Tom Wolfe’s The Right Stuff chronicles the creation of the American space program, and the difficult paths of those involved. With its unique wit, character construction and knowledge of the events surrounding the Space Race, The Right Stuff offers a stellar window into the lives of the men involved in the project to take man to the final frontier. From Chuck Yeager to John Glenn, this book paints amazing pictures of amazing men, capturing the awe that they brought in their time.
The Right Stuff is far from a dry, historical account of the space race. Between Wolfe’s storytelling voice and the sheer power of the story itself, the book seems to rush along, keeping the reader interested from the first page to the last. In fact, it’s so enticing that it's credited with convincing actual astronauts to apply to the program, including Scott Kelly, who is famous for his books and for spending a year in space as part of a program experimenting on him and his twin.
This book, while dedicated to accuracy, does so in an entertaining manner. The men and programs, flaws and victories, are portrayed in a way that demands interest. As one of the best books I’ve read, I give this book five stars, and I recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Space Race.