Rating: 
Summary: Women on to the moon
Review: Research, research, research...Ms. Ackmann has really done her homework on all the players involved in the Mercury 13 or FLAT (First Lady Astronaut Trainee) program. She did extensive personal interviewing with the surviving women of the program, and it shows. Her writing gets you "into" the story and you won't want to put it down.
A classic example of truth being stranger than fiction. Now that we have the luxury of time to look back on these events, besides blaming the social conditions of the times, possibly this book can now serve as a benchmark of lessons learned and hopefully not to be repeated. Highly recommend for every parent of girls and boys. Read it to your kids, and help them understand what happened. Check this book out, now. As an archive Librarian I have a great appreciation for the work that went into this book. It is a GREAT READ! And you won't be disappointed. Remember....all others came after this one. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: The Mercury 13 by Martha Ackmann
Review: This book depicts the lives of women astronauts during a
period of American history when the space program had a
plurality of men. The period is the 50s and early 60s
when the contest between the USA and the Soviet Union heated
up in space. The book describes the successful launch of
Freedom 7 in 1961 despite some early problems. There are
many pictures of the astronauts depicting achievements during
the various milestones of the space program. Ultimately,
the Committee on Science and Astronauts concluded that the
advantages of having women astronauts merited a formal
program of research and study. This was a government action
long sought by women in the pursuit of careers as astronauts.
The book includes details of the experiences of Janey Hart-
an early astronaut and participant founder of NOW.
A report on this book would make a fine student project
for budding scientists.
Rating:
Summary: Stellar Non-Fiction
Review: Very well researched and interesting to read as NASA tries to get back on track. True stories of inspiring women ahead of their time (and the men who made an effort to boost their accomplishments).
Rating:
Summary: Stellar Non-Fiction
Review: Very well researched and interesting to read as NASA tries to get back on track. True stories of inspiring women ahead of their time (and the men who made an effort to boost their accomplishments).
Rating:
Summary: An amazing story.
Review: Whether you're a fan of America's space program or simply in need of a great read, do yourself a favor and invest in this book. A little over forty years ago -- when our first astronauts were flying high and America was racing the Soviets for space dominance -- a group of two dozen women signed on to take the same tests and training program as the fabled Mercury 7 (John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, etc). These tests were outlined by Tom Wolfe in THE RIGHT STUFF, and have gone down in historical lore as punishing and exacting, but they are nothing compared to what happened to the women next. Martha Ackmann's breezy prose and ironic wit are on display here, and she handles the story of these heroic women in an engaging, unbiased way that practically makes the book turn its own pages. I couldn't put it down, and neither will you. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: An amazing story.
Review: Whether you're a fan of America's space program or simply in need of a great read, do yourself a favor and invest in this book. A little over forty years ago -- when our first astronauts were flying high and America was racing the Soviets for space dominance -- a group of two dozen women signed on to take the same tests and training program as the fabled Mercury 7 (John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, etc). These tests were outlined by Tom Wolfe in THE RIGHT STUFF, and have gone down in historical lore as punishing and exacting, but they are nothing compared to what happened to the women next. Martha Ackmann's breezy prose and ironic wit are on display here, and she handles the story of these heroic women in an engaging, unbiased way that practically makes the book turn its own pages. I couldn't put it down, and neither will you. Highly recommended.
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