The Martian

Yuzo Makitani -

What It's About

Mark Watney, an astronaut stranded on Mars, is presumed dead by his crew but refuses to give up. Using his wit, scientific knowledge, and unyielding spirit, he fights to survive in the planet's unforgiving environment. Watney’s ingenuity and humor keep him going as he solves problem after problem, from growing food in Martian soil to reestablishing communication with NASA. The Martian is a captivating tale of human resilience and ingenuity, blending intense suspense with clever problem-solving and a dash of humor, making it an exhilarating read for anyone who loves a good survival story.

How I Discovered It

I saw the movie when it came out in 2015 with some of my college buddies. We were all engineering students then, so we had a fun time nerding out about the movie. Interstellar had come out in 2014, and Gravity in 2013, so my time in college from 2012-16 was filled with realistic space sci-fi movies.

Going on a bit of a related tangent, my friend’s buddy’s dad had military clearance, so we went to Vandenburg AFB to watch SpaceX launch a Falcon 9 in their second attempt at landing one on a drone ship. We couldn’t really see the launch that day because it was foggy, but we heard the rocket engine close up.

Basically we were all into space and I remember that was a really cool part about getting to live through college during that period. Several of my friends recommended the book over the years and I finally picked one up two weeks ago.

Thoughts

What I Liked About It

I forgot how easy it is to read fiction books compared to self help books. Good writers draw you into their story and make it hard for you to put the book down, which is exactly what Weir achieved. I loved Mark Watney’s humor, the realism, and attention to detail (even though some details I didn’t fully understand).

What I Didn't Like About It

The only thing I would say would improve the book is including diagrams and images. It was pretty hard imagining some of the complex tasks Mark Watney was doing through text only.

Who Would Like It?

If you saw the movie and liked it, you will like the book. Mark Watney in the book is more humorous than Matt Damon playing him in the movie. Damon is usually a serious character; everybody knows him from Jason Bourne.

If you didn’t see the movie but you like sci-fi and that genre of stories, you will probably like the book. Just be ready for some pretty detailed explanation of the scenery and pay attention to Watney’s explanation of the instruments like oxygenator and atmospheric regulator.

If you’re a physics, chemistry, or botany nerd, you will love this book.

Artemis by Andy Weir

  • Another thrilling novel by Andy Weir, Artemis is set on the moon and follows the story of Jasmine "Jazz" Bashara, a smuggler who gets caught up in a conspiracy for control of the lunar city Artemis.

Apollo 13 by Jeffrey Kluger and James Lovell

  • This gripping account of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission showcases the astronauts' and NASA's ingenuity and determination to bring the crew safely back to Earth after a catastrophic failure.

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

  • A classic collection of science fiction stories that explores human colonization and life on Mars, blending poetic storytelling with imaginative scenarios.

Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson

  • The first book in the Mars trilogy, Red Mars delves into the terraforming and colonization of Mars, with a strong focus on science, politics, and the human experience.

Contact by Carl Sagan

  • This science fiction novel by the renowned astronomer Carl Sagan explores the themes of space exploration, scientific discovery, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.