The Barber, The Astronaut, and The Go..., Barbara Radnofsky
The Barber, The Astronaut, and The Go..., Barbara Radnofsky
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The Barber, The Astronaut, and The Golf Ball

Author: Barbara Radnofsky, Ed Supkis

Narrator: Barbara Radnofsky

Unabridged: 4 hr 17 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/31/2024

Synopsis

In 1971, famed astronaut Alan Shepard returned from the moon and went to get a haircut. Before settling into the barber’s chair in Webster, Texas, near NASA’s Mission Control, Shepard gave his longtime barber and friend, Carlos Villagomez, an autographed golf ball.During his Apollo 14 moonwalk, Shepard had conducted a world-famous demonstration of gravity by hitting a golf ball in an out-of-this-world sand trap. It took him two tries.Carlos, a Navy combat veteran and barber for numerous astronauts, says Shepard gave him the ball immediately after he returned to earth and was released from quarantine. ●     Had Shepard taken a third ball to the moon?●     Did he give it to his barber as a token of their long friendship?●     Is the ball one of the most significant pieces of sports memorabilia in history, or simply a gift of enduring friendship?●     Did the barber’s golf ball fly to the moon?The debate provides a backdrop for The Barber, The Astronaut, and the Golf Ball, a story of two extraordinary men and their lasting friendship. The book is based on recollections of Carlos himself, the authors—both children of NASA scientists—as well as other astronauts, memorabilia experts, and family and friends of Shepard, who died in 1998.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Kristine on September 20, 2024

Reading THE BARBER, THE ASTRONAUT, AND THE GOLF BALL feels like sitting in your parents’ or grandparents’ kitchen, listening to them tell the stories of the olden days. It’s familiar; it’s comfortable; it’s fascinating. One can practically see the authors’ grins and grimaces and hear the chuckles an......more

Goodreads review by Ruthie on October 05, 2024

"The background of the 'third' golf ball and its story was a mystery we wanted to explore." The Barber, The Astronaut, and the Golf Ball by Barbara Radnofsky and Ed Supkis is a fascinating behind-the scenes account of an incredibly famous event in history. The space race and space travel in the 1960s......more

Goodreads review by Herb on November 01, 2024

As a former NASA employee, who has met Carlos Villagomez (the barber) and knew Alan Shepard (the astronaut), this was an especially enjoyable read. Carlos, a Navy combat veteran, is the owner of Carlos Barbershop and Beer Garden in Webster, TX, and Alan was a Rear Admiral in the Navy who was the firs......more

Goodreads review by Kelly on October 03, 2024

The Barber, The Astronaut, and the Golf Ball is more than a well-researched, historical look at astronaut Alan Shepard and his barber, Carlos Villagomez. It is a loving homage to the fathers of the two authors and a narrative of an unexpected friendship. The book draws from personal interviews conduc......more

Goodreads review by Lisa on October 04, 2024

Space travel is a fascinating subject. I wouldn’t like to go up in space myself, but I do enjoy reading about the golden age of NASA and the astronauts who made mind-boggling journeys outside our atmosphere. So I was intrigued by a story about the friendship between Alan Shepard, commander of the Ap......more

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