Is 'Peckerhead' Hyphenated? Building the International Space Station

Rating:
Summary: Review
Review: An engineer who headed up a task group that worked on the control system for the Space Station wrote this book, a sort of roman-a-clef narrative of 10 years building the International space station. It is structured around comments overheard and recorded by the author. The primary thesis seems to be that it is a miracle that a project of this magnitude ever gets off the ground with all of the bureaucracy and departmental in fighting involved in the process. The book is valuable as history that otherwise wouldn't be recorded. It is written in a breezy informal style, not at all what one would expect from an aerospace engineer. Quite readable, it avoids engineer-speak except when necessary to get across a point. The characters, based on real people, are almost interesting enough to be in a novel. Perhaps Mr. Cordoba has missed his calling and should take up writing full time in his later years.

Rating:
Summary: What did you call me?
Review: For anyone who is truly interested in the space station, beyond the mere fantasy of living and working in space, this book is a fine example of the long and rigorous bureaucratic process that must be undertaken. Cordoba does not give us a sugared version of what man can achieve in space. However, he does present to us what it takes on earth for our dreams and goals to be reached. It is the story of an engineer who works for NASA on the space station. Cordoba uses quotes to build a detailed description of what really goes on in government operations. In this description he includes information about the technical and management challenges. For example, he explains how the management was divided into three levels, the first-line manager, the department director, and the program manager, and how the leadership of each level was not always of the best. Cordoba also explains how the constant changing of requirements would cause the engineers to not be able to make their systems work. Because of the great number of people involved in the project, there was a tremendous amount of confusion created out of the bureaucray. In general, the great number of people each had their own experiences, which led to different ways of doing things. That created great confusion and conflict. Other issues that Cordoba challenged the program, as well. He describes how the bureaucratic politics involved in the space station program was an "unprecedented monster" that "thrived" off the project and how although it was necessary for funding that it was almost detrimental to it. Cordoba goes into to great detail as well of how the internal power struggles created a huge challenge within itself. It was like instead of working for one united goal, they were working to all promote their own interest. For example, he mentions how his team shared computer resources that was ran by another organization. He explains that two system managers, who each reported to another manager, controlled their computer system. There can be a difference seen in the way that NASA ran the space station project and how it had ran so many of the older successful space projects. This can be seen in the section where he talks about the "old guys." They seem to be able to have the experience to see through the bureaucratic problems. Unlike some of the other people there who seemed to just get bogged down by it. Like when at one of the meetings someone was complaining about how the software was not perfect the first time it was used, Julius, one of the "old guys" shot back that you just fix it. In all, I feel that this book offers a very unique insight into what really goes on at NASA. This in itself deserves a special appreciation. However, I do not recommend this book for someone wanting to see the big picture of building a space station. The first part of the book is slow because of the introductions, but there is great humor to be found in the fake names and the quotes given. The middle and ladder parts of the book are where a different appreciation is offered about NASA and the space station program. This shows those interested in the subject that the biggest challenges for the programs may not be found in space. However, the biggest challenges may be here on earth.

Rating:
Summary: Sarcastically Insightful...
Review: I am sorry to say that I really didn't enjoy this book as much as the other reviewers, but having read it as an assignment for my "History of Space Travel" class, I believe I read it in a different context.

Expecting more of a technical overview of the background work in building the International Space Station, I was surprised and disappointed in the early chapters of the book that most of the content was the telling of people's names and their funny and/or (what seemed to be) private jokes between themselves and the author. I'm also more apt to be interested when real names of real people and places are used, instead of some of the silly pseudonyms given. I guess it did add some comical aspects and insights into who these people really are (my favorite character name is Jose Cabesagrande), but after growing up not too far from Huntsville, AL, I'd be more interested in knowing exactly which big corporation and who did what. (While growing up, a lot of my friends' dads worked with NASA.)

As the book moved along, it did get somewhat more interesting and insightful with the explanations of the horrendous amounts of paperwork and the numerous presentations given. It certainly didn't surprise me that more time was spent on organizing and preparing and scheduling things than actually getting them done! I guess it also didn't help that when certain aspects were being finalized, one more change would come down the line. Then another change, and another, and another...

While writing this review, I am realizing the book wasn't so bad, especially if it were to be read for interest, not as an assignment. It either a) enlightens us as to how NASA has actually been working over time (through the successful Gemini and Apollo programs) or b) shows how much things can change over time.

After reading this text, I genuinely believe that workers didn't feel they had an actual goal to work towards, as there was in the Apollo program. No one (in the public, at least) seemed to really care about the space program anymore, as it has become routine to daily life. It is easy to see that too much time was spent on preparing and pitching the goal than actually trying to reach it.

**Although not associated with my history class or anything from the book that should be considered important, my favorite point de Cordoba makes in the book: the "engineer dress code". My dad is an engineer and (I love you, Dad) it is SO true. Although my dad dresses decently now, during the eighties and early nineties... whoa.

Rating:
Summary: Engineers should stick to engineering...not writing
Review: In "Peckerhead", the author, Vincent de Cordoba (that's not even his real name) tries to put some humor and cynism into the story of building the international space station. The key word here is TRIES. Cordoba is an engineer, and not a writer, and that is evident from the outset of this book. From the use of way too many quotes to his flawed grammar, it is not a styllistically well written book, and that takes away from the story. The book has POTENTIAL to be good. I mean, I do enjoy the fact that he gave everyone funny fictisous names, and it is even fun to try and figure out who is who (as a great historian pointed out). Also, a book that focuses on the funny side of a subject that is not really noted for funny shinanigans is interesting because it provides a perspective on NASA and the space program that one would not normally have. People always love to hear about the lighter side of things, whether it's sports bloopers or out-takes of a movie, and I think that Cordoba makes a noble attempt to show the lighter side of NASA. I also commend Cordoba for showing how much beauracracy and red tape there is when it comes to a project as the international space station. Maybe someone from NASA will realize one day that there is just too much red tape going on in their program these days. One thing that would may have helped is that if Cordoba would provide a list of characters and the people whom they are supposed to represent. While it is fun to speculate who is who, some assurance would be nice. I suppose this would be impossible though for fear of offending someone. Perhaps the best thing this book needs is a ghostwriter-someone to write the book for Cordoba. He can keep the premise of the book, but he needs to go back to english 110. He also needs to keep in mind that while he may be an engineer, the majority of people who read this book probably are not. People who read this book who are just casual observers of the space program will find that it really doesn't "flow" very well. If Cordoba would make some of the adjustments I have mentioned, the book would be considerably better. However, since he did not, this book is just a book that should only be read if you are an engineer and dont care about grammar, style, etc. zAlso, if you like ALOT of quotes that sometimes seem out of place, and you can understand that "engineer humor" ..., then this book MAY be for you. As for me, the average college guy, I'll stick to Tom Wolfe's "The Right Stuff".

Rating:
Summary: Once in a while....something very different
Review: This book is a rarity - as a story and stylistically. It reveals the story behind the story - the frustrating, yet funny, naked truth about building the international space station. It does not follow any formulae (non that I could detect, anyway) and its existence seems to be as yet undetected by the mainstream. For you readers out there who are only comfortable with the "popular fare" that the publishing industry feeds you, go ahead and pick any other book about the space station. For those of us who appreciate original works of art that defy the system, "Peckerhead" is a beaut!

Rating:
Summary: Once in a while....something very different
Review: This book is a rarity - as a story and stylistically. It reveals the story behind the story - the frustrating, yet funny, naked truth about building the international space station. It does not follow any formulae (non that I could detect, anyway) and its existence seems to be as yet undetected by the mainstream. For you readers out there who are only comfortable with the "popular fare" that the publishing industry feeds you, go ahead and pick any other book about the space station. For those of us who appreciate original works of art that defy the system, "Peckerhead" is a beaut!

Rating:
Summary: The Truth About Engineering
Review: This book is great in the way that it tells some of the truths behind NASA and its contractors better than any other book like it, especially during the development of the International Space Station. The way that de Cordoba presents such truths, in a humorously sarcastic way, makes the reader really want to know what exactly went on.

I like how de Cordoba describes the typical engineer during this time for NASA by the attitude and dress of some of his colleagues and how systematic and traditional the engineering business really was. All the engineering norms that you must have to be an engineer like ties, pocket protectors, etc. Then he describes Archie D'Arc, who shows up to work not wearing a tie and describes how drastic of a change is. I also think de Cordoba does a unique job with the geographical and communicational skills of the NASA engineers. The choice of words that people use are often questioned in this business, obviously, and are either ridiculed or taken up from someone to use themselves. Being a student in engineering I can really relate to this because you lose some of your vocabulary to engineering talk and sometimes forget if things like "logicated" is really a word. And usually it is not because you are from another part of the country or world. De Cordoba sets a great picture in the introduction of the book with these things in order to accept the truths behind the scenes. His descriptions of the attitude felt by himself and his coworkers about telecons and design reviews really show the enthusiasm, or lack there of, they have. "Anytime on this program is a funny time to have a CDR, " illustrates the idea of what the engineers really feel. His idea about design issues, such as, requirements, research, deadlines, proposals all have one common thing: they change rapidly! The mood that he gives the reader about engineers is that they must be able to work under pressure and fast and accurately while they do so. De Cordoba really does an excellent job explaining the way of engineers at this time.

The down point of this book, I think, was the introduction of so many characters and the idea that he really focused on what the people around him thought, which were all engineers. I think that de Cordoba introduced certain characters into certain context just to give the reader more insight about the particular air of that subject, which is understandable and he did a good job of it, but there was a lot of room for confusion and throughout the book it could have been difficult to remember if he already introduced a certain character or if it was just a new one. The other down side of this book being the point of view that it comes from can differ greatly for the reader. Since it is from a engineering point of view, more or less, a lot more engineers can relate taking the content a little more seriously. For the non-engineers, this book is great from an engineering point of view because they get a first hand experience of what it was like inside of NASA at this time, but only from the opinions from the workers. I think it would have been nice to actually read more about the International Space Station rather than the difficulties of organizational, communicational, and personal skills. Maybe that's me just being technical and wanting to know who designed what and what particular hardships actually happened during the processes, but then again I'm in engineering and like that kind of thing.

Overall, I think this is a great book especially for those who want to read about the engineering aspects of this business and how traditional it used to be. The book gives you opportunities to laugh at the characters and sympathize with them as well, whether you are an engineer or not.

Rating:
Summary: A down-to-earth recount of an out-of-this-world project
Review: This book should be considered required reading for all modern day warriors, from the slightly discontent cubicle-dwelling engineer to the big man in the suit sitting in the corner office. Mr. de Cordoba weaves hundreds of actual quotes with his own dry wit to bring to life the daily lives of those who designed, built, verified, integrated, specified, validated, systemified, bureaucracized, and welfarized the International Space Station program. If you are looking for a glossy-photo space station book for your coffee table get one from NASA, but if you're looking for the real story behind the International Space Station get "Peckerhead".

Rating:
Summary: Government policies at their "best"
Review: Vincent de Cordoba is one of the few people who apparently did more than his part to get the International Space Station (ISS)up in Space. His book is easy to understand despite all of the organizational names and the function each performs. His humorous example of how the Government spends more money on trying to spend less amazes me and still happens today. de Cordoba has many insightful examples that makes one wonder how the ISS has made it so far. So many documents and paperwork to filter through is bound to make one frustrated. He writes that many people did not make it because of the frustration and the constant layoffs that occured. He is very quick to point out that many people in the program are "do nothings" and that they just look busy. Most of those people are eventually culled out in this program only to be replaced by other "do nothings." de Cordoba's book has many quotes that go along with each personality he describes. It amazes me how accurate he has described them. He described their characteristics so well it made me realize that I actually work with a few of them myself! If you want a book that really tells the truth of how people react in different situations and how they respond when put on the spot in a humorous writing style, then be sure that you read "Peckerhead." This is truly a genuine book that reveals much knowledge of the building of the International Space Station and the hard work that it took to get it up and running.

Rating:
Summary: I thought I was reading a Dilbert strip
Review: Well for starters this is not one of the better books to read if you are interested in space travel or space exploration. I suppose it is good to have the perspective of someone who actually worked on the International Space Stations EPS(Electric Power System. I think it would have been more appropriate if de Cordoba had used the real names of the companies and the people who actually said the quotes which he used. Although it was humorous how each persons name in the book was derived from some aspect of their personality or appearance. Such as Hugo Mountain whom Cordoba described as two hundred and eighty-nine pounds with coke bottle thick glasses and pinkies as big as thumbs. Actually the title of the book comes from a quote of Hugo Mountain's in which he wanted to come up with a reproach in his RID(Review Item Discrepency) but he still wanted to use correct form which is why he asked if 'Peckerhead' is supposed to be hyphenated. Many of Cordoba's quotes are funny which is the only reason I gave this book two stars. In actuality it is very boring in part because it goes through the tangled web of NASA's bureaucracy and the competition between competing contractors and subcontractors to see who will be able to build which system or module. The chapter on presentations displays this aspect of the mismanagement of the ISS project perfectly. The funniest chapter in the book is the chapter title Geographical Differences. This chapter pokes fun at the different nationalities which were involved in the ISS. It also gives an insight into the Japanese, Russian, and European's thoughts about NASA's mismanagement and lack of discipline. All in all I would not recommend this book to anyone unless they are absolutely desperate to find out more information on the International Space Station. To sum up my feelings about the book I will tell you the best aspect of it: It's a short book.