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First Man (Abridged): The Life of Neil A. Armstrong Audiobook
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(3.03) - 438 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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.
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"This was a great biography. I feel like I really know Neil Armstrong now. He has had a really exciting life. I can't imagine how much his life changed after he walked on the moon. I would hate to be a worldwide celebrity. It was hard for him to have any privacy for the rest of his life. Good Read!"
— Tracy (4 out of 5 stars)
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“First Man contributes a host of fascinating new insights into the nature of the spacefaring enterprise itself. A book for all time.”
— Walter Cronkite -
“A fine authorized biography brimming with groundbreaking research, fresh anecdotes and fair-minded analysis.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“To understand Armstrong on his own terms is to see a large truth of our time…A compelling and nuanced portrait of the astronaut.”
— Chicago Tribune
First Man Listener Reviews
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" A rather long read thats eems dry and dull for the most part. Much of it isn't new information and that hurts the book sigfnicantly. But it does offer some new insights into Neil after Apollo 11 and his feelings baout some of the controversies and myths that have come up around him since it, which makes for a n intreting finals ection of the book. Yet while it is intresting at times, this still takes some effort to get through "
— Matthew, 2/19/2014 -
" A comprehensive overview of the first human being to set foot on another word, in which we discover a brilliant and focused individual who saw his destiny as just another day at the office. "
— Thomas, 2/14/2014 -
" Found this book very difficult to get into. Lots of details about Neil Armstrong's career, but very little about what makes him tick as a person. "
— Kirsty, 2/14/2014 -
" A little long & dreary but given history well worth the effort. "
— Karen, 2/7/2014 -
" A tough read - not sure whether a lot of this is really fact. The man is very reclusive. "
— Pru, 2/3/2014 -
" Tons of info. Just too much of it!!! Gave up on page 405 when I ran out of library renewals. "
— Karen, 1/27/2014 -
" Tremendous detail offered about Armstrong's life and career that was previously unavailable because of his pseudo reclusivity. "
— Lee, 1/15/2014 -
" Slow but insightful start. Picks up speed once the space program starts. "
— Billy, 12/31/2013 -
" This is Armstrong's "official" biography. It is an comprehensive detailing of Armstrong's life that's probably best read by those with a keen interest. As others have pointed out, the first parts of the book are a chore (read: TEDIOUS), but it gets more interesting as it goes along. "
— Mike, 8/5/2012 -
" A little too detailed, but a very good biography of an inspiring man. "
— TJ, 1/29/2012 -
" Yes, I'm a nerd. I found the story well-told very interesting. "
— Brent, 1/13/2012 -
" Excellent. I wish I hadn't waited so long to read this book. "
— Claudette, 8/8/2011 -
" A very in depth bio of Neil from childhood to old age. "
— Clay, 1/9/2010 -
" I enjoyed this book...once I got past his time as a test pilot & into the NASA time period of his life & preparing for the moon. I'm a sucker for any books that have to do with the Gemini & Apollo periods of space exploration & those astronauts, so I really enjoyed that. "
— Elizabeth, 9/4/2008 -
" If you've ever wondered why Neil Armstrong was the one they picked to be the first on the moon, this book will spell it out, and you will agree. "
— Tim, 2/15/2008 -
" This is a very thorough, very detailed biography. Many parts were too detailed for my personal taste but I now know a lot about Neil Armstrong. "
— Christina, 4/25/2007 -
" An excellent bio of someone not known to give up much info. Absolutely fascinating and in-depth. "
— John, 1/7/2006
About James R. Hansen
James R. Hansen is a professor at Auburn University in Alabama and an acclaimed author. An expert in the history of science and technology, he has written books and articles covering a wide variety of topics ranging from the early days of aviation, nuclear fusion, and moon landings, to environmental concerns. His biography of Neil Armstrong, First Man, made the New York Times bestseller list and garnered many awards.
About Boyd Gaines
Boyd Gaines is an Earphones Award–winning narrator and an actor whose many film credits include Second Best, I’m Not Rappaport, Heartbreak Ridge, Fame, and Porky’s. He’s won two Tony Awards for performances in the The Heidi Chronicles and the musical She Loves Me. On television he has appeared in A Woman Called Jackie, A Son’s Promise, and in the popular series One Day at a Time.