- Paperback: 342 pages
- Publisher: Bantam USA; Reissue edition (1 Jan 1990)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0553256742
- ISBN-13: 978-0553256741
- Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 2.7 x 17.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 145,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
General Chuck Yeager, the greatest test pilot of them all -- the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound . . .the World War II flying ace who shot down a Messerschmitt jet with a prop-driven P-51 Mustang . . .the hero who defined a certain quality that all hotshot fly-boys of the postwar era aimed to achieve: the right stuff.
Now Chuck Yeager tells his whole incredible life story with the same "wide-open, full throttle" approach that has marked his astonishing career. What it was really like enaging in do-or-die dogfights over Nazi Europe. How after being shot over occupied France, Yeager somehow managed to escape. The amazing behind-the-scenes story of smashing the sound barrier despite cracked ribs from a riding accident days before.
The entire story is here, in Yeager's own words, and in wondeful insights from his wife and those friends and colleagues who have known him best. It is the personal and public story of a man who settled for nothing less than excellence, a one-of-a-kind portrait of a true American hero.
Now Chuck Yeager tells his whole incredible life story with the same "wide-open, full throttle" approach that has marked his astonishing career. What it was really like enaging in do-or-die dogfights over Nazi Europe. How after being shot over occupied France, Yeager somehow managed to escape. The amazing behind-the-scenes story of smashing the sound barrier despite cracked ribs from a riding accident days before.
The entire story is here, in Yeager's own words, and in wondeful insights from his wife and those friends and colleagues who have known him best. It is the personal and public story of a man who settled for nothing less than excellence, a one-of-a-kind portrait of a true American hero.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
I never knew when I might be taking my last ride. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
I never knew when I might be taking my last ride. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Yeager personafied the WWII generation, the finest ever produced by America. His humble description of his amazing life is inspiring to all and incredible to those with a love of aviation. Besides his own history, he chronicles the life of several other people, such as lady pilots Pancho Barnes and Jackie Cochran, who also lived lives that read like movie scripts. A book that has to be read several times to be fully appreciated. Also check out "The First and the Last", by Adolf Galland, for an equally unusual true account by a great aviator and leader. Farron Dacus, Irving, Texas.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:School & Library Binding
... except that Iam an aviation enthusiast and a rather picky reader. And I just could not put this book down - I even read it at work, hidden behing a pile of correspondence :)
Well written, entertaining, honest, and informative - I happen to be an engineer, but I thing even the lay(wo)man, the few technical descriptions are not too boring.
Best read since "Skunkworks" by Ben R. Rich and Leo Janos.
RECOMMENDED!!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As the wife of an aviation enthusiast, I have read quite a few aviation novels over the years.
Out of curiosity I picked this book up: I was hooked from the opening line, gripped and hugely entertained by the various stories and I seriously did not want the narrative to finish! What a wonderful story from beginning to end - even more so given that it was real life. A top book by a top man - what a privilege to have "shared" in the wonder years.
With the retirement of Concorde last week, it was all the more poignant for me to have finished this book about the start of the supersonic age on the same day as Concorde's last commercial flight!
Definitely for flyers and non-flyers alike.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
GET THIS BOOK!!
I have been interested, indeed obsessed, with aviation since a teenager in the 50's and have followed the development of experimental aircraft with a passion. Read more
Published 16 months ago by W. W. Aitchison
Greatest aviation auto biography
An old favorite, the story of the first man to break the sound barrier. Exciting, even at times funny. Well recommended.
Published on 11 Mar 2009 by Duke 1968
Amazing
I have had this book for many years, given to me as a child and until now unread. Sorting through boxes of books to sell at a car boot sale, i stumbled upon this amazing book. Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2007 by Martin Lucas
No punches pulled
General Yeager quite clearly never pulled any punches during his flying career, and neither does he here. Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2001 by simonjgarrett@hotmail.com
A must for everybody who is intrested in aviation
Iam a fan of everything which has to do with aviation and a pilot as well. So i've got plenty of literature on flying, but this is definite one of the best books i've got. Read more
Published on 21 Dec 1999
Great!
This book is thrilling. Once you pick it up, you'll have trouble putting it back down. I really recommend it.
Published on 6 Jun 1999
Read this book and you won't put it down.
Chuck Yeager is a living legend. I have read this fantastic biography at least 15 times now and it never bores me. Read more
Published on 18 May 1999
Great Action all the way through!
What a life Chuck Yeager has had. Countless contributions to aviation and the space race. This book tells a terrific story of a man who made the most of every break he got. Read more
Published on 5 April 1999
An excellent look at the life of a hero
Before I read this book, I had no idea how interesting his life was besides the sound barrier. It was very interesting reading about his combat in World War II and Vietnam, and... Read more
Published on 29 Dec 1998
A Must Read about a true American Hero!
Chuck Yeager personifies the title "American Hero." He lived life on his terms and flew every airplane that crossed his path. A double ace in WWII fighting the Germans. Read more
Published on 21 Dec 1998
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