It’s going to sound like I’m telling you spoilers, but almost everything I mention here is already on the jacket cover or takes place in the first few chapters of the book. Astronaut Mark Watney ends up stranded on Mars with just his wits and a limited supply of resources with which to survive. Not only must he figure out how to make do until someone comes to take him back to Earth (or he dies of misadventure), he’s got to figure out how not to go crazy. Luckily, he’s got a diverse set of technical skills, a sarcastic sense of humor, and a few decade’s (uh, the 70’s and 80’s) worth of classic TV and music to keep him company.