First Man

The Life of Neil A. Armstrong

By: James R. Hansen

Narrated by: Boyd Gaines

Now 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 fifty 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 seventy-eight 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-fifty 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.©2005 James R. Hansen; (P)2005 Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong

A must read. Learn about the most famous person alive, Neil Armstrong the first man to walk on the Moon. A very enjoyable book. If you are a space fan, this book will top your reading list for many years to come.

Neil Armstrong Accomplishments

If you are fan of the early NASA space program you are likely to enjoy this book. This was an excellent book about Neil Armstrong's background and accomplishments, starting from his childhood. Perhaps due to his quiet nature, there is not much about the Neil Armstrong the person. The book focuses more on the things he did. From his early love of flying, the Gemini space program and of course, the Apollo space program. There are many interesting facts and escriptions of the space flights that were new to me. Especially about the training for Apollo 13 and the details of their flight and his relationships with his Apollo 13 crew mates. It was sad to see that NASA did a poor job of rewarding the astronauts for their heroic efforts so it was good to know that Armstrong is now living a very happy civilian life. I'm not sure in today's media centric society if someone like Armstrong would be picked today - but after reading this book it was clear he was the right man to accomplish the task.

Intelligent use of the aural media.

What made the experience of listening to First Man the most enjoyable?

The use of actual audio from the period. Just enough to add to the story, but not so much that took from the book.

A well written account of a riveting story

Its like being there again.
Very interesting and well written.
I had no trouble staying glued to the story.

Story is kept on point

This is the kind of book that could get bogged down in details and jargon - gladly, it does not. The story remains interesting and at the right level: peppered with an occasional audio track from actual space events as well as insights that lead us to understand Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins as men with ability, ambition and families.