First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong - Softcover

"To understand Armstrong on his own terms is to see a large truth of our time . . . [Hansen's] mastery of detail is put to splendid use. The narrative of the moon mission is crisp and dramatic, the science clear. He deftly takes us back into those few days of global fascination with the adventure of the three distant voyagers and the tense uncertainty about how it would turn out. . . . I finished Hansen's Apollo story with a wholly fresh sense of awe at the magnitude of NASA's achievement . . . a compelling and nuanced portrait of the astronaut."--James Tobin, Chicago Tribune

"A powerful, unrelenting biography of a man who stands as a living testimony to everyday grit and determination . . . A must for astronaut buffs and history readers alike."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Ever since Apollo 11's 'one giant leap for mankind' in 1969 the world has wondered who Neil Armstrong really is. Now, at last, Jim Hansen has stripped away the myths and mysteries to bring us face to face with the man himself. This definitive portrait offers many new and fascinating details about Armstrong and his life and about the momentous and unforgettable era of exploration in which he was lucky enough--and talented enough--to play a key role."--Andrew Chaikin, author of A Man on the Moon

"Hansen does a fine job of retelling Armstrong's childhood and remarkable career in aviation. The NASA years have been covered in many other books, but Hansen manages to keep them fresh, benefiting from Armstrong's perspective. . . . As Hansen shows, the way Armstrong chooses to carry the heavy burden of history only proves once again that he has the right stuff."--Brian Hicks, The Post and Courier

"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

"Hansen's research is staggeringly impressive. . . . A work that has great appeal for anyone interested in why we explore, who we are in this aerospace age, and what it was about the United States that could enable a little kid from Wapakoneta, Ohio, to take that 'one small step' at Tranquility Base in the summer of 1969. A must read!!!"--Richard P. Hallion, chief historian for the U.S. Air Force

"Armstrong opened his entire life to Hansen. . . . Thanks to Hansen, future historians will know more about the man than the fact he was first."--Robert Pearlman, founder and editor of collectSpace.com

"[A] taut, well-told tale of our nation's race to the moon and the man who took the first step." --Doug Allyn, The Flint Journal "Let it be said at once that his book is an outstanding success. . . . Immaculately researched and packed with detail, but written in a way that will appeal to readers of all kinds. . . . This is an important book, and should be in every scientific library."--Sir Patrick Moore, London Times Educational Supplement

"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 Neil's other major 'space step'--he recovered Gemini 8 from the ultimate end game with aggressive action, cool skill and creative judgement 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 great read."--The Kansas City Star

Soon to be a major motion picture, this is the first—and only—definitive authorized account of Neil Armstrong, the man whose “one small step” changed history.

When Apollo 11 touched down on the Moon’s surface in 1969, the first man on the Moon became a legend. In First Man, author James R. Hansen explores the life of Neil Armstrong. Based on over fifty hours of interviews with the intensely private Armstrong, who also gave Hansen exclusive access to private documents and family sources, this “magnificent panorama of the second half of the American twentieth century” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) is an unparalleled biography of an American icon.

In this “compelling and nuanced portrait” (Chicago Tribune) filled with revelations, Hansen vividly recreates Armstrong’s career in flying, from his seventy-eight combat missions as a naval aviator flying over North Korea to his formative trans-atmospheric flights in the rocket-powered X-15 to his piloting Gemini VIII to the first-ever docking in space. 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 near-fifty years since the Moon landing, rumors have swirled around Armstrong concerning his dreams of space travel, his religious beliefs, and his private life.

A penetrating exploration of American hero worship, Hansen addresses the complex legacy of the First Man, as an astronaut and as an individual. “First Man burrows deep into Armstrong’s past and present...What emerges is an earnest and brave man” (Houston Chronicle) who will forever be known as history’s most famous space traveler.