During a mission to Mars, astronaut Mark Watney is struck by debris and left for dead by his crew. Stranded alone on the hostile planet, he must use his ingenuity, humor, and scientific knowledge to survive with limited resources. The book follows his incredible journey of problem-solving as he grows food, makes water, and attempts to communicate with Earth. Meanwhile, NASA and his crewmates back on Earth work tirelessly on a daring plan to bring him home.