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The Orbital Perspective: Lessons in Seeing the Big Picture from a Journey of 71 Million Miles Audiobook
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For astronaut Ron Garan, living on the International Space Station was a powerful, transformative experience—one that he believes holds the key to solving our problems here on Earth. On space walks and through windows, Garan was struck by the stunning beauty of the Earth from space but sobered by knowing how much needed to be done to help this troubled planet. And yet on the International Space Station, Garan, a former fighter pilot, was working work side by side with Russians, who only a few years before were “the enemy.” If fifteen nationalities could collaborate on one of the most ambitious, technologically complicated undertakings in history, surely we can apply that kind of cooperation and innovation toward creating a better world. That spirit is what Garan calls the “orbital perspective.” Garan vividly conveys what it was like learning to work with a diverse group of people in an environment only a handful of human beings have ever known. But more importantly, he describes how he and others are working to apply the orbital perspective here at home, embracing new partnerships and processes to promote peace and combat hunger, thirst, poverty, and environmental destruction. This book is a call to action for each of us to care for the most important space station of all: planet Earth. You don't need to be an astronaut to have the orbital perspective. Garan's message of elevated empathy is an inspiration to all who seek a better world.
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“Ron Garan’s breakthrough book is one of a kind. Never before has a firsthand account of lessons learned in space been applied to firsthand humanitarian development work on Earth. Ron masterfully synthesizes the big-picture view of our world with the ground-level details necessary to overcome the barriers to improving life for all people”
— Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia
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“It is said that to understand a problem properly you need to get outside of it. Ron Garan has certainly done that. Ron’s focus is on finding new connections and collaborations that cross borders of all sorts that might just allow us to transform the world for the better before we destroy this big blue ball we call home.”
— Peter Gabriel, musician and a founder of WOMAD, Witness, and The Elders -
“Debut author Garan…offers a well-considered set of strategies for curing social ills and improving the world, gleaned from the history of space travel and his thoughts while viewing Earth from the International Space Station…and his lessons are particularly apt for those working in the nonprofit sector.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“His thesis that ‘Earth is a small town with many neighborhoods in a very big universe’ rings powerfully true, and his lessons are particularly apt for those working in the nonprofit sector.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“The Orbital Perspective is an inspirational knockout. After reading this book you will refuse to accept the status quo on our planet.”
— Wladimir Klitschko, PhD, founder of Klitschko Management Group -
“Written from Ron Garan’s unique perspective as an astronaut, The Orbital Perspective reminds us of our common humanity and that the pressing challenges we face, we must face and resolve together through tolerance, dialogue, and cooperation.”
— Kofi A. Annan, Nobel Peace Laureate -
“This is more than just a book; it is a call to action and a catalyst for a necessary movement. We need to look beyond what we think is possible and reimagine a world in which no one is limited by his or her circumstances. This is a defining book for a defining time in human history.”
— Daniel Epstein, founder and CEO, Unreasonable Group
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About Ron Garan
Ron Garan is a highly decorated fighter pilot and test pilot, explorer, entrepreneur, and humanitarian who believes that appropriately designed and targeted social enterprise can solve many of the problems facing our world. Ron is a retired NASA astronaut who has traveled 71 million miles in orbit of our planet during more than 178 days in space. Garan is also the founder of Fragile Oasis, an effort to use the orbital perspective to inspire positive social and environmental action.
About Don Hagen
Don Hagen has been behind the microphone since fifth grade. He is a nine-time winner of the Peer Award for narration/voice-over and twice winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award. He has also been heard in radio and television commercials and documentaries. In addition to his freelance voice work, he is a member of the audiobook narration team at the Library of Congress.