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Sky Rivals
During the Golden Age of Aviation of the 1920s and 1930s, two great pilots stood above the rest: one-eyed Oklahoma farm boy Wiley Post, shy and awkward on the ground but a daredevil in the sky; and Jimmie Mattern, a handsome, charismatic Hollywood stunt pilot from Texas. The whole world followed their exploits through screaming newspaper headlines as they flew in planes made of little more than wood, canvas, and bailing wire, competing to be the first solo flier to circumnavigate the earth. Only one would succeed, though the other would become more famous than he could have ever imagined. And both would change the face of aviation forever.
212 pages, Paperback
Published February 5, 2016
3 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Adam L. Penenberg
12 books29 followersAdam L. Penenberg is a journalism professor at New York University who has written for Fast Company, Forbes, the New York Times, The Washington Post, Wired, Slate, Playboy, and the Economist. A former senior editor at Forbes and a reporter for Forbes.com, Penenberg garnered national attention in 1998 for unmasking serial fabricator Stephen Glass of the New Republic. Penenberg’s story was a watershed for online investigative journalism and portrayed in the film Shattered Glass (Steve Zahn plays Penenberg).
Penenberg has publishedseveral books that have been optioned for the movies and serialized in the New York Times Magazine, Wired UK, and the Financial Times , and won a Deadline Club Award for feature reporting for his Fast Company story “Revenge of the Nerd,” which looked at the future of moviemaking. He hasappeared on NBC’s The Today Show as well as on CNN and all the major news networks,and been quoted about media and technology in the Washington Post, the Christian Science Monitor, USA Today, Wired News, Ad Age, Marketwatch, Politico.
Penenberg has publishedseveral books that have been optioned for the movies and serialized in the New York Times Magazine, Wired UK, and the Financial Times , and won a Deadline Club Award for feature reporting for his Fast Company story “Revenge of the Nerd,” which looked at the future of moviemaking. He hasappeared on NBC’s The Today Show as well as on CNN and all the major news networks,and been quoted about media and technology in the Washington Post, the Christian Science Monitor, USA Today, Wired News, Ad Age, Marketwatch, Politico.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 29, 2016
“The aviator, as nothing else, typifies the modern demand for annihilation of time and space. It is not enough that the schedule of the express train be cut in two; it must be halved and halved again… Speed, more speed is required, and each new advance marks the approach to the discard of the older and slower conveyances. It is bootless to inveigh against the airplane. It is here to stay, and its use will expand and swiftness increase.” -- Washington Post editorial, June 5, 1933
The Golden Age of Aviation! The bedtime stories of my childhood, my youth, and even beyond those years. Even just a few years before his death, my father would regale my friends, classrooms, organizations with his stories of his early years of flying. How he was just a young boy still in “short pants” when he saw his first plane fly overhead and decided that was what he wanted to do when he grew up. More stories than I can recall or would dare to try and recreate. Giant dreams for a young boy growing up in West Virginia in the 1920s and 30s, but before he was much older he was earning his flying time by washing and polishing planes, helping around the airstrip in a nearby town.
Wiley Post and Jimmie Mattern, along with Orville and Wilbur Wright, Charles Lindburgh, along with many others, were his gods.
The press enhanced his determination with every flight-related newspaper hitting the streets; these record-setting flights were what the world was waiting to hear about. These men were international celebrities!
This account of the friendly rivalry between Jimmie Mattern and Wiley Post was wonderfully fascinating most of the time. Leading up to the middle of the book there’s an account of the Wright Brothers accomplishments, and others before then, leading to this place and time in history of aviation. This is really a very entertaining and at times thrilling account of the race to be the first around the world in 1933. Some notable people mentioned in this non-fictional account include a very young Buzz Aldrin, Juan Trippe, Howard Hughes, and Will Rogers. Hughes and Will Rogers, in particular, add even more colourful drama to this true story.
Libby Frederick’s “Horses Don’t Fly” and David McCullough’s “The Wright Brothers” are similar books I’ve read in the past year. “Sky Rivals” reads a bit like a combination of the two. But you don’t have to be an aviation buff or even a history buff to appreciate and love these stories of the daring escapades these two embarked on.
Recommended.
Pub Date: 17 Aug 2016
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Wayzgoose Press, NetGalley and author Adam Penenberg for reading and review.
The Golden Age of Aviation! The bedtime stories of my childhood, my youth, and even beyond those years. Even just a few years before his death, my father would regale my friends, classrooms, organizations with his stories of his early years of flying. How he was just a young boy still in “short pants” when he saw his first plane fly overhead and decided that was what he wanted to do when he grew up. More stories than I can recall or would dare to try and recreate. Giant dreams for a young boy growing up in West Virginia in the 1920s and 30s, but before he was much older he was earning his flying time by washing and polishing planes, helping around the airstrip in a nearby town.
Wiley Post and Jimmie Mattern, along with Orville and Wilbur Wright, Charles Lindburgh, along with many others, were his gods.
The press enhanced his determination with every flight-related newspaper hitting the streets; these record-setting flights were what the world was waiting to hear about. These men were international celebrities!
This account of the friendly rivalry between Jimmie Mattern and Wiley Post was wonderfully fascinating most of the time. Leading up to the middle of the book there’s an account of the Wright Brothers accomplishments, and others before then, leading to this place and time in history of aviation. This is really a very entertaining and at times thrilling account of the race to be the first around the world in 1933. Some notable people mentioned in this non-fictional account include a very young Buzz Aldrin, Juan Trippe, Howard Hughes, and Will Rogers. Hughes and Will Rogers, in particular, add even more colourful drama to this true story.
Libby Frederick’s “Horses Don’t Fly” and David McCullough’s “The Wright Brothers” are similar books I’ve read in the past year. “Sky Rivals” reads a bit like a combination of the two. But you don’t have to be an aviation buff or even a history buff to appreciate and love these stories of the daring escapades these two embarked on.
Recommended.
Pub Date: 17 Aug 2016
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Wayzgoose Press, NetGalley and author Adam Penenberg for reading and review.
September 6, 2016
Such a good book filled with the dangers, adventures and events of these two great pilots. I enjoyed this book so much and was so happy to receive this book from NetGalley in exchange for this unbiased review. The history of the planes, the story of the pilots and the accounts of their flights was so interesting.
There were fascinating facts that made the book even more exciting for me. The story was engaging and told in language that allowed me to understand the mechanics and just appreciate their dangerous and special role in the history of aviation.
There were fascinating facts that made the book even more exciting for me. The story was engaging and told in language that allowed me to understand the mechanics and just appreciate their dangerous and special role in the history of aviation.
September 11, 2016
This is a true story of two now forgotten aviation pioneers, Wliey Post and Jimmie Mattern. They were rivals to be the first to circumnavigate the earth flying solo. Wiley Post was also the first to circumnavigate the globe in a 2 person plane, with his navigator, Harold Gatty, an Australian man.
The author opens in 1931 with Post and Gatty about to land at Roosevelt Field on Long Island, NY. When they land they will be the first to circumnavigate the earth in a 2 person plane.
The author gives background information on the development of flight with a chapter explaining how the Wright brothers built a plane that could fly. He then moves on to how Mattern and Post became pilots and the incredible risks that they took in the early days of aviation. Some of the people in this book include Buzz Aldrin, the astronaut, Juan Trippe, Pan Am owner and Will Rogers. You'll have to read the book to see how they are involved.
If you enjoy reading about aviation pioneers and how they solved sometimes almost insurmountable problems, i.e., crashing in Siberia, flying blind through fog without instruments, then this book is for you. I rate it a solid 4 stars.
One quote from a New York Times article about aviation enthusiasm in the US: "It was if messengers had come out of the skies to the earth dwellers with the promise of greater victories..."
Thanks to NetGalley, Wayzgoose Press and the author for sending me this ebook in return for an honest review.
The author opens in 1931 with Post and Gatty about to land at Roosevelt Field on Long Island, NY. When they land they will be the first to circumnavigate the earth in a 2 person plane.
The author gives background information on the development of flight with a chapter explaining how the Wright brothers built a plane that could fly. He then moves on to how Mattern and Post became pilots and the incredible risks that they took in the early days of aviation. Some of the people in this book include Buzz Aldrin, the astronaut, Juan Trippe, Pan Am owner and Will Rogers. You'll have to read the book to see how they are involved.
If you enjoy reading about aviation pioneers and how they solved sometimes almost insurmountable problems, i.e., crashing in Siberia, flying blind through fog without instruments, then this book is for you. I rate it a solid 4 stars.
One quote from a New York Times article about aviation enthusiasm in the US: "It was if messengers had come out of the skies to the earth dwellers with the promise of greater victories..."
Thanks to NetGalley, Wayzgoose Press and the author for sending me this ebook in return for an honest review.
September 3, 2016
Get ready to loop the loop and fly sky high in this enthralling story of the race to be the first pilot to circumnavigate the world. Events are related in an easy to get lost in manner, making this a real page turner, packed with information about the people and events. The two main stars of this historic race are Wiley Post and Jimmy Mattern, both of whom are very colourful characters in their own rights and they are brought back to life in the pages of this book.
This is not a dry, fact filled book, it is one which shares the background information in an engaging manner, keeping the reader wanting to learn more about what happens next. The author’s interest and intrigue is apparent throughout the book and his writing style encourages readers to share his love for the characters and events involved in these historic events. I don’t often read non-fiction novels like this but this is certainly one I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
I was gifted a copy of this book by Wayzgoose Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is not a dry, fact filled book, it is one which shares the background information in an engaging manner, keeping the reader wanting to learn more about what happens next. The author’s interest and intrigue is apparent throughout the book and his writing style encourages readers to share his love for the characters and events involved in these historic events. I don’t often read non-fiction novels like this but this is certainly one I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
I was gifted a copy of this book by Wayzgoose Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2016
"Sky Rivals" Soars!
I thoroughly enjoyed this nonfiction book about aviation. While I am not generally interested in this subject, I found myself completely swept up in the drama of this narrative. "Sky Rivals" focuses on two lesser known aviators, Wiley Post and Jimmie Mattern, as both men courageously attempt to break records and push the boundaries for what is humanly possible. Despite the fact that this book is nonfiction, I had no idea what was going to happen next. I not only learned a great deal, but I was inspired by the determination and bravery that both men possessed. I highly recommend this book, which deserves far more attention and praise.
I thoroughly enjoyed this nonfiction book about aviation. While I am not generally interested in this subject, I found myself completely swept up in the drama of this narrative. "Sky Rivals" focuses on two lesser known aviators, Wiley Post and Jimmie Mattern, as both men courageously attempt to break records and push the boundaries for what is humanly possible. Despite the fact that this book is nonfiction, I had no idea what was going to happen next. I not only learned a great deal, but I was inspired by the determination and bravery that both men possessed. I highly recommend this book, which deserves far more attention and praise.
January 30, 2018
I am not a big fan of non-fiction, but am trying to read more. This book was offered to me to read by the author through Netgalley so I thought I would give it a try. This was not a long book, but it was filled with a lot of information about two now forgotten aviation pioneers, Wiley Post and Jimmie Mattern. They were rivals racing to be the first person to fly around the world solo. I had no knowledge of these men or what they had done. The book begins with Wiley Post and Harold Gatty landing at Roosevelt Field being the first around the world flight. From there the stories of others involved in aviation are told and the race to solo around the world is presented. There were some people involved in this race around the world that I was not aware of such as Will Rogers. The story was engaging and told in language that allowed me to understand the issues that were presented, especially when planes crashed and had to be repaired on the fly. If you enjoy reading about aviation pioneers and how they solved sometimes almost insurmountable problems, such as crashing in Siberia, flying blind through fog without instruments, then you will enjoy this book. There are some great illustrations at the end showing many of the people in the book with their planes.
June 12, 2016
This book will take your breath away! There are so many thrills that reading this story is like riding a roller-coaster. Having been born into a flying family, I have always admired the pioneers of aviation and the risks they would take just to see if it could be done. The two rival pilots in this story, Wiley Post and Jimmie Mattern, were the best of their day. During this Golden Age of Aviation, pilots were competitive but also willing to help each other out. Jimmie and Wiley were determined to beat each other at circumnavigating the world, but only one can be the winner. This is their story.
Adam Penenberg has done a fabulous job of telling this story. You will be right there in the cockpit with these guys, and it’s a thrill. These two were flying around the world before there were instruments to tell you where you were. They get lost and found and lost again, and they have the whole world waiting to see if they will be heard from again. Sometimes they go days without contact, living on chewing gum and tomato juice. And Wiley is doing it with just one eye. I think everybody should read this book but it will be especially appealing to aviation history buffs or lovers of thrilling stories.
Adam Penenberg has done a fabulous job of telling this story. You will be right there in the cockpit with these guys, and it’s a thrill. These two were flying around the world before there were instruments to tell you where you were. They get lost and found and lost again, and they have the whole world waiting to see if they will be heard from again. Sometimes they go days without contact, living on chewing gum and tomato juice. And Wiley is doing it with just one eye. I think everybody should read this book but it will be especially appealing to aviation history buffs or lovers of thrilling stories.
June 27, 2016
The story of Wiley Post and Jimmie Mattern is very engaging, and is told with great admiration and enthusiasm by Adam Pennenberg. These men flew during an era when aviators were national and world celebrities because of their daring and accomplishments—a real-life mix of courage and crazy! I really enjoyed learning more about these two ordinary men who attempted the extra-ordinary. Their rivalry to be the first man to fly solo around the world was not bitter, but rather one of affection and camaraderie. Each faced unexpected obstacles, some dire. Yet each man's determination to pursue his goal yielded success in different ways.
I did have issue with a few technical items. The author goes off on periodic tangents that are interesting, but tend to slow down the real narrative. Because of this jumping around, he also, unfortunately, repeats anecdotes, key phrases, and at one point, even a paragraph in two places within the same chapter. If you can overlook these literary weaknesses, you can still thoroughly enjoy the story--and I did!
I did have issue with a few technical items. The author goes off on periodic tangents that are interesting, but tend to slow down the real narrative. Because of this jumping around, he also, unfortunately, repeats anecdotes, key phrases, and at one point, even a paragraph in two places within the same chapter. If you can overlook these literary weaknesses, you can still thoroughly enjoy the story--and I did!
May 1, 2016
A wonderful account of the epic race around the world between Wiley Post and Jimmie Mattern in 1933, the peak of the Golden Age of Flying. Penenberg describes in vivid detail the struggle of two aviation pioneers trying to overcome bad weather, poor equipment and difficult circumstances as they attempt to become the first to fly solo around the globe. Riveting and suspenseful, this book takes readers into the cockpit of these primitive airplanes as two reckless thrill-seekers push themselves physically and emotionally to the limits of endurance in their attempt to become a part of history. Now mostly forgotten, this incredible race was followed by the media for weeks while millions of people worldwide held their collective breaths in anticipation of record-setting accomplishment. Great read!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews