Mars, Inc.: The Billionaire's Club (Ben Bova)

This story reminds me of some of the stories from my youth, about kids who put together a rocket in their backyard and go to the moon. It's grown up a little, but the basic thrill remains of someone who refuses to notice how impossible his plans are and makes them happen anyway. Art Thrasher is a millionaire, a rough-hewn, smooth-talking womanizer who can schmooze with the big guns, determined to get humanity to Mars without the help of the goddamn government (only once in the whole book that I noticed did he use the word "government' without "goddamn"). He runs into obstacles, and headbutts them or stomps them or jumps headlong right over them, to reach his goal. There's no deep insight here and no great technological precision, but it's a fun ride.