by Ben Mezrich
Doubleday, $26.95, 308 pages
Who hasn’t done something stupid for the sake of love? Who hasn’t aspired to something greater, more thrilling, more impressive than their mundane lackluster life? Thad Roberts, a young NASA intern, decided to take care of all that pent-up yearning in one fell swoop. He plotted the “most audacious heist in history” and then amazingly carried it out only to get caught and pay the ultimate price.
This based on a true story is laid out in thrilling detail in Ben Mezrich’s book Sex On the Moon. It is equal parts Mission Impossible, James Bond and Apollo 13 rolled into one big exciting joy ride. Mezrich is a master story teller and worked with Roberts to bring this compelling tale to life. The reader has a ringside seat as Roberts struggles to rise above his dismal circumstances only to fall back to earth with a sickening thud. It is a must read for anyone who is fascinated by space, science, and what drives a man to risk everything for the sake of love and money.
Reviewed by Diane Prokop