dust jacket (if applicable) included for hard covers. No missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, no underlining or highlighting of text, and no writing in the margins. Some identifying marks on the inside cover, but this is minimal. Very little wear and tear. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitionsopens in a new window or tab
Seller notes
“First edition, 5th printing. Jacket in Very good condition. No markings.”
ISBN
9780307463456

About this product

Product Identifiers

Publisher
Crown Publishing Group, T.H.E.
ISBN-10
0307463451
ISBN-13
9780307463456
eBay Product ID (ePID)
71681505

Product Key Features

Book Title
Magnificent Desolation : the Long Journey Home from the Moon
Number of Pages
336 Pages
Language
English
Publication Year
2009
Topic
Personal Memoirs, Psychopathology / Depression, Adventurers & Explorers, Psychopathology / Addiction, Science & Technology
Illustrator
Yes
Genre
Biography & Autobiography, Psychology
Author
Ken Abraham, Buzz Aldrin
Format
Hardcover

Dimensions

Item Height
1.1 in
Item Weight
21 Oz
Item Length
9.5 in
Item Width
6.4 in

Additional Product Features

Intended Audience
Trade
LCCN
2010-277299
Reviews
"Buzz Aldrin relives theMagnificent Desolationof space, and the soul-sucking depression that awaited back home." Vanity Fair, "Hot Type", "Buzz Aldrin relives theMagnificent Desolationof space, and the soul-sucking depression that awaited back home." Vanity Fair, "Hot Type" "An admirable account of an icon of the golden age of space flight." Kirkus Reviews, "Buzz Aldrin relives the Magnificent Desolation of space, and the soul-sucking depression that awaited back home." Vanity Fair, "Hot Type" "An admirable account of an icon of the golden age of space flight." Kirkus Reviews "Space fans, in particular, will cheer." Booklist "Aldrin presents a no-holds-barred account of how his celebrity, career and human weaknesses nearly destroyed his life….This inspiring story exhibits Aldrin as a different, perfectly human kind of hero, giving readers a sympathetic look at a man eclipsed by his own legend." Publishers Weekly "Buzz Aldrin relives theMagnificent Desolationof space, and the soul-sucking depression that awaited back home." Vanity Fair, "Hot Type" "Riveting reading." The Economist "Leads the field of new releases.The candid portrayal of his earthly battles-often written with great humor-make this a cut above the rest….Great holiday reading." New Scientist "Captivating….an engaging first-hand account by one of history's most important explorers." Alive East Bay
Dewey Edition
22
Dewey Decimal
629.454092
Synopsis
Forty years ago, Buzz Aldrin became the second human, minutes after Neil Armstrong, to set foot on a celestial body other than the Earth. The event remains one of mankind's greatest achievements and was witnessed by the largest worldwide television audience in history. In the years since, millions more have had their Earth-centric perspective unalterably changed by the iconic photograph of Aldrin standing on the surface of the moon, the blackness of space behind him and his fellow explorer and the Eagle reflected in his visor. Describing the alien world he was walking upon, he uttered the words "magnificent desolation." And as the astronauts later sat in the Eagle, waiting to begin their journey back home, knowing that they were doomed unless every system and part on board worked flawlessly, it was Aldrin who responded to Mission Control's clearance to take off with the quip, "Roger. Understand. We're number one on the runway." The flight of Apollo 11 made Aldrin one of the most famous persons on our planet, yet few people know the rest of this true American hero's story. In Magnificent Desolation , Aldrin not only gives us a harrowing first-person account of the lunar landing that came within seconds of failure and the ultimate insider's view of life as one of the superstars of America's space program, he also opens up with remarkable candor about his more personal trialsand eventual triumphsback on Earth. From the glory of being part of the mission that fulfilled President Kennedy's challenge to reach the moon before the decade was out, Aldrin returned home to an Air Force career stripped of purpose or direction, other than as a public relations tool that NASA put to relentless use in a seemingly nonstop world tour. The twin demons of depression and alcoholism emergedthe first of which Aldrin confronted early and publicly, and the second of which he met with denial until it nearly killed him. He burned through two marriages, his Air Force career came to an inglorious end, and he found himself selling cars for a living when he wasn't drunkenly wrecking them. Redemption came when he finally embraced sobriety, gained the love of a woman, Lois, who would become the great joy of his life, and dedicated himself to being a tireless advocate for the future of space explorationnot only as a scientific endeavor but also as a thriving commercial enterprise. These days Buzz Aldrin is enjoying life with an enthusiasm that reminds us how far it is possible for a person to travel, literally and figuratively. As an adventure story, a searing memoir of self-destruction and self-renewal, and as a visionary rallying cry to once again set our course for Mars and beyond, Magnificent Desolation is the thoroughly human story of a genuine hero.
LC Classification Number
TL789.85.A4A3 2009

Item description from the seller

Seller business information

I certify that all my selling activities will comply with all EU laws and regulations.
About this seller

Archives Books Inc

100% positive Feedback273K items sold

Joined Jul 1999
Registered as a business seller
Archives Books Inc. is family owned & operated since 1989, specializing in rare, out-of-print books but also have a great selection of paperback fiction. Oklahoma History, Native American, ...
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Detailed seller ratings

Average for the last 12 months
Accurate description
4.9
Reasonable postage cost
4.8
Delivery time
5.0
Communication
5.0

Seller Feedback (164,832)

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  • z***e (49)- Feedback left by buyer.
    Past 6 months
    Verified purchase
    Excellent service! The item came exactly as described by the seller. It was a great value for the item. The packaging of the item was excellent! Also, excellent shipping! I was provided with tracking information, to let me know when the item is coming and when it came. And the item came before the delivery date!!! I highly recommend buying from this seller!
  • h***r (11)- Feedback left by buyer.
    Past 6 months
    Verified purchase
    Item arrived within expected window of delivery. It was packaged in such a way so that item would not damaged during shipping. Item was actually better than described in eBay ad. It had been described as "Very Good," but it actually could be described as "Fine," "NOS," or "Like New," because it looked like a brand new copy! Great value for the price. Very happy with my purchase experience with this seller.
  • t***a (29)- Feedback left by buyer.
    Past 6 months
    Verified purchase
    This item was listed as "very good" condition but it should have been listed as "like new" condition. I was very pleased to find the Bible had no writing in it, had a very clean leather cover and in fact looked like it had never been opened. The box was even in great shape on an item from 2013. The packaging could have gotten it to China and back without a scratch. It was shipped the same day as purchase. I love it and am very pleased with this seller.

Product ratings and reviews

4.2
6 product ratings
  • 3 users rated this 5 out of 5 stars
  • 1 users rated this 4 out of 5 stars
  • 2 users rated this 3 out of 5 stars
  • 0 users rated this 2 out of 5 stars
  • 0 users rated this 1 out of 5 stars

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Most relevant reviews

  • A very telling moon perspective.

    A revealing perspective off astronaut's personalities - especially Aldrin's What do you do as an encore after walking on the moon. In person, Aldrin is a personable fellow. His book reveals a narcistic personality consumed by self importance.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-ownedSold by: thrift.books

  • Magnificent Desolation

    Buzz is definitely a unique guy. I would recommend this book but I have read over 20 Mercury/Gemini/Apollo astronaut books

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: New

  • Life of an astronaut

    Excellent shape

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-ownedSold by: nash1and2

  • Magnificent Desolation

    His experience working with NASA is interesting, but it is long when it comes to his personal problems, too much of the same with alcoholism and depression.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-ownedSold by: betterworldbooks

  • Imperdible

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-ownedSold by: worldofbooksinc