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Rating: 
Summary: A Ho-Hum biography about an enigmatic genius.
Review: I knew about Robert Hutchings Goddard at a very early age , and read everything I could find on his work. I happened on "Rocket Development" (published by Goddard's wife after his death)in a bargain book bin in 1956 ; after reading it from cover to cover several times , Goddard became one of my personal icons. I was sufficiently impressed by his accomplishments at the time to enroll as an aeronautical and aerospace engineering major as a freshman a year later.
The present work , "Rocket Man" , was very disappointing to me in several ways. Although the author has done some homework , he missed the mark by failing to include a more technical slant to the volume. He also tended to focus on Goddard's foibles and weaknesses , rather than the formidable accomplishments of his life's work. A more technical description of the problems facing this remarkable pioneer could only increase one's admiration for this solitary genius.
A key point that may have eluded many of Goddard's biographers , admirers , and detractors is that the man was a physicist and not an engineer. It was pointed out that Goddard the man did not stick with the task very well and was subject to becoming diverted from what should have been his true focus. He also spent much of his time (in my humble opinion) more or less reinventing things , whereas had he employed a mechanical engineer to Provide some help , his accomplishments would have probably come closer to some of his dreams.
As an overview of the book, author Cleary does give much credit to Harry Guggenheim , Charles A. Lindbergh Jr , Charles Greely Abbot and the Smithsonian , all of whom shared credit for support of Goddard and his research program. Although the author seemingly has a favorable attitude towards his subject , the book lacks warmth -- tends to be a bit too dry for my taste.
A decent work , but could have been a lot more interesting had some of the text and illustrations from "Rocket Development" , and possibly more photos from Goddard's archives been included. Only 3 stars from this reviewer ; recommended , but only in conjunction with a copy of "Rocket Development" in hand.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Rocket Man, by David A. Clary, is an excellent review of the life of Robert H Goddard. Clary provides new insights into the personality and work ethic of this enigmatic genius. He correctly points out that Goddard's contributions to rocketry have taken on legendary proportions and have been manipulated over the years by several driving forces. Not the least of these forces is that, following the launch of the first artificial earth satellite, Sputnik I (launched by the Soviet Union in 1957) Americans wanted to be reassured that America had a viable pioneer in the field of rocketry. The pre-eminence of the Russian space program and the German rocket pioneer, Werner von Braun (architect of the Saturn V rocket that took man to the moon) tended to overshadow virtually all other experimenters who contributed to the development of rocketry in the 20th century. While Clary's book is a scholarly effort, with significant research and an impressive bibliography, he tends to emphasize (chapter after chapter) that Goddard himself was dominated by the desire to ensure that he would be remembered as the father, not only of rocketry, but all, or many of, the innovations necessary to make rocketry possible. Clary also notes that Goddard was not above making efforts to feather his nest to ensure financial security and intimates on several occasions, possible improprieties in his conduct. This emphasis tends to detract from the credibility of the book because of his constant referrals to it. While these aspects of Goddard may be true, it is necessary for us to keep into focus that this man was not simply a theorist as previous notables were, but a practical experimenter who was the first to demonstrate that the liquid fuel rocket was not only possible, but a viable means of achieving extreme altitudes. If there is any lapse in the book's content, it may be that several of the innovations that Goddard pioneered (such as regenerative cooling of the rocket engine, a significant step in achieving the ability to burn propellants at high temperatures in a combustion chamber) were not pursued. It is interesting to note the parallels between the Wright brothers and Goddard when it came to marketing their invention. Both seem to lose track of the engineering aspects of their work and became mired in the marketing aspects, for which neither were prepared. As a result, each was overshadowed by technology advances from other inventors. Clary's book is certainly a positive addition to the library of anyone interested in the history of the space age but it must be read with the caveats noted.
Rating: 
Summary: Bringing a Genius Down to Earth
Review: Rocket Man, by David A. Clary, is an excellent review of the life of Robert H Goddard. Clary provides new insights into the personality and work ethic of this enigmatic genius. He correctly points out that Goddard's contributions to rocketry have taken on legendary proportions and have been manipulated over the years by several driving forces. Not the least of these forces is that, following the launch of the first artificial earth satellite, Sputnik I (launched by the Soviet Union in 1957) Americans wanted to be reassured that America had a viable pioneer in the field of rocketry. The pre-eminence of the Russian space program and the German rocket pioneer, Werner von Braun (architect of the Saturn V rocket that took man to the moon) tended to overshadow virtually all other experimenters who contributed to the development of rocketry in the 20th century. While Clary's book is a scholarly effort, with significant research and an impressive bibliography, he tends to emphasize (chapter after chapter) that Goddard himself was dominated by the desire to ensure that he would be remembered as the father, not only of rocketry, but all, or many of, the innovations necessary to make rocketry possible. Clary also notes that Goddard was not above making efforts to feather his nest to ensure financial security and intimates on several occasions, possible improprieties in his conduct. This emphasis tends to detract from the credibility of the book because of his constant referrals to it. While these aspects of Goddard may be true, it is necessary for us to keep into focus that this man was not simply a theorist as previous notables were, but a practical experimenter who was the first to demonstrate that the liquid fuel rocket was not only possible, but a viable means of achieving extreme altitudes. If there is any lapse in the book's content, it may be that several of the innovations that Goddard pioneered (such as regenerative cooling of the rocket engine, a significant step in achieving the ability to burn propellants at high temperatures in a combustion chamber) were not pursued. It is interesting to note the parallels between the Wright brothers and Goddard when it came to marketing their invention. Both seem to lose track of the engineering aspects of their work and became mired in the marketing aspects, for which neither were prepared. As a result, each was overshadowed by technology advances from other inventors. Clary's book is certainly a positive addition to the library of anyone interested in the history of the space age but it must be read with the caveats noted.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: This biography is heightened by the great number of illustrations and understandable descriptions of what Goddard accomplished and what it means. It has received high praise from Booklist, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Times, the Baltimore Sun, and many others around the country. I dont know what the agenda of the preceding comment was, but it ought to be balanced. No less than Arthur C. Clarke says it is "a long overdue tribute to one of the greatest engineers..."
Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: This book contains no illustrations and little discussion to explain what Goddard invented and how those inventions worked; so it's not clear what Goddard did or why he should be famous. Instead, author Clary's book is a tedious account of Goddard's squabbles over priority of invention, of his constant pursuit of funds for his research, and of his widow's efforts to secure his patents and to promote his place in history. Dull and plodding. This book was apparently intended merely as a corrective to the standard biography of Goddard; namely, Lehman's "This High Man." If you want to understand Goddard's work on rockets, look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Number One Rocket Man: Legendary Robert Goddard.
Review: This is a thought-provoking book about a genius who developed the first working rocket on Earth. Dr. Robert Goddard was a mystery man; he was a loner but had close ties with Charles Lindbergh, Harry Guggenheim, and Werner von Braun. He is credited with the raw invention of modern rocketry; although the credit may have been stolen from him with the utilization of the crude but warworthy V-2 rockets developed by the Germans.
The problem with Goddard is that he wanted all the patents to belong to him and all the credit go to him, but when it came to sharing his wealth of knowledge, he became secretive.
It outraged many people, including his own government.
Goddard wanted to protect his inventions, but that cost him the credit and honor that he coveted so much during the years he lived. It was only after his death that his beloved wife, Esther secured his spot in history.
Charles Lindbergh and Harry Guggenhiem threw in their consideable support in promoting Goddard's inventions post-humously as well, and that is why he is not just a foot note in history today.
Dr Goddard demonstrated impressive technical skill, insight and integrity despite financial contraints and public skeptism.
He was forced to deal with failure over and over and over. Years of his life was spent in pursuit of incorrect thinking, that modern rocketry would go in only one direction.
In the end, he proved that he had what it takes to launch a payload into extreme altitudes.
He was a pioneer in thinking that man would one day land on the moon - the mere mention of this idea would bring a room to racious laughter - people were incredulous of his brilliance in those days. His wife believed in him, and this was his one strongest ally in his own little islolated world of discovery.
I found it odd and amusing that he lived many years in Roswell, New Mexico. This was before the Rosewell Alien crash in 1948, but I wonder to this day if there was any connection, and what Goddard's reaction to the legendary alien crash would have been.
It would have been interesting to know whether or not Goddard believed in extraterrestials. This is not discussed in this fine book, but author, David Clary did a superb job in bringing back to life this mysterious scientist.
There were bright points of Robert Goddard's life, and there were darker shades also, the man was human - after all.
He dared to dream bigger than most scientists of his time.....he is often compared to Hermann Oberth and Konstantin Tsiolkovsky - other physicists that theorized about space travel.
But our man, Robert Goddard was the FIRST to actually build rockets and test them and work on them until some degree of continuity was achieved.
And for this tireless and thankless effort, Goddard is reviered today as the first ROCKET MAN of the ages.
I enjoyed this book greatly - I actually had begun reading another book about a famous astronaught, but when I perused this book, it took command of my undivided attention.
There is alot to know about these early men; who risked social stigma to apply what they theorized to actual science.
We can credit Goddard with the entire US Space program; he was on the ground floor.
Maybe Sputnik could send his estate a belated thank you card, because at the time, the only person actively developing these great flying machines was a lonely bald scientist toiling away in the hot desert in remote sections of New Mexico.
Have a read -- this book will lift your imaginations to new heights and I guarantee, you will learn much from this great man.
It is a really interesting book and easy to understand.
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