The Right Stuff

Rating:
Summary: The Write Stuff!
Review: What do you get when you mix an historian and a world-class writer? The Right Stuff. Tom Wolfe takes us back to a black and white time when America was apple pie and comic book heroes--at least in nostalgic hindsight. Amidst these glory years of the '50s and '60s there was trouble brewing, however. The Russians were winning the Space Race. Up to the plate step a group of true blue American heroes, men like John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Alan Shepard, and Chuck Yeager, men with the Right Stuff. Together they overcame technical barriers, tragedy, and the limits of human endurance to prevent the Soviets from controlling Space, the high ground from which they could drop nukes on us at will.

This superbly told story brings history alive. We are brought into the lives and heads of these complex real-life characters, family men who risked 25% mortality rates to "press the envelope" first as test pilots and then as astronauts. We cheer as the records fall and mourn the loss of those who "crash and burn."

Full research, high use of language, insightful character analysis, and exciting drama. You can't go wrong with the Right Stuff. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

Rating:
Summary: I really enjoyed this book for a number of reasons. . .
Review: . . .but there were a number of reasons it doesn't score 5 stars, at least in the mind of this reviewer.

There is no doubt that Wolfe has written a very, very good "novel" (history, really) about the great test pilots of the 1950's and especially the Mercury 7 astronauts. He as gone far to try to make the story as accurate and honest as possible. For this, he should be commended. And frankly, the book was just plain fun to read, especially for someone (like myself) who is a staunch supporter of the space program.

However, I was put off by Wolfe's casual writing style. Yes, it's a personal beef -- but this is a personal review, and I just didn't resonate with him stylistically! More serious, though, to my mind, was what the book 'did' -- and that is, to seriously deconstruct a myth. The men (and their families) depicted in the book, were (and to a certain extent, still are) heros in the minds of many Americans -- in a time when American badly needed heros. And to my mind, Wolfe trimmed those heros down to size. I'm not convinced that this was necessary -- or a good idea.

No, I'm not naive. I realize that ALL heros have feet of clay. I'm just not sure that it is appropriate -- or healthy -- to exploit that clay.

Rating:
Summary: One of my all time favorite books...
Review: This book is just a thoroughly enjoyable read. Funny, exciting, charming, moving; what more could you want? It does certainly personalize the astronauts, but I do not agree that it cuts these heroes down to size, as some other reviewers have suggested. On the contrary, Mr. Wolfe's theme is that these men really are heroes, albeit thoroughly human ones. He does, however, let us know that there are a lot of other men out there who are just as heroic, without the acclaim. Don't miss this one!

Rating:
Summary: Shooting for the Stars
Review: I opened this book with a limited interest in the Space Race, jet pilots, or Tom Wolfe, but have become fascinated by all three. This is an extremely well written, exciting, fast paced novel that takes place during the early days of space flight and focuses on the personalities who drove our pursuit to beat the Russians. It contains subtle criticism of the space program and the people inside it, which is a nice subplot to the story, but the adventure and energy is what makes this a great book. I will again read Wolfe and want to learn more about the history of the space program now, and when a book inspires these kind of reactions I can not help but recommend it to anyone who asks for a suggestion.

Rating:
Summary: The great American nonfiction novel
Review: I chose to read this book for my history class, and I was not disappointed in the slightest. This book has it all: adventure, courage, and satire. It is the story of America's first astronauts, some of the bravest men and most skilled flyers in history.

The Right Stuff was also made into a movie, and although the movie was great, people who have seen it haven't gotten the full story of the early space program unless they read the book. Wolfe creates several conflicts that don't show up in the film, such as the ambition of the X-15 astronauts to beat the Mercury Seven into space, as well as the conflict between man and machine. The film ends when Cooper's Mercury 9 lifts off, and that is disappointing. Wolfe's book describes how Cooper performed a manual re-entry and proved that the astronaut was truly a pilot and not an observer. Wolfe also argues that Project Mercury, as well as the Soviet Vostok program, built mutual respect between the two nations and effectively ended the Cold War.

The book is quite accurate, as most of the events are corroborated by Gordon Cooper in his autobiography (which I also recommend.) This novel will go down as a classic, and it will be read by generations to come.

Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff
Review: Although Tom Wolfe's way of writing may seem strange and at times weird, the story of these test pilots and pioneer astronauts is a classic. Beginning with the stories of pilots like Chuck Yeager, the man who broke the sound barrier, the book develops into the grand drama that was the space program and the race against the Soviets to the new frontier, chronicaling the pilots who took such great risk in participating in it. If you liked the movie, you'll love the book. A great work that I highly recommend to all readers.

Rating:
Summary: A great ride
Review: Tom Wolfe's rollicking style (exclamation points!) can take a little getting used to, but once you settle in, you'll find that this is not just a fun-to-read book, but a well-written one too.

First, Wolfe clearly did his research, filling the story with details and facts which prove illuminating (I do wish he included dates more frequently; sometimes it's hard to tell when an event is taking place). His detailed descriptions of the flights of Alan Shepard, John Glenn and Chuck Yeager practically put you in the pilot's seat.

Second, he manages to capture the emotions and feelings of the time, showing the competitive nature that drove the astronauts, how their wives wanted respect, and how the public adored their new space heroes.

Finally, he ties it all together with some good philosophical insights. The Right Stuff! Single Warrior Combat!

My only lament about the book is that Tom Wolfe makes it look so easy. Too many writers since then have tried to imitate his style -- but without doing the fundamental research that makes a good story. The result can be tedious and superficial writing.

Rating:
Summary: I really enjoyed this book for a number of reasons. . .
Review: . . .but there were a number of reasons it doesn't score 5 stars, at least in the mind of this reviewer.

There is no doubt that Wolfe has written a very, very good "novel" (history, really) about the great test pilots of the 1950's and especially the Mercury 7 astronauts. He as gone far to try to make the story as accurate and honest as possible. For this, he should be commended. And frankly, the book was just plain fun to read, especially for someone (like myself) who is a staunch supporter of the space program.

However, I was put off by Wolfe's casual writing style. Yes, it's a personal beef -- but this is a personal review, and I just didn't resonate with him stylistically! More serious, though, to my mind, was what the book 'did' -- and that is, to seriously deconstruct a myth. The men (and their families) depicted in the book, were (and to a certain extent, still are) heros in the minds of many Americans -- in a time when American badly needed heros. And to my mind, Wolfe trimmed those heros down to size. I'm not convinced that this was necessary -- or a good idea.

No, I'm not naive. I realize that ALL heros have feet of clay. I'm just not sure that it is appropriate -- or healthy -- to exploit that clay.

Rating:
Summary: WHOSE THE BEST WRITER I EVER READ? I'M REVIEWIN' HIM, BABY
Review: "The Right Stuff" BY Tom Wolfe's book was a wonderful American story about the Mercury space program that told the tale of U.S. pilots just brimming with gusto, bravado and...the right stuff.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
[e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Another page-turning book
Review: Hey, I stayed up way to late reading this book our national effort to win the space race. Included in this book is the contributions of the pilots from Joshua treed, dusty desert base called Edwards including the greatest pilot of them all. Read the book and you'll find out.