The Right Stuff
by Tom Wolfe
Author's Description:
“From "America's nerviest journalist" (Newsweek) - a breathtaking epic, a magnificent adventure story, and an investigation into the true heroism and courage of the first Americans to conquer space. "Tom Wolfe at his very best" (The New York Times Book Review)
Millions of words have poured forth about man's trip to the moon, but until now few people have had a sense of the most engrossing side of the adventure: namely, what went on in the minds of the astronauts themselves - in space, on the moon, and even during certain odysseys on earth. It is this, the inner life of the astronauts, that Tom Wolfe describes with his almost uncanny empathetic powers that made The Right Stuff a classic.”
Millions of words have poured forth about man's trip to the moon, but until now few people have had a sense of the most engrossing side of the adventure: namely, what went on in the minds of the astronauts themselves - in space, on the moon, and even during certain odysseys on earth. It is this, the inner life of the astronauts, that Tom Wolfe describes with his almost uncanny empathetic powers that made The Right Stuff a classic.”
My Review - Rating - 8/10
I found this book completely fascinating. Wolfe’s portrayal of aviators' mindset, and their denial of their mortality, is a completely fascinating topic I had never even considered before this book. Wolfe takes a fresh look at the early space program, looking into the mindset of both the astronauts and the public, not just the facts of the book. This book was incredibly well written, and my only criticism is that Wolfe often blurs the line between fact and fiction in his attempt to interpret and portray the mindsets of characters, which I felt made the book more interesting but could irritate nonfiction purists or those who just want to learn the facts about the space program and its astronauts. If you’re looking for an engaging, entertaining read that takes a completely new approach to telling the story of the space program, this book is for you.
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