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First Man

The Life of Neil A. Armstrong

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First Man

Written by: James R. Hansen
Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb
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About this listen

 Now 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. 20th Century Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Astronomy & Space Science Modern Professionals & Academics Science Science & Technology Astronomy Aviation US Air Force Interstellar Mathematics Technology Air Force
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This is well-performed, but as someone who had greatly enjoyed reading First Man in Kindle last year and was looking forward to reliving it in audiobook form, I was a bit disappointed when I began to realize that (without being labelled as such) this audiobook is the "abridged version" of the manuscript, rather than a reading of the full unabridged text. It skims over or cuts out what I consider a number of the best diversions, obscure anecdotes, and contemplations of the full book, and that is just too bad. I found myself disappointed whenever I realized that it wasn't going to get into a story that I had particularly enjoyed reading and would instead just breeze by it. This wouldn't be such a let-down if an audiobook of the unabridged version was available, but alas, it is not. The narrator does quite a good job, and if this was the unabridged book, I am sure I would give it five stars.

Be Advised: This is the Abridged Version

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Armstrong is historical. His life story very exciting and rich with flavour.
I’m glad to have learned more about his life and will probably go see the museum about him with my family sometime in the future.
Thanks for creating this book.

Armstrong is historical

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Very intriguing book and dry at time with technical stuff but filled with interesting trivia and little chuckles. I would recommend it.

Human History of the Human Future

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the book does go into a lot of details, that does put the moon landing In the context of a life. this is one of it's chard, you get the sense that he did more than walk on he moon. but sometimes the litanies drag on a bit, but they might have to at times. And since Armstrong was private, the biographer almost has to stay with bare essentials, because more was not volunteered, and he wisely avoided becoming an amateur psychologist

good but a few extras

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This book is very well researched. Much of the narrative is based on recorded interviews and documents, some of which are pretty dry. War records and stuff you could get from the IMDB. Pays some lip service to controversies...Aldrin's personality, Aliens, "Faking" the landing, but doesnt really confront the issues.

Very accurate but does little to explain who this man was. Still, fascinating guy and an enjoyable book. This rates 6.5 stars out of 10.

Good Biography

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