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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This collection of short essays written ostensibly by the 'Original Seven' NASA astronauts originated in articles in LIFE magazine published at the time of their pioneering Mercury flights. As you'd expect this early in the space race, this book from 1962 is relentlessly upbeat and contains some rather corny and sanitised insights into the domestic and personal virtues of our seven heroes, but it also contains surprisingly large amounts of fascinating and well-explained technical detail about the Mercury spacecraft themselves and the human experience of flying them into space, from Al Shepard and Gus Grissom aboard Redstone rockets through John Glenn and Scott Carpenter aboard their Atlas boosters. In fact, they provide much more thorough and comprehending real-time accounts of their training and flights in these sub-orbital and orbital missions than many later books written with the luxury of hindsight and cynicism, from Tom Wolfe's 'The Right Stuff' onwards. The LIFE journalists really seemed to have done their homework, even if they polished up the god-fearing, family-man images of the astronauts themselves a little too brightly. The sections on the Original Seven's early careers and flight experiences seem to have been a major source for material since recycled endlessly, and not always accurately, in later books, but many of the original stories and observations here were new to me. There's an authenticity and simplicity about these accounts that's quite refreshing, although you have to read between the lines (or read the later books)to guess at the tensions between the seven astronauts and their relationships to the flight controllers and NASA management. Read Christopher Kraft's book for the flight controller's perspective. Curiously, the back cover photo is of a later Gemini mission, not a Mercury flight.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
13 reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
The last solo space heroes
29 Jan 2010
Format:Paperback
`We Seven' is a period piece. It was first published in 1962 and has been relatively hard to find for several years except as a used book. My one and only complaint about this reissue is that there is no new introduction - it is presented simply as it was published, which for some might be confusing; i.e. writing about the seven astronauts as if they were all still alive. There is an introduction by 'Life' and some black and white photographs and a detailed index.
What it does show is all the hope and naiveté of the time and the men involved, the mind set of the military and NASA then and all the hope and pride that went with it. It is indeed interesting to read again or for the first time. There is much emphasis on John Glenn, he seems to give longer and more detailed interviews. That is also what is fascinating about this account, it is the astronaut's words themselves; although one should be aware if you cannot tell that these are the public interviews. There is none of the gossip of private lives or complaints of operational conditions. Even the stories of failures, Gus Grissom's loss of his space capsule is dealt with as a disappointing accident as it was presented at the time: "at least we did not hide information like the Russians did concerning their space program".
Each of the seven tell of how they were chosen, how they worked together and were a team that brought America into space. These men, both the astronauts themselves and the NASA technicians that launched them are passing out of our lives. Only two of the original seven are left John Glenn and Scott Carpenter.
There are many books on the astronauts, many wrote their own individual stories, but this stands out as a singularity, one that was written in the pride of a moment, before Gemini, before Apollo; before the tragic fire that took Gus Grissom, Chaffe and White's life and before the destruction of two space shuttles that made many question NASA and the space program. The stories of the last solo space heroes' time of triumph still deserves to be heard and read.
What it does show is all the hope and naiveté of the time and the men involved, the mind set of the military and NASA then and all the hope and pride that went with it. It is indeed interesting to read again or for the first time. There is much emphasis on John Glenn, he seems to give longer and more detailed interviews. That is also what is fascinating about this account, it is the astronaut's words themselves; although one should be aware if you cannot tell that these are the public interviews. There is none of the gossip of private lives or complaints of operational conditions. Even the stories of failures, Gus Grissom's loss of his space capsule is dealt with as a disappointing accident as it was presented at the time: "at least we did not hide information like the Russians did concerning their space program".
Each of the seven tell of how they were chosen, how they worked together and were a team that brought America into space. These men, both the astronauts themselves and the NASA technicians that launched them are passing out of our lives. Only two of the original seven are left John Glenn and Scott Carpenter.
There are many books on the astronauts, many wrote their own individual stories, but this stands out as a singularity, one that was written in the pride of a moment, before Gemini, before Apollo; before the tragic fire that took Gus Grissom, Chaffe and White's life and before the destruction of two space shuttles that made many question NASA and the space program. The stories of the last solo space heroes' time of triumph still deserves to be heard and read.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
From their own mouths
3 Nov 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Excellent book! Very readable. I've read many space program books and there were things I learnt. This book provides a snapshot in time (post mercury, pre gemini?) that becomes more valuable as the years go by. It is also interesting reading between the lines regarding the group dynamic. Not the book for any hard-hitting revelations though. Recommended.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Its an inspiring familiy tradition
6 Aug 2004
Format:Hardcover
I got this book from my dad, and he got it when it was first edited (the German version) in 1962. It was standing a long time untouched on my bookshelf but one day I took it out and started reading it. From the first moment I was fascinated. I think its the way the book is set up: Every different chapter is written by another astronaut of the mercury program. It gives a very good description of the mercury program, free worlds first manned step into space. But there is more: The astronauts not only describe the program, there is also a lot of information about the in-betweens, the personal relationships and characters of the seven. When you read the book you realy can feel the spirit and the atmosphere of that time. When I had the chance to visit the National Air and Space Museum I stayed there a whole day and at least 3 hours I used to inspect the two shown Mercury-capsules in the entrance. It was one of the most fascinating moments because when I looked at the space vehicles I always remembered things from the book.
This book has become a family heritage for me and when I will have children of my own one day I will of course give the book to them - to let them smell the spirit of these seven pioneers.
This book has become a family heritage for me and when I will have children of my own one day I will of course give the book to them - to let them smell the spirit of these seven pioneers.
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