About the Book
On July 20, 1969, the world stood still to watch thirty-eight-year-old American astronaut Neil A. Armstrong become the first person ever to step on the surface of another heavenly body. Perhaps no words in human history became better known than those few he uttered at that historic moment. Upon his return to Earth, Armstrong was honored and celebrated for his monumental achievement. He was also -- as James R. Hansen reveals in this fascinating and important authorized biography -- misunderstood. Armstrong's accomplishments as an engineer, a test pilot, and an astronaut have long been a matter of record, but Hansen's unprecedented access to private documents and unpublished sources and his interviews with more than 125 subjects (including more than fifty hours with Armstrong himself) yield this first in-depth analysis of an elusive American celebrity still renowned the world over. In a riveting narrative filled with revelations, Hansen vividly re-creates Armstrong's career in flying, from his seventy-eight combat missions as a naval aviator flying over North Korea to his formative transatmospheric flights in the rocket-powered X-15 to his piloting Gemini VIII to the first-ever docking in space. These milestones made it seem, as Armstrong's mother, Viola, memorably put it, as if from the very moment he was born -- farther back still -- that our son was somehow destined for the Apollo 11 mission. For a pilot who cared more about flying to the Moon than he did about walking on it, Hansen asserts, Armstrong's storied vocation exacted a dear personal toll, paid in kind by his wife and children. For the thirty-six years since the Moon landing, rumors have swirled around Armstrong concerning his dreams of space travel, his religious beliefs, and his private life. In a penetrating exploration of American hero worship, Hansen addresses the complex legacy of the First Man, as an astronaut and as an individual. In First Man, the personal, technological, epic, and iconic blend to form the portrait of a great but reluctant hero who will forever be known as history's most famous space traveler.
Review :
"A lot of us have been waiting for a long time for a book like this one, and it was well worth the wait. . . . Will likely stand as the definitive biography of Neil Armstrong." -- Tom D. Crouch, senior curator, Aeronautics, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
"Historian James Hansen relates in intricate detail the tragedy, mishaps, and successes of the first man on the moon. He expertly combines the saga of Armstrong with the historical background of America's introduction to the Age of Space and corrects some of the myths surrounding Neil's journey from novice aviator to commanding the first lunar landing. An excellent book to arouse the memories of armchair astronauts. --Captain James A. Lovell, commander, Apollo 13
"If you think you know everything about Neil Armstrong and America's historic mission. . . "First Man" contributes a host of fascinating new insights into the nature of the spacefaring enterprise itself. A book for all time." -- Walter Cronkite
"A powerful, unrelenting biography of a man who stands as a living testimony to everyday grit and determination. . . . A magnificent panorama of the second half of the American twentieth century. . . . A must for astronaut buffs and history readers alike."
"Historian James Hansen...expertly combines the saga of Armstrong with the historical background of America's introduction to the Age of Space. An excellent book."--Captain James A. Lovell, Commander, Apollo 13
"Most of the astronauts books are about the adventure. Jim Hansens well-researched and documented book is about the adventurer. "First Man" is a compelling story of a modern day Columbus, which provides the rare opportunity to understand the personal qualities driving explorers. Quiet, complex, and deep, Armstrong, as fuel was running out, was the right man at the right time to take America and the world to the surface of the moon--Eugene F. Kranz, Author, Failure is not an Option
"Jim Hansen has captured the essence of Neil Armstrong, not only as the first man on the Moon, but also as an outstanding aviator and astronaut. I was there for Neils other major space step he recovered Gemini 8 from the ultimate end game with aggressive action, cool skill and creative judgment seldom performed in any aviation or space endeavor. Just 16 days after the deaths of the Gemini 9 crew, he probably saved the Moon. Jim Hansen has written an exceptional and accurate account of a unique period in aerospace history and the adventures of Neil Armstrong."--Dave Scott, Gemini VIII, Apollo 9, Commander, Apollo 15
"A fine authorized biography brimming with groundbreaking research, fresh anecdotes and fair-minded analysis. . . . Hansen should be commended for decoding the enigmatic Armstrong: a space hero short on words but sky-high on Midwestern integrity."--Douglas Brinkley "The New York Times Book Review "
"For Americans who lived through it all, and for those who came later and can't imagine such an achievement, "First Man" is compelling reading."--Thomas Walton "Toledo Blade "
"A lot of us have been waiting a long time for a book like this one, and it was well worth the wait. . . . Will likely stand as the definitive biography of Neil Armstrong."--Tom D. Crouch, Senior Curator, Aeronautics, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
"Masterfully written . . . technically accurate, scholarly yet independent and accessible. . . . Mission accomplished and a perfect touchdown."--Leonard David, Ad Astra, The Magazine of the National Space Society
"First Man burrows deep into Armstrong's past and present. . . . What emerges is an earnest and brave man."--Mark Carreau "Houston Chronicle "
"To understand Armstrong on his own terms is to see a large truth of our time. . . .A compelling and nuanced portrait."--James Tobin "Chicago Tribune "
