The Hindenburg

by Michael Macdonald Mooney

Vintage movie tie-in paperback

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Aviation, World History, War, Historical, Technology

277 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading this book I knew the following about the Hindenburg: Airship that caught on fire, crashed, everyone died (so I thought), all caught on film, happened long enough ago that it was in black and white.

I learned a lot from the book, for example, that there were a lot of survivors. Watching the video of the disaster, this is shocking because it all happens so fast. From the explosion in the air to a crushed planes on the ground is just over 30 seconds.

There is some interesting historical perspective on the relationships between the US/Europe/WWI/WWII, points I hadn't really heard about previously. The book was interesting, but slow- definitely not a page turner until the very end. They author determines that a bomb was placed on the ship, but I think that's just one of many theories of what caused the explosion.

[Kallen Kentner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this book non-fiction or historical fiction?
That was the question I had as soon as I finished this book.

My conclusion is that it is both. The author did a lot of research, including primary research to garner information about the Hindenburg disaster.

However, he presents a single plausible reason for the disaster, mildly dramatized for the book. Despite it being a plausible reason, it is not determined to be the true cause and since no other alternatives are presented, I would say is the historical fiction section.

In places, the book shows its age, but it was a very interesting read with a fascinating detailed history on the beginnings of airships and rigid structure Zeppelins.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could have done without all the 'the sun didn't care what year it was' stuff, the NAZI AIRSHIP'S LAST FLIGHT strapline (the author makes it very clear that the Hindenburg was anything but) and the way the Second World War is skipped through as a slightly unfortunate thing that happened. The 1970s, there. However, it's a fascinating history of the Zeppelin, and it's hard not to be moved by its end, especially when we've got to know every passenger and crew member.

Incidentally, while reading the Twitter thread on the Hindenburg that inspired me to bring this to the top of the To Read pile, I stumbled across a commentator who refused to believe that airships were capable of crossing the Atlantic, which is a reasonably harmless delusion I guess.

[David Carniglia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange book; almost like two distinct books.The first part, dealing with the origin and history of lighter-than-air-craft travel (as well as comparisons to heavier-than-air-craft) is highly-interesting and informative; but the author's account of the Hindenburg's tragic final journey is pretty much historical fiction.

Why the author would lump all of his research into what is, in effect, a long prelude to the fiery denouement in May of 1937, seems a worthwhile question. Unfortunately, there's a few generations of the public that have bought the author's sabotage theory of the tragedy (enhanced by the George C. Scott character in the 1975 movie version), when the obvious explanation remains behind the veil of more dramatic conjectures.

Although the book's well-written, and a nice read, I can't help but think how much better it would be had the sabotage theory, which had plenty of plausibilty behind it, was jettisoned, so to speak, for a discussion of the flammable interplay of the hydrogen gas with the chemical coating on the airship's fabric surface. This rather mundane--but, also pun-friendly, explosive explanation--remains the most logical.

Misguided by the lack of attribution as we are, the reader is left to wonder which parts of which conversations are invented, and, further, which characters are authentic and which are imaginary. The result is that we end up knowing a lot about zeppelins, and very little about the cause of the fiery death of the Hindenburg, along with a great number of its passengers and crew.

At any rate, for technical and background information, this is a valuable book; for anything else, it's a leap in the dark

[Willis · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the author claims to have used original sources to recreate the last voyage of the Hindenburg, the level of detail and written conversations is such that it seems that the author is taking liberties to embellish the story. He claims that the explosion was the result of sabotage by one of the crew members. The cause of the explosion is quite controversial and there is not clear evidence for the true cause. It that it was interesting to learn about the background situation under which the Hindenburg was flying to the US, shortly before WWII, but did not like the author's journalistic liberties.

[KennyO · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two aviation events of 1937 overshadow all others of the 1930s: the Hindenburg disaster at Lakehurst, NJ and the disappearance of Amelia Earhart in the Pacific Ocean. Both cases are rife with speculation in the aftermath as to their causes. This book, originally published in 1972, took a modern look (i.e. 35 years after the event) at the evidence of the Hindenburg crash/burn. That there is a lot of good investigation of the evidence, is clear. However, the author engages in what seems to me speculation, if not embellishment, about the passenger's and crew's doings in the course of the flight.

If you're looking for more information about the Hindenburg disaster, this'll do well. If you think it offers the definitive solution, just move along. It's a worthwhile, if slightly dated, read but it's by no means the last word on the subject.

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written as non-fiction but feels historical fiction at times based on the level of detail put into events and conversations. Nice insight into the history of Zeppelins and airships, operations, passenger runs, etc. At times I felt the author went off on tangents, elaborating on things and events I didn't feel were connected to the story line.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hindenburg has some thrills but it is long on postulating and theories. I understand it is the basis of the film but it reads like a script at times. There are colorful characters and some depth to the many background stories. But is the conspiracy theories that form the meat of the book. Not bad but it is flat at times.

[Matthew Smonskey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one meanders about telling dry anecdotes about the passenger and crew rather than focusing on the event and aftermath. The sabotage angle is strongly suggested, but with no evidence. There's a clear feeling the author added tremendous amounts of speculation, and passed it as fact.

[Pascal Blanquer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read
What a story
Interesting inside story

[Stefan Niekerk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping and terrifying

[Krista McFerren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was book was a thrift store surprise... :) Author Mooney sure packed a lot in this small book!

The reader is provided a history of: air flight; early pre-war tensions with Germany and the world, with Germans and their country, with Germans and each other. The backstory of many of the passengers is laid out as well.

Considered nonfiction, but the cause of the accident was still a mystery at the time of it's 1972 publication (and subsequent 1975 movie based on the book), so Mooney went with the popular hypothesized cause. Recently a stronger, proven probable cause is suspected (watched a Nova show on it) - but no spoilers here! ;)

Embarrassed to admit, but I thought the Hindenburg was a 'Titanic-like story', a one-and-done if you will. NOT TRUE! It had made many successful passenger flights in the previous year (1936). It was the 'ocean liner of the skies'. I can only imagine what a lovely experience it must have been floating over the Atlantic and heights visible from the ground - so smooth and quiet. And HUGE!!!

I so appreciated the accidental history lesson given as Mooney merely described the actual events, meetings, political conversations - without any indication of foreshadowing the future outcome. As if peeking in on prehistory, it's always the case that the population living in 'the time' did not know the Nazi end-game.

Made me wonder... What if history text books were written that way? As if the future were not known - instead of giving dates, facts, and events in a deterministic way. To see 'history' as snippets of 'presents'.

Needless to say - well worth the read IMHO!

[PSXtreme · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was well written and VERY informative. The author definitely did his homework (the history of the dirigible is EXTENSIVE), however the conclusion to the book (which I WON'T reveal) had me scratching my head. I'm not really sure how he came up with it, since most of his conclusion was supposition and I didn't see any hard evidence to push my opinion either way. The author does reference his "lack of footnotes" in the acknowledgements at the end of the piece for sake of continuity and also mentions that he purposely twisted a fact here or there to protect identities. Furthermore, when conflicting verbal 1st-hand accounts differed, he also acknowledged that he picked the best one, in his opinion, that was correct. I did appreciate the Slaughterhouse Five reference near the end.

All in all, a decent read...just don't rely on this being your ONLY education on the subject.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book presenting a very plausible theory about how and why the Hindenburg exploded and crashed over Lakehurst, NJ on May 6th, 1937.

[Cws]

363.1

[Abel Caine fiji · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic near real story of a disaster of disasters stopping balloon travel until 2013.