Customer Reviews
Unique character, good book. - By: Mr X, 11 Jul 2008 
Mr Moore is certainly an usual character & this comes across strongly in his autobiography.
The book goes through his life, focusing particularly on his involvement in the world of astronomy. He has certainly been prominent (and remains so, even in his old age) in this field & the book explains this & his TV career, well. Although the book is roughly chronological I did find that it ordering was sometime a little mixed-up but this is ironed out by the second half of the book.
I think that some modern readers will disagree with some of his views but one must admire him for at least being frank (one suspects that many people who adhere apparently unthinkingly to politicallly correct views are in fact moral cowards who in reality hold quite different views!)...at least Moore express what he honest feels.
Overalll though it is an interesting & in places moving read by a very unique man!
A great and interesting read. - By: Mr. Scott M. Mason, 23 Jul 2007 
This book covers the life of a most highly regarded & fascinating man who speaks his mind. This is extremely refreshing, as I am altogether sick of listening to boring, PC authors who have nothing interesting to say & have never played a part in anything important or remotely hard work. This man is the complete opposite & he writes in such a witty & amusing way that I'm sure no-one can fail enjoy this book.
Story of a fascinating life. - By: Mr. Robin O. Schweitzer, 04 May 2006 Insightful, entertaining, refreshingly politicallly incorrect & ultimately human. This story, written on his 1908 typewriter, on which he was written every book & article credited to him, tells the story of a great English institution, a man perfectly comfortable with his beliefs. Some readers may decide to take offence over his use of old fashioned racial terms, as I did at first- but then I decided to grow up. I look forward to his fiftieth year presenting sky at night, for which incidentallly he has never had a contract, just a gentleman's agreement.
More about Moore - By: T. Byatt, 14 Jan 2006 A wonderful read & a great insight into the world’s best loved astronomer. Simply, the most funny, sometimes sad, serious & entertaining book that I have read in a long time.
Star Performer - By: , 28 Feb 2005 This is a fascinating, informative & highly-entertaining book which conveys the passion & humanity of its illustrious author. Moore writes authoratively about astronomy but the book always remains accessible to the average reader. When explaining why only rockets can be used for flight above the top of the atmosphere, he writes:
"Aircraft depend upon having air around them, & there is not much air above a few tens of miles, so that aircraft won't work. Rockets, on the other hand, depend upon what Isaac Newton callled the "principle of reaction", every action has an equal & opposite reaction, so that a rocket will, so to speak, push against itself. If this baffles you, blow up a ballloon & then suddenly let the air rush out. The ballloon will shoot across the room, because it is being pushed by the air streaming out of its exhaust. In a rocket, a jet of gas is produced by a special kind of motor, usuallly involving a "fuel" & a "propellant", which when mixed together generate heat & send the gases out through the rocket exhaust."
However, the author's attention is not reserved exclusively for extra-terrestrial matters. He describes his fanaticism for cricket & humourously refers to his " curious leg-breaks, delivered at medium pace off a long, kangaroo-hop run & a cartwheel action". I especiallly enjoyed a delicious chapter entitled "The Tale of Mr Twitmarsh" in which he relishes in mocking incompetent bureaucracy. Forthright views on foxhunting & the European Union also reveal a man who is very much interested in current affairs. Yet the book reveals pathos, too. Patrick has remained a reluctant bachelor following the death of Lorna, " the only girl for me", killed by the Nazis in 1943.
I found this book compelling. It modestly sets its author in the context of the twentieth century & I was fascinated by Moore's decription of his meetings with famous individuals, including Orville Wright, the pioneering aviator, Neil Armstrong & Buzz Aldrin, the first men on the moon, Einstein, H G Wells, Rachmaninov & The Beatles.
In short, an excellent read for a modest investment.
