
Bring the Lessons From the Edge of the Universe back down to Earth Ignite your Audience and Book Dave to Speak
The Dr. Dave Astronaut Series
The Dr. Dave Astronaut Series
What does it feel like to float in space, ride a rocket, or live on another planet? Dr. Dave Williams has actually done these things — and in this celebrated five-book series with Annick Press, he brings that real-world wonder straight to young readers.
Equal parts science and adventure, the Dr. Dave Astronaut series doesn't just teach kids about space — it ignites the curiosity, creativity, and love of learning that are the true foundations of any great career. Whether your child dreams of becoming an astronaut, a scientist, or an engineer, or simply wants to know why astronauts can't burp in space — there's a Dr. Dave book waiting for them.
Because the best missions always start with a question.
The Five Books
To Burp or Not to Burp: A Guide to Your Body in Space
The human body does some wonderfully strange things in space. Find out what — and why — in this hilarious and surprisingly educational guide to life in microgravity. A favourite for kids who love science with a side of humour.
Go for Liftoff! How to Train Like an Astronaut
What does it actually take to become an astronaut?
From physical fitness to mental preparation, Dave walks young readers through the incredible journey of training for space — and shows that the habits of an astronaut are the habits of a champion.
Mighty Mission Machines: From Rockets to Rovers
Meet the extraordinary machines that make space exploration possible — from the rockets that break Earth's gravity to the rovers exploring the dusty surface of Mars. Engineering has never looked this exciting.
Destination Space: Living on Other Planets
Could humans one day call Mars or the Moon home? Explore the science, the challenges, and the breathtaking possibilities of humanity's next great frontier — told by someone who has already taken the first steps.
Space on Earth: How Thinking Like an Astronaut Can Help Save the Planet ⭐ New!
Astronauts see our planet differently. From 400 kilometres above Earth, the fragility and beauty of our world becomes impossible to ignore. In his newest book, Dave shows young readers how the problem-solving mindset of space exploration — creativity, collaboration, and thinking beyond the obvious — can be turned toward the greatest challenge of our generation: protecting the planet we call home.
Timely, inspiring, and full of hope — the perfect book for the next generation of Earth's guardians.
Best Selling Adult Books
"Riveting, inspiring words from a man who has the right, bright stuff...."
Dr. Joe MacInnis, Author of Deep Leadership
Defying Limits: Lessons From the Edge of the Universe
(Simon & Schuster)
Part memoir, part manifesto, Defying Limits is the story of a curious kid from Saskatchewan who became an emergency physician, a neuroscientist, and a record-holding Canadian astronaut — without ever losing the sense of wonder that started it all. Dave's journey from the operating room to the International Space Station is honest, funny, and ultimately a powerful reminder that our limits are almost always self-imposed.
This isn't a book about being exceptional. It's a book about what happens when curiosity, preparation, and the courage to say yes collide.
"He didn't set out to be extraordinary. He just never stopped exploring." — Dr. Joe MacInnis, Author of Deep Leadership
Leadership Moments From NASA: Achieving the Impossible
(ECW Press, with Elizabeth Howell PhD)
How does the most demanding organization in human history build teams that perform flawlessly under impossible pressure — and recover with resilience when things go wrong? Drawing on NASA oral histories and interviews with legendary figures including Apollo flight director Gene Kranz, Leadership Moments From NASA examines five decades of human spaceflight through the lens of leadership, culture, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
For any leader navigating complexity, uncertainty, or the pressure to perform — the lessons from Mission Control have never been more relevant.
"Spaceflight is a demanding and unforgiving environment. This book is a must-have resource for anyone wanting to improve their leadership skills, even in fields outside of human spaceflight." — Bill Gerstenmaier, Vice President of Mission Assurance, SpaceX
"Leaders in any business can learn from Dave Williams. It's not systems that launch people into space — it's great leaders and the people they inspire." — Captain Jim Wetherbee, U.S. Navy (Ret.), veteran Space Shuttle Commander
Why Am I Taller? What Happens to an Astronaut's Body in Space
(ECW Press, with Elizabeth Howell PhD)
The human body was not designed for space. Vision deteriorates. Bones weaken. Muscles atrophy. And yes — astronauts grow taller, temporarily, as microgravity decompresses the spine. But the implications go far beyond curiosity. As humanity prepares to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars, understanding what spaceflight does to the body has never been more urgent — or more fascinating.
Written by a physician who has lived these changes firsthand aboard two Space Shuttle missions, Why Am I Taller? is part personal account, part cutting-edge science — and entirely impossible to put down.
"Williams's first-person accounts of being in space are a treat. This candid survey will delight armchair astronauts." — Publishers Weekly
"A comprehensive and contemporary romp through the clinical challenges of spaceflight — the kind of book that brings otherworldly medical discoveries down to earth with insight and clarity." — Robert Thirsk, former Canadian Space Agency Astronaut
Featured In — How to Survive and Thrive, Volume III
(Curated by Joe Foster, Founder of Reebok)
Dave is honoured to be featured alongside an extraordinary group of contributors in this curated collection, brought together by entrepreneurial legend and Reebok founder Joe Foster. How to Survive and Thrivegathers the hard-won insights of leaders, innovators, and explorers who have faced adversity, navigated uncertainty, and emerged not just intact — but transformed.
A testament to resilience, reinvention, and the quiet determination that separates those who endure from those who truly flourish.
"This isn’t just a book. It’s a credibility rocket." One Golden Nugget








