Floating in Darkness: A Journey of Evolution The true story of the life journey of a combat fighter pilot and astronaut. An adventure that illuminates a path toward understanding the meaning of life and our place in the universe. Humanity faces an unprecedented crisis that threatens all life on Earth. Desert Storm fighter pilot and NASA astronaut Ron Garan addresses this head-on in Floating in Darkness: A Journey of Evolution , the follow-up to his critically acclaimed first book, The Orbital Perspective: Lessons in Seeing the Big Picture from a Journey of 71 Million Miles. Ron takes us on an extraordinary journey through outer space and inner space. He explores the dancing, intersecting orbits of religion, spirituality, and science while grappling with his own role in the violence of combat and the effects of war on all aspects of human life. We witness Ron struggling with mortality while also basking in the sheer wonder and beauty of our world and beyond.   From this perspective, Ron maps out a viable path forward--to solve our crisis, we need a giant leap in humanity's evolutionary process. We must transcend individual and collective ego and embrace the true nature of our interdependence with this fragile planet and all life within its biosphere. Ron shows us how to discover our purpose, detoxify our divisive culture, and become a "white blood cell" in a growing immune response to heal our world. Floating in Darkness is a blueprint to build a restorative and positive future for all. "Ron Garan's awe-inspiring Floating in Darkness: A Journey of Evolution is literally the story that could inspire us all to follow the path of miracles he has so elegantly described. Garan's call to action could help us in our journey of personal and social transition, enabling us to move toward a more peaceful, just, sustainable, healthy, and joyful world." -- Deepak Chopra "In Floating in Darkness , Ron Garan shares his experience from space. We cannot share the ride with him, but we can share his thoughts. This book is about sharing his thoughts. Ron has felt the potentials of planet Earth, a bright future that is ours if we want it. A future filled with peace and harmony with the Earth and each other. A future where every person is regarded as a precious member of our one human family." - Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate "Ron Garan has led an exceptional life, a life full of extraordinary challenges, determination, bravery, and achievement. Sitting in the cockpit of an F-16, he was a potential instrument of war, yet today much of his work is as an instrument of peace. In Floating in Darkness , he takes us with him on his remarkable inner and outer journey. From fighter pilot to astronaut, to peace and climate envoy, and now to space entrepreneur, we get to know this unique man, to understand who Ron is, and to familiarize ourselves with his story, both from inside and out. This is one hell of a ride." - Peter Gabriel, Grammy Award-winning Musician, Humanitarian, and Activist "I first met Ron Garan and his lovely wife, Carmel, in the summer of 1990 when we were young captains in the Air Force. Ron was our weapons and tactics officer responsible for preparing an F-16 squadron for combat. Our success as a squadron during Operation Desert Storm is directly attributable to his passion for excellence and keen ability to get the best out of everyone he meets. No surprise that he went on to become one of our most thoughtful and successful astronauts. Just as he led all of us in the crucible of combat, he led his international teammates in the unforgiving crucible of space exploration. Ron Garan is an American hero I am proud to call a friend and his book captures the essence of what a life of selfless service can mean to our world. Fascinating read!" - General David L. Goldfein, 21st Chief of Staff of the US Air Force " Floating in Darkness does what all great literature should do . . . it makes us examine ourselves, our lives, and our role in a larger society. It forces us to the realization that our actions have an impact on others and the world we inhabit. Powerful lessons for all." - Jon Landau, Academy Award-winning Producer of Titanic and Avatar "Ron is one of the very few human beings who have been able to see our home planet from the vantage point of space, but he is the only one who is able to take you on this journey with him enabling you to rediscover yourself as he did. Floating in Darkness is not just about space, it's about traveling within and seeing the world for the first time. It is about finding the light inside you and letting it illuminate the world. Ron found that light on the ISS and now he is shining that light through his hopeful and beautifully written book. Floating in Darkness illuminates a bright future for all of us if we can see past what divides us and celebrate what connects us - our home, our Earth. I hope it becomes required reading for all