Review by Choice Review
Author, journalist, and pilot Barbree (NBC News) not only won an Emmy for his coverage of Neil Armstrong's lunar walk but also was numbered among his friends. Beginning with Armstrong's time as a pilot in the Korean War and ending two months before his death, A Life of Flight focuses nearly exclusively on his career. Particular attention is paid to the period surrounding the moon landing and the astronaut's influence on the US space program. Barbree paints his subject as enigmatic, quiet, friendly, and a consummate professional. Those looking to learn more about the man himself may be somewhat disappointed in the relatively few pages devoted to Armstrong's personal life. The pages that are included, however, do help flesh out a man who is nearly entirely identified with a historic event. Particularly interesting is the effect of the death of his three-year-old daughter and his relationships with other astronaut contemporaries, such as John Glenn. This is an enjoyable read written in a conversational tone. Though it reveals little negative or controversial, the book provides a fascinating look at an American hero and a thrilling career with great care and insight. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. --Benjamin Leigh Brudner, Curry College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
Though a famous, much chronicled astronaut, Neil Armstrong wanted to write his own story with the help of NBC reporter Barbree, who'd covered every one of his missions. But Armstrong, who died in 2012, was such a self-effacing man, he couldn't bring himself to write a book focusing on him alone. He'd talked to Barbree for years about the chief passions of his life, flying and his family. Drawing on those long talks and with the cooperation of Armstrong's family, Barbree offers an intimate portrait of a man grateful to have spent his life doing what he loved. Armstrong talked to Barbree about his two marriages, the death of his baby daughter, the close fellowship among pilots and astronauts, and the astonishing experiences of his space exploration missions. Timed to coincide with the forty-fifth anniversary of the Apollo 11 space launch, Barbree's book includes many never-before-seen photos, a look back at the competition to win the space race with the Soviets, and Armstrong's vision for the future of space exploration.--Bush, Vanessa Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
NBC News correspondent Barbree (Moon Shot) has covered space travel for nearly six decades, including every American manned space launch, and here centers on the career of Neil Armstrong (1930-2012), who during the historic Apollo 11 mission became the first man to walk on the Moon. Barbree focuses on Armstrong as a pilot and astronaut, starting with his Korean War service before moving on to his long association with NASA. While he branches out to address some of Armstrong's personal life, this is primarily a story of the space race, with copious attention given to the events leading up to and including the Moon landing. Barbree draws on conversations, transcripts, and interviews to reconstruct the space age's most exciting and dramatic moments, fleshing them out with numerous photos and his own experiences. Indeed, he claims an almost worshipful friendship with Armstrong to convey an intimate association with the otherwise taciturn astronaut. Barbree's feelings and passions are made clear in a scathing indictment of the American space program in the decades following the Moon landing and its failure to capitalize on the opportunity. The concentration on Armstrong's space-related career makes this less than a definitive biography, but it's still an eye-opening and entertaining tale of the race to the Moon. Photos. Agent: Elizabeth Kaplan. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Veteran news correspondent Barbree offers an intimate view into the life of Neil Armstong (1930-2012), his friend as well as a national hero and very private person. The author paints a detailed and colorful picture of his subject and an unbiased depiction of the period in which he lived, while also demonstrating reverence for -Armstrong as a confidant. The book starts with -Armstrong's experience in the Korean War and takes the reader through the ups and downs of the astronaut's life and career, the space program, Armstrong's first steps on the moon, his thoughts on the closing of the lunar exploration program in 2010, and his death in 2012. VERDICT This easy--to-read, compelling, and well-written view of an American hero is recommended for those interested in history, biography, early space programs around the world, and the science of space flight.-Dawn -Lowe-Wincentsen, Oregon Inst. of Technology, Portland (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A longtime NBC News space correspondent looks back on the aviation career of the first man to set foot on the moon.Given his starring role in one of historys most magnificent achievements, shouldnt Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) be a bigger deal? FollowingApollo 11strailblazing 1969 flight, Armstrong worked a couple of years for NASA, then taught for a few more at the University of Cincinnati. Except for a brief, high-profile role investigating the causes of theChallengerdisaster and an occasional speaking engagement, he assiduously avoided the spotlight, never cashing in on his fame. By the time of his death, he easily passed unrecognized in public. Barbree (Live From Cape Canaveral: Covering the Space Race, From Sputnik to Today, 2007, etc.), who covered every American manned space flight and became especially friendly with Armstrong, nevertheless barely pierces the habitual Armstrong reserve. Except for occasional tidbits of personal informationthe astronauts friendship with John Glenn, the premature death of his daughter, the fire that razed his homethis account focuses primarily on Armstrong the pilot, particularly his coolness in tight spots: ejecting from a shot-up fighter plane in Korea, recovering from a stuck thruster in orbitaboardGemini 8, ejecting from the lunar lander training module just before it crashed, and famously guiding theEagleto touchdown in the Sea of Tranquility with fuel running dangerously low. These moments take up the bulk of Barbrees amiable account. He supplies useful context by examining the origins and development of NASAs manned flight program, including a good deal of information about astronaut training. The author insists that Armstrong never regarded himself as special and never lobbied to be first on the moon; he saw himself merely as next in line to take what turned out to be a Lindbergh step in flight.A wholly admiring assessment of Armstrong the aviator and Armstrong the man. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
