On July 20, 1969, the world stood still to watch 38-year-old American astronaut Neil A. Armstrong become the first person ever to step on the surfa...
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Jan 16, 2009
Isaiah
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What gall we must have to ask a child what he would be when he grows up! Here he is, tearing along in the delirious hallucination of childhood and we would already have him fill out the box, sign on the line, put the cube in the square hole; we would confront him with this terrible hunt for purpose and significance in the material, have him genuflect before the idol of maturity in activity, the sequestration of occupation in industry!
But when I was a kid that question -- of the many More...
But when I was a kid that question -- of the many More...
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Aug 18, 2008
Renay
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As a child my parents did all they could to keep me awake to watch Neil Armstrong step on the moon. I remember it vividly. That memory compelled me to read the biography of Neil Armstrong. I found the book very well researched. Parts of the book were quite "technical". I learned more about types of airplanes than I would have thought I wanted. But I found it interesting. I hadn't considered all of the difficult decisions surrounding this endeavor. I had considered the technological cha
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Feb 20, 2009
Kathycorcoran
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This was a great book, but definitely not for everyone. It is very detailed - a good researcher would appreciate its thoroughness, and its conscientious attempt to illustrate the character of Neil A. Armstrong as objectively as possible, as well as the events surrounding his involvement in NASA programs, and most dramatically, his ascent and walk on the moon.
Naturally, Neil A. Armstrong's life became surrounded by "politics" and undue media attention and pressure. It is tr More...
Naturally, Neil A. Armstrong's life became surrounded by "politics" and undue media attention and pressure. It is tr More...
Jul 06, 2010
Paul
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This was fun and enlightening. I enjoyed the interspersed true audio of events and the nearly gossipy re-telling of events that led to launch. As a biography, it is interesting and I agree with my friend that the NASA parts are weighted far more heavily, but that really is the exciting part, anyway. All in all, a great audio book on a long drive. It really held my attention. Two complaints: the use of First Man in narrative was annoying to me as it was used as a clearly honorific title. In
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May 25, 2010
Zohar - ManOfLaBook.com
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An amazing book which if filled with technical detail as well as anecdotes about Neil Armstrong. Most of the excruciating detail could be better served as an appendix, but overall an interesting read, if you can get past the first 150 pages. The book explains some of Mr. Armstrong's "recluse behavior", which I for one never thought he practiced and admired him for not embracing fame, especially at this age of reality TV and other shameful displays of humanity. Several pages of this boo
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Oct 28, 2011
Jerry
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Perhaps this is the ultimate Astronaut book. If you are going to read about one of these fascinating men and women, surely it makes sense to read about Neil Armstrong - Commander of Apollo 11 and first man on the moon.
To say this biography is detailed would fail to even hint at the level of research that must have gone into writing such a book. We hear pretty much all of Neil's life story in great detail, even down to the grades he obtained, the ratings he earned during pilot training More...
To say this biography is detailed would fail to even hint at the level of research that must have gone into writing such a book. We hear pretty much all of Neil's life story in great detail, even down to the grades he obtained, the ratings he earned during pilot training More...
Jun 04, 2011
Daniel
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As a three-year-old son of a typical nuclear family in 1969, I was awoken from my sleep, placed beside our TV, and photographed next to Neil Armstrong stepping on to the moon. Through all these years, Neil Armstrong remained a hero that was codified in my three-year-old mind. An image that was forged by extremely enthusiastic parents who took pride in what was being accomplished, in real time, in front of their eyes and next to their son.
For the next forty years, I worked on becomi More...
For the next forty years, I worked on becomi More...
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Nov 09, 2010
Jamie
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To all the space geeks and kids at heart, who turn six years old at the mention of Eagle or Tranquility Base,who stand outside in the cold, bright night just to watch another half hour of the moon, this book might be for you (too).
The biography does start off a little too close to the glittery territory of “manifest destiny,” awestruck at overreaching significances, but thankfully, seems to present that (tempting, common) view only so Armstrong can reign it in and set the record st More...
The biography does start off a little too close to the glittery territory of “manifest destiny,” awestruck at overreaching significances, but thankfully, seems to present that (tempting, common) view only so Armstrong can reign it in and set the record st More...
Apr 21, 2007
Rob
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Biographies usually hold no interest for me, but this one is worth reading, mostly for the account of Armstrong's relatively unknown life before entering the astronaut corps, as an engineer, Korean War fighter pilot and test pilot, replete with hair-raising combat missions and dramatic test flights of a number of rocket-propelled aircraft to the edge of space. Reading this book, the only officially sanctioned biography of Neil Armstrong, I gained considerable appreciation for why NASA took care
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Jul 25, 2011
Matthew
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A rather long read thats eems dry and dull for the most part. Much of it isn't new information and that hurts the book sigfnicantly. But it does offer some new insights into Neil after Apollo 11 and his feelings baout some of the controversies and myths that have come up around him since it, which makes for a n intreting finals ection of the book. Yet while it is intresting at times, this still takes some effort to get through
Nov 07, 2009
Greg
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A well-balanced use of historical audio clips make the audio version of this biography really stand out. Though the subtitle is "The Life of Neil A. Armstrong" incidents not related to his time with NASA are mostly glossed over. This would be a complaint except that his time with NASA, particularly in the Apollo program, is so fascinating. Obviously I did not get to live through this but listening to this book helped me understand what it must have felt like hearing and seeing this
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May 15, 2011
Armen
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This was a great book. Armstrong is presented as both engineer and test pilot and ultimately his quiet way was the way to get to the moon. Along the way in the story we meet a lot of colorful characters, all kinds of light bouncing off of Armstrong, and he never saying much. Just did his job.
His later life he suffered through crazy fame, conspiracy theories, nuts, and his own depression and failed first marriage. However, he never actually changed. He seemed to be the same guy at More...
His later life he suffered through crazy fame, conspiracy theories, nuts, and his own depression and failed first marriage. However, he never actually changed. He seemed to be the same guy at More...
Dec 09, 2008
Bill
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This book was in my 'to read' pile for some time, mostly because it was a heavy hardback and travelling with one of those is often difficult! Anyway as someone who grew up seeing Neil Armstrong as a hero, I was 11 when the first moon landing took place, I had to read this book. It was a very good book. The only thing preventing it from being a great book in my opinion was the abundance of technical information. But apart from that it was an informative an enjoyable read.
What I did l More...
What I did l More...
Oct 30, 2009
Karl
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Excellent biography of NEil Armstrong and the first man on the moon story. What I didn't know was that Armstrong was flying missions over Korea at age 20 as a naval aviator. Beat that Tom Cruise. What's also amazing is that man went to the moon in 1969 and we haven't been back since. And the moon men are all in their 70's. That's a shame.
Oct 08, 2009
Hardeep
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My lord this was a tome... Hard a hard time getting through it. Funny anecdote- colleague asked me about the book and asked what else Armstrong might have done / been known for. And then remarked "In that case the book should have just taken 5 pages squire!"
Jan 02, 2011
Thomas
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A comprehensive overview of the first human being to set foot on another word, in which we discover a brilliant and focused individual who saw his destiny as just another day at the office.
Jul 14, 2011
Jeffrey
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I enjoyed this book. It is a good historical record, though it definately had a slant toword Armstrong when there were situations of question. Neil was a great man, and his quiet stoic engineer personality cam out quite strong. I recently watched a documentary about the men who walked on the moon and Neil was not in it. Too bad. Although I appreciated the insight into what made Neil tick, he sometimes seemed more machine than man. As opposed to Buzz Aldren who wore his heart on his sleeve. The b
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Jul 30, 2010
Stacey
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I enjoyed the book because I'm a nerd. It's pretty detailed and boring at times but provides a lot of information about Mr. Armstrong and NASA.
Jan 27, 2010
Kirsty
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Found this book very difficult to get into. Lots of details about Neil Armstrong's career, but very little about what makes him tick as a person.
Jan 14, 2012
Dave
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A very interesting book about a fascinating person.
The book was not exactly what I expected. It goes into great detail, almost too much detail, about Armstrong's relationship with his mother and other people from his hometown. So for me anyway, it was slow going at times. But the author had obviously done his homework and he works to get to the truth of myths surrounding Armstrong's life.
This book was a comprehensive, well written, and very fair look at one of the most important men More...
The book was not exactly what I expected. It goes into great detail, almost too much detail, about Armstrong's relationship with his mother and other people from his hometown. So for me anyway, it was slow going at times. But the author had obviously done his homework and he works to get to the truth of myths surrounding Armstrong's life.
This book was a comprehensive, well written, and very fair look at one of the most important men More...
Dec 22, 2010
Bradley
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Lost points for being abridged by Audible and Audible not telling me until the end.
Oct 13, 2009
Jason
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I really enjoyed this book, I not only learned about the life of Neil Armstrong but also about the early space program. Everyone has heard about the first man on the moon and the words Neil says, but it was very interesting to learn about all the details surrounding that.
I listened to this audio-book while traveling and I would recommend it. The folks who put together the audio-book did a great job of inserting original NASA recording as well as news recordings which I think are a gr More...
I listened to this audio-book while traveling and I would recommend it. The folks who put together the audio-book did a great job of inserting original NASA recording as well as news recordings which I think are a gr More...
Aug 15, 2011
Todd
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Not the best book written by one of the astronauts, but a very interesting book full of history I didn't know about Armstrong.
Aug 26, 2008
Nate
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A comprehensive, and first-authorized, biography of one of the most famous personages in world history. That's quite a claim but when you consider more people can quote Neil Armstrong than Shakespeare, it's not without merit. Considering Neil Armstrong has led what many people consider to be a "reclusive" life post-moon landing (relative to Lindbergh's experience), this book opens the door to an otherwise elusive person.
Feb 22, 2008
George Bradford
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It's difficult to believe there has ever been a more accomplished human being who was more modest than Neil Armstrong. This is not a light read. For the layman, there's some detailed explanations of engineering and physics that can be arduous. But, when I finished this I was convinced of one thing: NASA picked the absolute BEST candidate to be the first human to walk on the moon. A genuine American hero.
Oct 10, 2008
Cheryl
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An excellent read on a fascinating man and time in America's history. Pitting Armstrong's momentous trip and his unassuming personality together is the basis of the book. He is an introverted person! who went to the moon and in front of millions made his footprint in history. I highly recommend this book.
