The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Right Stuff
Book Review: The Beginning of Manned Spaceflight!
Summary: 4 Stars
Tom Wolfe's research for The Right Stuff, is more historically accurate than the movie version. The book was warmly received by the astronaut community, especially among the surviving members of the original Mercury 7 astronauts. The book goes back to the beginning to the test pilots flying from Murac Field, now known as Edwards Air Force Base. The early jet and rocket research conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, led to Project Mercury, Project Gemini, Project Apollo and the Space Shuttle. You can very easily get lost in the pages of this book. Not only did Mr. Wolfe do his research on the historic aspect of the book, he also researched the personal lives of the pilots, including Chuck Yeager and Scott Crossfield. As the book comes forward in time, Mr. Wolfe researched the personal lives of the Mercury 7 astronauts. The competition for astronaut selection, was intense and in competition with the Soviet Union. After the selection of the Mercury 7, the astronauts did have an agreement with Life Magazine to do their life stories. This is one aspect of the movie that agrees with the book. The Media's aggressive way in pursuing their stories, was not too well received by the astronauts. The issue regarding "extra-ciricular" was mentioned in the book and the movie. The way the issue was presented in the movie, was completely different than the book version. In the book, Gus Grissom was accurately presented, a pilot and an engineer. After the explosive bolts on the access hatch of Liberty Bell 7 were activated, Grissom was concerned. He also wanted to find the answers on why they activated. It was later theorized, static electricity from the rotor wash of the recovery helicopter, led to the accidential activation of the explosive bolts and the loss of the Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft. The way Gus Grissom was portrayed in the movie, was not to well received by the astronaut community, especially among the surviving members of the Mercury 7 astronauts. In an interview of Wally Schirra that I seen years later on NASA Television, Captain Schirra talked about this very issue. Captain Schirra stated the book was more historically accurate. He didn't agree with the way the story was presented and did not agree with the way Gus Grissom was portrayed in the movie. Captain Schirra stated, the movie should have been titled "Animal House in Space!" One of the other astronauts who was mentioned in the book, was Deke Slayton. When Captain Slayton was selected for astronaut training, he had an irregular heartbeat. NASA's medical staff were hoping the condition would clear itself, before Slayton made his first spaceflight. Deke Slayton would have made his first mission, after John Glenn. A few months before his mission, the irregular heartbeat did not clear itself. Medical stardards at that time, forced the NASA flight surgeon to remove Deke Slayton from his flight and was replaced by Scott Carpenter. Deke Slayton became the Director of Flight Crew Operations and was a very effective and respected leader of the astronaut community.
For anyone who is interested in the beginning of the jet age and the early years of the space program, The Right Stuff is recommended reading. The book presents a excellent overview of that time in history and it explores the personal lives of the test pilots and the astronauts. After reading the book, the Internet will allow you to do any follow-up or detailed research on the subject if you so choose.
Book Review: Zeitgeist of 50s and 60s in Full
Summary: 5 Stars
Having seen the movie before reading the book, I expected Wolfe's THE RIGHT STUFF to be good. I was surprised how good it turned out to be in capturing the mood of the America in the late 50s and early 60s. Character, admittedly topped off with a little self-promotion in zorder to rise up the military ladder, was king. Also pointed out by Wolfe is the Protestant underpinings of the seven golden boys. Backed by Presbyterian and TIME magazine czar, H. Luce, John Glenn (Presbyterian to the core) became the perfect promotional piece for the day and age.
The narrative moves quickly. The sections on Yeager are worthy of their own treatment as a book. Wolfe is on top of his game, which in his case is not being too flowery.
Book Review: better than I expected
Summary: 5 Stars
From the sound of it, a book about astronauts sounds like it would be interesting. But if you really think about it, do you really care to know every detail of the story of astronauts? I wouldn't care. Of course maybe someone older who lived through the hype back then would really enjoy reading the ins and outs of the program. But to a young buck, astronauts are cool and all but give me the facts, give me the meat; I don't care for the jargon, the details of each flight etc. Better yet, give me the juice on the tragic accidents that occurred in the space program - like Apollo 13.
Well, Wolfe does not indulge us. He gives the long and short of the Mercury program which was the first to put a man into Earth's orbit. However he writes in a way that the story is not dry or dull at all. It's fascinating and spellbinding. It's history but it does not read like history. It reads like a novel. And of course that is the genius of the author. By the end of the book you are left hoping for Wolfe to continue his narrative of the space program but alas it must end somewhere.
Book Review: the right stuff - the right stuff!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read The Right Stuff three times (a previous copy). I made the mistake of loaning the book to somebody but I don't recall who. I consider it such a "must have" book in my library that I have replaced it.
More The Right Stuff reviews:
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