Introducing February’s book of the month

The cliche about a world historical event is that everyone remembers exactly where they were when it happened. Say that, and people of my generation probably have two moments in mind: watching the towers fall on September 11, 2001, and witnessing the Challenger shuttle disaster on January 28, 1986.

As a kid growing up in Britain, I didn’t see Challenger live, although I do remember the news vividly. But it is a moment that’s etched deep on the American psyche—in large part because a whole generation of schoolchildren were sitting in class watching as 37-year-old Christa McCauliffe aimed to become the first teacher in space.

February’s book of the month is about that moment, and everything that came before and after. It’s Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham (Avid Reader Press, 2024).

The book doesn’t just detail Challenger’s tragic explosion just 73 seconds into its launch. It also shows how this was a disaster that was years in the making, the result of corner-cutting, political pressure and institutional failure. Higginbotham sifts through mountains of documents and fresh interviews to carefully layer a blow-by-blow description that keeps you gripped as it creeps towards its tragic denouement. 

It’s no surprise that this book was mentioned in lots of end-of-the-year lists, or that reviewers like those at The Washington Post praised its “meticulous detail and exacting prose.”

Challenger is a painstaking, enthralling, devastating book that tells us a lot about what happened and suggests how to prevent a similar disaster in the future… a tragic reminder, given the aviation disaster headlines this week.

I’m glad I can share it with you all.

Books are on their way to club members as we speak, and if you’re not already signed up then it’s easy to join and get your copy. You can opt for a month-by-month subscription for just $25 a pop, or even go for a whole year if you feel like it.

I’m excited to see what everybody thinks of this one.

Onwards

Bobbie