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  • First Man

  • The Life of Neil A. Armstrong
  • Written by: James R. Hansen
  • Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb
  • Length: 16 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (21 ratings)

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First Man

Written by: James R. Hansen
Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb
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Publisher's Summary

Soon to be 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 50 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 78 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-50 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.

©2018 James R. Hansen (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about First Man

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Human History of the Human Future

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

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Armstrong is historical

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.

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Good Biography

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.

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  • Tom
  • 2021-05-31

good but a few extras

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

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