

#1827
Mentioned in 14 episodes
Challenger
A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space
Book • 2024
This book provides a comprehensive and riveting history of the Challenger disaster, which occurred on January 28, 1986.
Higginbotham delves into the years leading up to the accident, detailing the ambitions, ingenuity, and political cynicism that undermined the space shuttle program.
The narrative follows the seven members of the doomed crew and the designers, engineers, and test pilots who struggled to get the first shuttle into space.
It highlights the ominous warning signs ignored by NASA, the investigation driven by leakers and whistleblowers, and the broader context of the space race and its impact on the NASA space program.
The book is a masterful blend of human drama and scientific detail, exposing the complex costs of innovation and the fatal compromises made in the pursuit of national prestige.
Higginbotham delves into the years leading up to the accident, detailing the ambitions, ingenuity, and political cynicism that undermined the space shuttle program.
The narrative follows the seven members of the doomed crew and the designers, engineers, and test pilots who struggled to get the first shuttle into space.
It highlights the ominous warning signs ignored by NASA, the investigation driven by leakers and whistleblowers, and the broader context of the space race and its impact on the NASA space program.
The book is a masterful blend of human drama and scientific detail, exposing the complex costs of innovation and the fatal compromises made in the pursuit of national prestige.
Mentioned by


























Mentioned in 14 episodes
Recommended by 

as an incredibly detailed and gripping account of the Challenger accident.


David Plotz

58 snips
The Democrats Had A Good Day
Mentioned by 

as a book he and 

both recently read, detailing the Challenger disaster.


Brian McCullough


Farhad Manjoo

32 snips
(BNS) The Challenger Disaster
Recommended as further reading to learn more about the Challenger disaster.

24 snips
Challenger Disaster | Acceptable Risk | 2
Recommended as a resource to learn more about the Challenger disaster.

24 snips
Challenger Disaster | Launch Day | 3
Mentioned by 

when discussing this year's Oscar nominations.


Stephen Thompson

20 snips
2025 Oscar Nominations
Recommended by 

as a riveting book about the Challenger disaster.


Traci Thomas

19 snips
Reading Habits + Book Talk with Traci Thomas of The Stacks Podcast EP 389
Mentioned by 

as a Best Picture contender.


Sean Fennessey

12 snips
‘Anora’ Is Pure Cinema and the Best Picture Race Is Completely Up in the Air
Recommended by Lindsey Graham as a resource to learn more about the Challenger disaster.

Challenger Disaster | What Really Happened | 4
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

, which explained how small compromises led to the Challenger space shuttle disaster.

J.D. Greear

To the Churches in … Ephesus and Smyrna: Beware Small Compromises
Mentioned by 

as the author of a book about the Challenger disaster.


Sally Helm

Could the Challenger Disaster Have Been Prevented?
Mentioned by 

and 

as a well-researched book detailing the Challenger disaster.


Brian McCullough


Farhad Manjoo

8. The Challenger Disaster
Recommended by ![undefined]()

for its gripping narrative of the Challenger disaster, despite knowing the outcome.

Faiza Patel

Drones, TikTok & Luigi Mangione have us asking: who's watching us?
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as his number seven game, describing it as an auto battler themed drafting game.

Jake Friedman

Top 10 Games of All Time (10 to 6)
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a phenomenal book about the Challenger disaster.

Mike Salisbury

Mike Salisbury: Why Storytelling Matters
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a tennis love triangle story.

Mike Palindrome

676 "Mrs Spring Fragrance" by Sui Sin Far (with Mike Palindrome)
Mentioned by 

as her favorite 2024 nonfiction book; a thrilling account of the Challenger disaster.


Traci Thomas

Quick Reading Hacks + Book Recommendations (with Traci Thomas)
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as the author of "Challenger," a book detailing the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

Carl Miller

The Story of the Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster, with Adam Higginbotham
Mentioned by 

as a book that provided a detailed account of the Challenger disaster.


Shane Harris

Chatter: Closing the Chatterbox, with Shane Harris and David Priess
Mentioned by 

as a movie about the lives of three tennis players.


Jeff Cannata

Ep. 805 - The Top 10 Films of 2024
Recommended by 

as a gripping and thought-provoking book.


David Plotz

Gabfest Reads | The Day the Challenger Fell From the Sky