The moon is not enough

The moon is not enough by Mary Irwin. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780310370505.

On July 26, 1971, James Irwin went to the moon on the Apollo 15 flight. On July 26, 1977, Mary Irwin stayed home. Cameras were focused on both, but television cameras do not reveal everything. The lies behind the headlines are often not what they seem, and this is particularly true in the case of Mary Irwin. The moon is not enough is her story. To a young wife and mother, being thrust into the public eye and forced to live the unrealistic, artificial existence demanded of and not astronaut’s wife brought tremendous pressure. But even more devastating were the years of stress and loneliness leading up to that triumphant day in July. As a result of early life experiences, Mary Irwin has been battled deep insecurity, strong rebellion, guilt, and emotional distress. This inner turmoil carried her to the edge of emotional and mental breakdown and to the brink of divorce; it caused severe discord in her home and with her family. In many ways, Mary is typical of the American wife and mother today who is experiencing a serious identity crisis. In other ways she is unique. In the moon is not enough she describes her inner struggles in the blind alley she warily traveled seeking inner peace and healing for her marriage and family relationships from vegetarian to astrology.