Well, true enough, it is pretty much MacGyver on Mars. But I found it riveting. A neighbor gifted me a copy and forced my first book all-nighter in quite awhil

Well, true enough, it is pretty much MacGyver on Mars. But I found it riveting. A neighbor gifted me a copy and forced my first book all-nighter in quite awhile. Part of its variance in reader appeal may have to do with reader empathy, or perhaps susceptibility having one's mind rooted by an author. On first pass, I simply could not read page by sequential page. I had to skip ahead to make sure he made it through the crisis of the moment, then I'd go back to read how he did it. Too stressful to not find the answer by looking in the back of the book. I think this happened for me because Weir's portrayal of the engineering and science underlying the plot was so realistic and accurate. I could (and in fact, was forced to) imagine myself in Watney's predicament - WTF would I do? And Weir dragged me into the story that way. I recommend it. If it's not to your taste, pass it on. It's likely we all know someone who would enjoy it. (Edit for spelling)