“I have duct tape. Ordinary duct tape, like you buy in a hardware store. Turns out even NASA can’t improve on duct tape.”
– Mark Watney (The Martian)
The Martian is another of my favorite audiobooks in my library. Unfortunately, you can no longer obtain a new copy of the version narrated by R.C. Bray, but Wil Wheaton is still a fantastic narrator. I am sure that, while not likely as good, it is still passable and worthy of the expense of a credit.
This book might not seem like your cup of tea in a hard copy version. Many have stated that The Martian reads a lot like a science textbook. Based on my experience, I can see how many people might feel that way. Still, it is one heck of a journey. It is the ultimate fight for survival and even if you don’t care for the math or science, it is still full of action and thrills.
The first time I saw the movie I was not impressed. I didn’t really get what was happening and I didn’t really pay much attention to it. It wasn’t until a year or two later that I decided to try the audiobook version of The Martian. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. This ended up joining my list of a few books I want to listen to at least once a year.
The Martian represents a future that is full of possibility. It was also one of the greatest and most applicable lessons that anyone can learn. Things will never go 100% according to plan. Sometimes, they might even go entirely in the opposite direction. Nature and time can’t be controlled. It is up to each of us how we respond when things go well, but it is also up to each of us how we respond when things go wrong.
You can give up, or you can get to work. You can’t do both. No matter how complicated or hopeless the situation may seem, things are not always as they appear. It is up to you.
Journeyman's Legacy 