Neil Armstrong: A Life of Flight

by Jay Barbree, John Glenn (Foreword)

Much has been written about Neil Armstrong, America's modern hero, history's most famous space traveler, and the first man to walk on the moon. Yet shy of fame and never one to steal the spotlight Armstrong was always reluctant to discuss his personal side of events. Here for the first time is the definitive story of Neil's life of flight he shared for five decades with a trusted friend - Jay Barbree.

Working from 50 years of conversations he had with Neil, from notes, interviews, NASA spaceflight transcripts, and remembrances of those Armstrong trusted, Barbree writes about Neil's three passions - flight, family, and friends. This is the inside story of Neil Armstrong from the time he flew combat missions in the Korean War and then flew a rocket plane called the X-15 to the edge of space, to when he saved his Gemini 8 by flying the first emergency return from Earth orbit and then flew Apollo-Eleven to the moon's Sea of Tranquility.

Together Neil and Jay discussed everything, from his love of flying, to the war years, and of course his time in space. The book is full of never-before-seen photos and personal details written down for the first time, including what Armstrong really felt when he took that first step on the moon, what life in NASA was like, his relationships with the other astronauts, and what he felt the future of space exploration should be.

As the only reporter to have covered all 166 American astronaut flights and moon landings Jay knows these events intimately. Neil Armstrong himself said, "Barbree is history's most experienced space journalist. He is exceptionally well qualified to recall and write the events and emotions of our time." Through his friendship with Neil and his dedicated research, Barbree brings us the most accurate account of his friend's life of flight, the book he planned for twenty years.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Space, Science, Biography Memoir, American History

384 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2014

About the author

Jay Barbree (born 1933) is a correspondent for NBC News, focusing on space travel. Barbree is the only journalist to have covered every manned space mission in the United States, beginning with the first American in space, Alan Shepard aboard Freedom 7 in 1961, continuing through to the latest mission, Atlantis's STS-132 mission in May 2010. Barbree has been present for 132 space shuttle launches, and every launch for the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo eras. In total, Barbree has been witness to 163 manned space launches.
Barbree is the author or co-author of seven books, including two memoirs.

Reviews

[Nataliya · Rating 4 out of 5]

From everything I’ve read I gather that Neil Armstrong was genuinely a good guy. Quiet, reserved, meticulous, and private; definitely not a showy or self-congratulatory person. No wonder it’s easier to focus specifically, as the title of this book suggests, on Neil Armstrong the pilot (in the context of the US space program) rather than Neil Armstrong the man.

And it’s no surprise then that even after a few hundreds of pages you still can’t shake the feeling that you are observing Armstrong’s life from far away, that it stays quite remote, not privy to the outsiders’ eyes. I wouldn’t be surprised if Armstrong would have wanted it to remain exactly this way, given that at the peak of his fame he chose to retire from the limelight and focus on life of teaching and farming and sometimes helping NASA with its issues like the infamous Challenger disaster. And I do appreciate that Barbree does not engage in idle speculations or adding thoughts and words that are inaccessible to those of us who are not Neil himself. And maybe it feels more remote, but that’s just how it is.

But the account of Neil the pilot was actually good. You get to read in detail about a few of Armstrong‘s close calls which he was able to survive - and through that survival enhance the understanding of aviation and spaceflight — not through luck or bravado, but through experience, skill, talent, and perseverance. Gemini 8 and Apollo 11 flights are presented in calm and meticulous detail, probably just like Armstrong would have wanted. Quite a bit of page space is also devoted to the context — NASA, other space missions, either pilots and officially surrounding Armstrong. I’ve read a few books about NASA and Apollo programs and yet I don’t get tired of revisiting them, so I liked it quite a bit.

“The Apollo trips alone leapedfrogged humans 50 years ahead in science and knowledge. But what most astounded Neil was not that we went to the moon, but that we didn’t stay.”

So here’s my verdict. If you’re looking for a better understanding of Neil Armstrong as a person, his motivations, what led to him becoming the man he was, the things that stayed out of public life and print, then you might end up quite disappointed. If you’re looking to read a book about the US space program with a respectful focus on professional achievements of Neil Armstrong then you’re in luck.

Four stars but keep the above in mind.

(Oh, and this may be as good of a place as any to get this off my chest. Why would anyone care whether Armstrong’s first step on the Moon was one small step for man or one small step for “A” man? In any case it remains one giant leap for mankind. Dear grammarians, please give it a rest. It sounds better Neil Armstrong’s way in any case.)

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Also posted on my blog.

[W · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first man on the moon wasn't too comfortable with all the attention he received,on his return to earth. Already a private man,he retired to a dairy farm,and a quiet life of teaching.

During his flying days,Armstrong had several close calls. He had to bail out of a fighter jet in Korea,had trouble on his Gemini flight,and also while flying the lunar training vehicle. His house burned down,while he was training as an astronaut.

He was lucky to survive each time,to keep his date with destiny. The crew of the ill fated Apollo 1,was not so lucky. They were all killed,in a training accident on the ground.

The book also takes a look at the Soviet space programme,their cosmonauts,their deaths, and their early successes.

There are interesting glimpses of Armstrong's fellow astronauts,any of whom could easily have occupied Armstrong's place,in history.

According to the author,a key factor affecting Armstrong's selection,was that he wouldn't enrich himself through commercial deals,after getting back.But only Deke Slayton,the man who made the selection,could actually answer the question.

There are wonderful desciptions of the stunning views from space. The reader also gets a sense of what it would have been like to ride those mighty rockets,as they sped moonwards,in a fury of fire and sound. And then,the black sky,and the magnificent desolation on the moon.

The storytelling is first rate and the book it seems, had Armstrong's approval. If Armstrong had any flaws,those are not mentioned. Similarly,there is no mention of the fierce rivalry among the astronauts,to be first on the moon.Buzz Aldren,the second man on the moon,would have dearly loved to be the first.

Armstrong was again briefly involved with space,as the space shuttle Challenger was destroyed,shortly after launch,in 1986. Armstrong was asked to investigate.But his life after returning from the moon was very quiet,as he shunned the limelight.

A thrilling adventure,it kept me riveted.

[Grumpus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing influenced my life more than the early NASA programs, especially the Apollo missions. I still remember myself as a young 8-year-old, watching the moon landing along with the rest of the world. I was the perfect age upon which this historic event would ensure maximum impact.

A fond memory is going outside with my Dad and looking up at the moon and wondering if we could see the light from the craft circling the moon while Neil and Buzz where on the surface. I was in awe. Surprisingly, these events did not inspire me to be an astronaut but rather the awe of the universe sparked my curiosity and desire to become an astronomer.

Even at eight years old, I was voraciously reading every astronomy book in the adult section of the library. I memorized planetary data like sport stats on my baseball cards. I subscribed to Sky & Telescope magazine to keep appraised of the latest news in the space program and astronomy news in general.

The following year, for my 9th birthday, I received the best birthday gift of my life—a telescope. I cried. I wanted that more than Ralphie in the movie, A Christmas Story, wanted his Red Ryder BB gun. I used that thing at every opportunity to check out the universe and witness astronomical events no matter the time of day. I was ecstatic. I was gaining astronomical knowledge and I had the tools. I was on my way to becoming an astronomer!

Time passed and I eagerly awaited my time until I could go to high school to learn more about astronomy and take physics sophomore year. I knew physics was required for an astronomer and was already looking at colleges to see where I might like to go to get my degree. Life was good.

Then came sophomore year and physics; followed by the end of my dream. I had always been an “A” student except when it came to physics and geometry. I could not grasp working with vectors in physics nor theorems in geometry. While doing well in all other classes, I barely passed these two. I was defeated. If I could not handle high school level courses related to my dream, how could I expect to excel in those courses in college?

In hindsight, I believe I gave up too early and should have attempted it again in college, but what did I know? I still view being an astronomer as my dream job but don’t get me wrong; my life has turned out pretty darn good. I have a wonderful, healthy family and we are happy and comfortable. I have upgraded my telescope over the years and have maintained my passion for astronomy. Today I am among other things, a husband, father, son, brother, and. . . amateur astronomer.

Don’t know why I wrote all this. Not your typical review or commentary but it was cathartic. Reading this book made all these wonderful memories come flooding back and that’s the impact of the book upon me. So, I suppose I just want to thank America and NASA for all the wonderful things they did in helping shape this former little boy’s life.

Good luck, Mr. Gorsky!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have said it several times before I find anything aviation related to be intriguing. I someday do plan to finish up getting my pilot's license. Thus this is why for fans of aviation you should check this book out. Everyone is familiar with Neil Armstrong but do you know the "real" man in the suit?

Sometimes when you read a book you just know that author or writer is the right person for the job and you could not picture anyone else telling the story with such justice. Well this was the case with this book. Because of Mr. Barbree's career and such good friendship with Mr. Armstrong, he had great knowledge to Mr. Armstrong that one a good friend would know. I did not feel like I was reading a book but more like I was in the room with Mr. Armstrong or chatting with Mr. Barbree. The extra bonus to me was all the old pictures. There were many. Which I thought were great. You know where you pick up a memoir and are looking forward to the pictures but there are only like 6 to 8 pictures and you are like "Where are all the pictures and I feel like I could see these pictures online anywhere". I did not feel like this at all. Again, if you want to learn more about who Mr. Armstrong is than you should pick up a copy of this book before it flies away.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neil Armstrong's name and chief claim to fame as the first man to walk on the moon are (or at least should be) known to most. Beyond that, however, the general public knows little about him, part of which can surely be attributed to his own avoidance of publicity whenever possible. Having read quite a lot about the early days of the US space programme, I was familiar with Armstrong's part in it beyond the moon landing. On the personal side, I learned a few bits and pieces, but felt the book didn't offer as much insight into his character as one might have expected from a biography written by a close friend. As usual with Barbree's books, I picked up some morsels of new information and enjoyed the photos, but didn't care all that much for his too-casual, at times almost sensationalist writing style.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this as First Reads win. The author incorporates quotes from an older Neil seamlessly into events of young Neil's life. Unfortunately, there are a number of grammatical errors. I also found a lot of the technical language hard to follow. Otherwise, this is a well written, very factual book about one of the most important men in our history. It's taking me longer to read than I normally would read a book because I don't usually read biographies, but I definitely recommend this to anyone.

[John M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those who have never ready anything about the space program before, this is a good introduction.

For those who have read other 60s-era astronaut bios or histories, this book is nice to read but not necessary.

If you're looking for a biography of Neil Armstrong, this is probably not the book for you.

Jay Barbree was good friends with Neil Armstrong. I know this because he said so in the book. For someone who is such a good friend, I expected more insight into the man himself. Most of the book is filled with information that is readily available in a number of other books such as Rocket Men: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon, A Man on the Moon, and individual astronaut biographies. I understand the need to provide the overall context of the space program, but I didn't think it was necessary to have in-depth detailed info on the other missions. I wanted to read about Neil Armstrong. When I wanted to know about the Mercury program, I read We Seven: By the Astronauts Themselves. When I want to know more about Apollo 8, I'll read Frank Borman's book.

The book is well-written, and enjoyed it on the level of being a person interested in space exploration. However, I was really looking to learn more about Neil Armstrong from someone who knew him well. Armstrong is known for being a quiet person and was not one to celebrate himself. I wanted to know more about his life, before and after Apollo 11, but instead I got a resume and a few anecdotes here and there. There was a little insight on his relationship with other astronauts, and his ongoing disappointment in the US space program's lack of future manned lunar missions, but it wasn't enough to save the book.

To reiterate, it's well-written, held my interest, and has some great info about the space program as a whole, but I didn't learn much about Neil Armstrong as a person.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as part of GoodReads First Reads giveaway.

That was most excellent. This book is primarily a story about the American and Soviet space programs during the space race in the 60's but it is also biography of Neil Armstrong.

The author talks about the space program at a high and low level. He talks about the rivalry between the United States and the USSR that really drove the race to the moon but he also talks about the on the ground life of the astronauts in the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions. Learning about the drive to be the first to the moon and all of the challenges that were encountered and overcome makes for a truly fascinating read.

There were such things as the Apollo 1 launch pad disaster, Vladimir Komarov's death when his parachute failed, the difficulties encountered in the early EVA's.

But there's also great successes like Buzz Aldrin solving the EVA problem by really studying and solving the physical problems while still on Earth, the first successful docking action between two spacecraft, the success of testing the lunar module and, of course, the moon landing!

The Apollo 11 mission itself takes up about 90 pages out of 350 some pages of reading so there's a lot more information than just the details of that flight.

The tone of the book lends the focus to the missions, the challenges and the accomplishments more than it does to the people involved but I understand that Neil would not have had it any other way.

Also, this book does not get into technical details unless they're necessary to understand the overarching context and then the details are just enough to convey the complexities. This is to the book's benefit because it doesn't get bogged down explaining the fundamental equation of rocketry but still gives you an idea of how difficult this stuff is and how smart the folks at NASA are.

Overall, this is a great book that I'd recommend to anyone with a passing interest in the subject.

[Mysteryfan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a biography. About 40% of the book focuses on the moon landing. Add in Gemini 8 and two spaceflights take up almost 60% of the book. Once the moon landing is over, the rest of Neil Armstrong's life - more than half his lifespan - is dismissed in a bare 50 pages.

That said, I am a complete space nerd. I loved the thorough coverage of the moon landing! Many of the photos were new to me and they were stunning. The stories of Neil, Buzz, and Michael working together were fascinating. The extensive research made for some excellent details.

There should have been more about Neil's background and early life. What made him the stoic he was? More information about his life after the moon would have been appropriate, too, for this to be a biography.

One more thing struck me. There is only one mention of a woman outside the roles of wife and mother. Christa MacAuliffe is mentioned in the shuttle disaster. That's it. This is why Sally Ride is so important to American women and space exploration.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biographical memoir by a person who knew Neil Armstrong. Very readable and very recommended.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received "Neil Armstrong: A Life of Flight" as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

Written by journalist (and close friend of Armstrong) Jay Barbree, A Life of Flight is an account of Neil Armstrong's life and career (with a focus on the latter).

Listed at about 340 pages, the book is probably actually significantly less than that due to the addition of many photographs (a nice touch, I might add). As alluded to above, the book doesn't include much information on Armstrong's early life; rather, it jumps right into his his service as a Navy aviator during the Korean War in the early 1950s, then traces his time in the space program through the 1960s.

Barbree is clearly a good friend of Armstrong, which does affect the book in several ways, both positive and negative. The tone, for better or worse (and I think it was both at different times), was very informal. There's also a lot of technical language about specific air and spacecraft that, as a novice, I was slightly confused by.

Still, it's a lovely tribute to what seemed like an extraordinary man. Neil Armstrong's name is one that inevitably comes up in every history (and science) class, but you never heard much about him beyond that, and Barbree's narrative confirms the depiction of Armstrong as a humble, down-to-early guy despite his extraordinary achievements.

[Rikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an air mechanic in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy, I fell in love with aircraft. At Christmas 1968 when Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders reappeared from the dark side of the moon in the first lunar orbit, I fell in love with space travel. The author covered every manned space flight by the US and knows intimately the life of the first man to step on to the moon. This is his story of a truly remarkable human being. How much more went into the training of the astronauts than I could have imagined and the dedication needed was awesome. Neil's fascination with the universe and man's ability to travel from the Earth was at the core of his dedication and he was saddened when the space programme fizzled out, but remained to the end convinced that man's future lay in space travel.
You don't need to have a background in aeronautics to enjoy this wonderful adventure.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the Neil Armstrong biography we want to read. The author, who has covered the space program for 50 years, knew Armstrong well, and is able to give a close view of the man's character. If you're looking for dirt or deep details of his everyday life, you won't find them here, and who, really would want that. Instead, he covers mostly the career, with enough details about his personal life to make you better understand the man. The main touch points of the life -- Korea, Edwards AFB, the X-15, Gemini and its near disaster, the LTTV vehicle ejection, and finally Apollo 15 -- are all covered in detail, though you might not find a lot new there. Still, it's fun having them all in one unified account, with a careful view of Armstrong. Good reading.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. I would recommend this to anyone who was looking for a biography of Armstrong, or even a general book about the early space program. Barbree's writing style is very casual and fun to read. You can really feel how much he loved his friend in every page. His accuracy may not have been 100%, but there weren't any major errors in the text that I could find. This book really felt like you were having a conversation with the best friend of someone who recently died. There will be tears, laughter, and a newfound respect for the first man to walk on the moon (and all his pilot buddies).

[Cory Embers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for the first time in 6th grade, still very pleased with it today. As someone who loves the space program and what what NASA did in the 60's and 70's, getting to hear from someone in Neil Armstrong's circle about him and his accomplishments still astound me. Hearing of how humble the first person to walk on the moon was is truly inspiring, with many lessons to learn from this space icon. Highly recommend.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first became avidly interested in the U.S. space program when I was a kid in the mid 1970s with early memories of watching coverage of the later Apollo moon landings, and have followed its history since that time, so I am part of the natural audience for this book. That interest in the space program, and in learning more about the famously publicity-shy Armstrong, who died in 2012, is what drew me to this book. If you have that level of interest and want to delve more into some details of the life of Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, then this book may be for you. I would qualify my recommendation in a few ways. For one, if you are looking for a general history of the U.S. manned spaceflight program and the Apollo moon landing program, in particular, then this would not be the best book, since it is naturally centered on Armstrong's experiences. There are a number of books that would be better for that, including Moon Shot, for which Jay Barbree was also a writer, along with astronauts Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton. A Life of Flight seems to presuppose a general knowledge of the U.S. space program, and if you don't have that, you may be missing some of the context in which to place events.

As a biography, A Life of Flight does focus most heavily on the time Armstrong spent as a Gemini and Apollo astronaut. The portion on just his Apollo mission takes up about 150 of the 362 pages, for example. That, of course, is the most renowned and fascinating part of his life, so it deserves such a focus, but there are other parts of his life that are much less examined. The whole 40-year period of Armstrong's life after his Apollo mission is covered in just 50 pages, and much of that portion is actually about general developments in space exploration and not at all specific to Armstrong. I wanted to know more about that period of his life and that's where I thought Mr. Barbree's long close association with Mr. Armstrong could have made this account more elucidating. I also wanted to know more about Armstrong's early experiences of becoming a naval aviator while still a midshipman at Purdue, and then later about making the transition from that role to being a civilian test pilot. That formative period in Armstrong's life of flight is really only skimmed over.

The author, Jay Barbree, describes how he knew Neil Armstrong since the early 1960s when Mr. Armstrong first became an astronaut and Mr. Barbree was at the beginning of his long career as a space program correspondent for NBC. As Barbree states, he and Armstrong had a decades long association and became friends. It's clear Mr. Barbree is writing more as a friend with tremendous respect for Mr. Armstrong and an interest in protecting his legacy rather than as an impartial journalist. Mr. Barbree doesn't hide his close connection with Mr. Armstrong, and I'm not implying there's anything misleading in his account, but his point of view should be kept in mind. Other books on this era of the manned space program offer much more detailed accounts of many aspects. This book does not attempt to do that.

My final comment is on editing of the book. I'm not a huge stickler on grammar, so when I notice things they must be pretty glaring, and in this book there was a noticeably lax approach on using commas. I read a store-bought first edition, not one of the advance editions many Goodreads reviewers had. For a presumably professionally edited book, there were a number times when I stopped in my tracks and re-read a sentence to make sure I got it because of the lack of a comma where one belonged. Mr. Barbree was a broadcast journalist and so, maybe those points of grammar were not his strength, but it seems an editor or proofreader would take note. The book is generally written in a casual, more conversational tone. There is specific jargon scattered throughout, but mostly because of the conversations being quoted, and not because of overly technical descriptions. Somehow, commas became casualties.

None of that changed my appreciation for Neil Armstrong, his accomplishments and place in history. I gained a better understanding of him than I had before and that's what I expect readers will come away with from this book, but that doesn't make it the best account of his life.

[Byron Edgington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we have a biography of the first human being to step onto another celestial body. This bio of Neil Armstrong arrives on the forty-fifth anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon mission, which Armstrong commanded. Barbree was (and is) a correspondent for NBC TV, NBCnews.com and and a co-writer with Armstrong, Deke Slayton and Alan Shepard of the New York Times bestseller Moon Shot. Avoiding the standard cradle to grave timeline, Barbree’s book covers Armstrong’s aviation career, beginning with his posting to Korea, where the young “...rare bird, a midshipman with wings” flew the F-9F Panther from the carrier Essex to engage targets in North Korea. In an incident that foreshadows much about Armstrong’s flying career, one mission found the twenty-one year old pilot fighting to control his aircraft after losing a good portion of a wing. Armstrong wrestled his Panther back over friendly territory, finally ejecting from the plane into a rice paddy. It would not be the last time Neil Armstrong wrestled an aircraft into submission and saved his own hide in the process. As Barbree writes it, Neil Armstrong learned to be the consummate aviator largely by his exposure to the vicissitudes of flight, meeting those challenges and thus learning the poise and self-confidence the lessons provided. That poise served him well, saving his life during the Gemini 8 mission with Dave Scott, when their Gemini capsule tumbled out of control on orbit, and again during a similar scenario while flying the LLTV ‘Flying Bedstead’ moon-lander simulator. Those previous encounters with near disaster gave Armstrong the calm and focus needed to maneuver to a suitable landing spot on the Sea of Tranquility with mere seconds of fuel remaining on July 20th 1969.
As Barbree also explains, those lessons also gave Neil Armstrong a healthy dose of reserve when faced with the fame and media glare following the Apollo 11 mission. Barbree is at his best explaining his subject’s allergy to the blandishments of fame, and the cultural demands of self-promotion. Armstrong shunned the limelight, rejecting any and all efforts to cash in on his Apollo acquired cachet. As the author writes, there would be “…..no Armstrong moon-burgers.” In essence, Neil Armstrong was a modern day Cincinnatus, conquering possibly mankind’s greatest adversary the overwhelming vastness of space, then retiring to a life of obscurity in, where else, Cincinnati Ohio.
Jay Barbree is a writer, but he’s also a journalist and the writing reflects that avocation. It is often terse, scripted and a bit exclamatory for affect, almost headline-ish. “It did!” It follows the inverted pyramid style good journalists often use, and the book provides unique insights to Neil Armstrong’s life unavailable to other writers. As any good journalistic endeavor should, for open minded readers at least, it also debunks certain myths that have arisen concerning its subject. For one example, the still extant, and seemingly indelible despite being idiotic myth that the moon landings were faked. Barbree also puts to rest a long-standing Neil Armstrong myth that has him wishing a certain ‘Mr. Gorsky’ good luck with his sex life as he reenters the LM.
All things considered, Barbree’s book is a great bio of Neil Armstrong, the late commander of humankind’s first ever mission to contact another celestial body. It humanizes a man who found himself at the center of the greatest adventure in human history, yet refused to take personal applause or gain from that effort. In a culture awash with strident self-promotion, we might all learn a lesson from Armstrong’s life, as we wrestle with our own out of control craft.
Byron Edgington, author of The Sky Behind Me: A Memoir of Flying & Life

[J. Else · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won an advanced reader copy from Goodreads. As such I will overlook the large amount of typos and sentences that were incomplete.

The story itself focuses on Neil Armstrong's life during the space race of the 1960s. As someone born in 1978 I never experienced these moments. To read about them with a focus on Neil Armstrong's insight and thoughts was a rare delight. The author clearly knows his stuff, most especially the man who walked on the moon first. I really enjoyed the personal aspect to the many momentous feets accomplished in space travel during this time.

I think some of the details about the spacecrafts and the astronaut jargon could have been further explained. I grew up in the time of the space shuttles, the time of the Challenger disaster, the time of Sally Ride. I wanted to be an astronaut! I love science fiction. But my knowledge base is very different from the Apollo flights. Learning about all the firsts, the learning curves, the successes, and failures was captivating. I loved all the photos. However, in the advanced reader copy I have, everything was black and white. Many photos were hard to make out (like the aurora borealis, the sun rising on the horizon, and other space shots). I will be viewing the book when its released. If the photos are still black and white, my rating will go down.

The storytelling is very well done which weaves between the personal and the scientific. My favorite chapter was a walk on the moon, which will probably be almost everyone's favorite. Seeing the moon through Armstrong's eyes was truly amazing. It would have been nice to include a broader span of Mr Armstrong's life, but I'm sure this was the way he would have wanted it focusing on the space program and those around him. The last couple chapters felt a little rushed but I understand that probably has to do with the lack of NASA activity. I was also left a little disappointed in the last couple pages. I think I would have liked a little more reflection on his life and perhaps his children giving their reflections instead of an email about a tall tale regarding something assumed that Mr Armstrong said. However this book is filled with respect and reverence for a truly remarkable person who didn't seek fame or glory but focused on those around him and those he loved.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Disclosure - I received a copy of this as a First Reads Giveaway.

Right from the introduction I was hooked on this book. I grew up with the space race and moon landing. Having read a great deal about it, I was curious about the man that all of the other astronauts seemed to admire so much. But I knew what a private person he was. The author was there, as a part of the space race and moon landing. He showed a lot of respect for Neil Armstrong's privacy, statements in confidence, and focuses on the truth, rather than shooting for sensationalism. That is what makes this book so good.

As other reviewers have noted, it has a good deal about Apollo and the moon landing apart from Armstrong (in a way). But it helps us to understand him in the greater context. It enables us to appreciate him even more. It helps us to get to know Armstrong as a person, not just a pilot and astronaut. I, also, would have liked to see more about the earlier Armstrong, the pre-NASA man and test pilot. Also, there are snippets about Armstrong's love of gliders and flight in general - it might have been good to learn more about those passions.

This is not a book that reveals dirty secrets, or looks for the bad side - If you want that, look somewhere other than Neil Armstrong and Jay Barbree. Rather, it is a respectful tribute and a behind the scenes peek at a remarkable individual. It helps us to understand why he was chosen to be the first man on the moon.

Also, I do not like the subtitle. Yes, his life was occupied with flight, and there is a lot of flight in the book. But, as we see from the book, flight was what enabled him to excel - it didn't define his life. He defined it by his character, dedication, and hard work. Perhaps the title should have been Neil Armstrong: One of the Best.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like so many, I can recall exactly where I was when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the moon's surface. (And let's not forget Michael Collins, circling above, keeping their ride home safe and ready to swoop down and rescue them should their craft fail to achieve its planned altitude after liftoff from the moon. His potential role is just one of the things that I learned in this book.) Dating myself, I was at a Boy Scout camp, watching on a black & white portable TV screen that one of the counselors brought along. We were outside, being eaten alive by bugs that were attracted to the light of the small screen, and I kept looking from the screen to the moon above. As a long-time science fiction geek, this moment was magic.

This book brings back some of that magic. Jay Barbree, who covered NASA's space program for NBC from it's beginning is as big a fan as I was, and captures that excitement in his words. As a biography, though, I had to give it a B, because he's not only a fan, but became a friend of Armstrong's - and he doesn't hesitate to reveal that. It's often more hagiography than biography at times. I think Barbree goes a little over the top in both his gushing, and inserting himself into the story at times.

Nevertheless, It's still a great read. As the subtitle says, it's a life of flight. we don't learn much about his childhood. It picks up with his days as a pilot in the Korean War, and that's okay.

[Katherine Wacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Neil Armstrong: A Life of Flight, Jay Barbree tells the personal and public story of a private man, beginning with Armstrong’s service in the Korean War. After becoming one of the most talented test pilots in the country, he was selected for the NASA program. Barbree gives a wonderful account of the first man to walk on the moon. Armstrong was perhaps the most famous person on earth at the time, yet few people knew of his fights for survival or of the tragic death of his daughter. A Life of Flight also includes a behind-the-scenes look at the space race with the Russians, the triumphs and tragedies of the Apollo program, and a blow-by-blow account of the moon landing including never-before-seen photos during the mission. A Life of Flight is a fascinating look into a heroic and humble man.

There is some language in the book and the evolutionary approach to creation is evident but, as someone who has been interested in the space program since a child, I loved the book. It gave personal insight into the kind of man Armstrong was. I grew to appreciate the man much more for who he was than what he did. I highly recommend Neil Armstrong: A Life of Flight. This American hero’s story needs and deserves to be told.


I was given a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review

[Josh Navarro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone knows his name, but not his full story. He was a humble veteran, father and husband that cared more for humanity than himself. The space journalist Jay Barbree appears to be the best person to cover his life and career, as someone so close to him over the years. I enjoyed learning about his beginnings in flight as a fighter pilot in the Korean War, particularly resonating with me because of my grandfathers involvement in the conflict. After his service in the war, a lot of the book covered familiar events, the birth of NASA and our first flights into space. His Gemini mission made the first docking in space, he of course landed on the moon, and he served an integral role in bringing everyone together (although astronaut retired) amidst tragedy in the Challenger mission and later Columbia. Armstrong’s career must have been very consuming, making things hard for family time, but clearly he worked towards a fulfilling purpose. I always looked up to him as an example of “success” and human achievement, but in reality, his soft spoken, humble self is I think what sticks out the most in this global hero.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this ARC for free through the Goodreads First Readers program.

I have been a space geek since my early teens, focusing mainly on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo era. Knowing that Neil Armstrong tended to stay out of the public eye, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this definitive biography. And I was not disappointed. I flew through the pages in a sort of wide-eyed wonder, so thrilled that I couldn't help but quote from the book to anyone in the room.

As some other reviewers have mentioned, this biography doesn't cover Neil's early life, outside of a few references to his childhood and family. While you might feel as if you are missing out on some quintessential data, the truth is, it's not necessary. Neil Armstrong wasn't this larger-than-life figure like some other heroes; he knew his job and he performed his duties to the best of his abilities. The focus of this biography, strangely but somehow fittingly, is not Neil, but the space program. He just happened to fit into it.

If it were possible to give this book more than five stars, I would. :)

[Read Ng · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a GoodReads giveaway.

Growing up, the race to the moon was such a memorable series of accomplishments to me as a young boy. The excitement and the danger all astronauts went through was astounding. I so vividly recall looking up at the moon that summer evening and thinking of Neil Armstrong landing on the moon and later watching him take that first step.

This book reads very quickly. It provides great insight into a very private hero. There is a great blend of the entire space program leading to the moon landing, with some glimpse of his views of the space program in the years after the moon landings. It is very well paced, with plenty of photos. It does not answer all questions we have about Armstrong, but a certain degree of mystery is only appropriate for such a private individual. I really enjoyed reading this book.

This book and "The Astronaut Wives Club" go very well together. Read Armstrong first, then the Wives Club.

Have a GoodReads.

[CD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the finest biography that has or will be written about Neil Armstrong. The author having known him, being a very gifted writer and researcher/journalist makes this book something special.

Armstrong was notoriously unknowable. Jay Barbree knew him and translates more to the public than has been seen previously. Lots more.

Barbree is in his own field almost as much of a legend and the astronauts he covered during the period from the first man in space to the end of the Shuttle era. He's the only such person that exists with those credentials and there won't be any more. That is a unique perspective that adds to this book in a way that is on first or second reading not noticeable other than the overall quality.

Armstrong is a true hero of 20th century and of humanity. This book delivers to public finally a bio worthy of his accomplishments.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An authorized biography of the first man to step onto the surface of the moon.

Although he shied away from publicity, Neil Armstrong discussed his lifelong love of flying with his friend, NBC New Space Correspondent Jay Barbree. Writing about Neil’s three passions . . . flight, family, friends . . . the author spins a tale of flight from the days of Armstrong’s Korean War battle missions to the daring flights in the experimental X-15 rocket plane to the earth-orbiting Gemini space capsule to the magnificent desolation of the lunar surface. Pictures, many of which may be new to readers, are a perfect accompaniment to the story of the life of a man who, despite his reluctance to step into the spotlight, holds a singular place in the history of mankind.

Highly recommended.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is July 20, 2014. I just finished a fascinating biography of the first man to step on the moon, Neil Armstrong, on the 45th anniversary of that historic event. This biography was engaging and kept my interest throughout most of the book, and included glimpses into the lives of others involved in the history of flight and the space program, from the Gemini capsules to the space shuttles. Additionally, this biography showed snippets of the successes and failures of the Russian/Soviet space program alongside that of the US space program. Overall, a great biography of a down to earth pilot and astronaut, Neil Armnstrong.

This was a First Reads free book via Goodreads.

[Russell Goulet · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is hard to believe that it has been 45 years since Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. Jay Barbree brings back those memories and adds tons of valuable information in his book Neil Armstrong: A Life of Flight. The book provides an insider's view of the U.S. space program and all that Armstrong brought to it. Reading Armstrong's take on the events and happenings was quite interesting. Barbree brings a different perspective to all of the information and provides facts and details in a very easy to read way. I received this book through the Goodreads First Read program and I am very glad to have added this book to my collection.

[A.M. Goetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a high-intensity recap of America's space program and the many roles that Neil Armstrong played in it. I enjoyed reading about the quiet character of a man who achieved so much, starting with so little. I was five years old when the last moon mission took place, and though I recognized the names of the astronauts and understood the giant leaps America took in the sixties and seventies, I had no idea what went on behind the scenes. This book tells it all in riveting detail. If you're interested in an insider's perspective of the race for space, read this book.

[Katarina · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, I didn't finish the book.

I was so excited to pick up this book and read about Neil Armstrong, a great man and hero to many. Written by a "close friend", I expected to get the know the man.

The writing style (language, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure) is not very good. This reads less like a biography and more like a tell all (with the author trying to convince us, or maybe even himself, that Neil was his BFF).