Review of First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong Man has an innate desire to reach the unknown and conquer new horizons that have never been previously explored. What separates adventurers from dreamers is the adventurer possesses a willingness to embrace the risks and uncertainties that are evidently included in the aspiration to ascend beyond the ordinary. Perhaps one of the greatest examples of this rare ability is demonstrated in the life of the American astronaut legend, Neil A. Armstrong. First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong written by James R. Hansen is the first ever-authorized biography that unveils the life of a distinctively remarkable legend. The 2005 narrative published by Simon & Schuster consists of 784 pages that accurately
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To his surprise, Armstrong eventually signed a letter giving him full authorization to write the book. In the preface section of the narrative, Hansen describes the emotional delight he experienced after receiving this message. He says, “I remember the
Kistler 2 tremendous excitement I felt when I saw the message pop up in my inbox…I still regard every message that he sent to me as extraordinarily special (Hansen, Preface). Perhaps the author’s unmatched excitement to write on this subject is the cause for such a phenomenal portrayal of Armstrong’s voyage. Neil Armstrong’s early life is described to be nothing peculiar. He grew up in a small and peaceful Ohio town that fostered his down-to-earth personality. Attempting to describe the impact that Armstrong’s hometown had on his overall character, Hansen remarks, “In these genuine Smallvilles, young people––with the right kind of family and community support––grew up embracing ambition” (p. 36). To my delight, Hansen compares Armstrong humble beginnings to the American hero Superman who demonstrated similar attributes, valuing virtues such as truth, justice and simplicity above other more superficial
To his surprise, Armstrong eventually signed a letter giving him full authorization to write the book. In the preface section of the narrative, Hansen describes the emotional delight he experienced after receiving this message. He says, “I remember the
Kistler 2 tremendous excitement I felt when I saw the message pop up in my inbox…I still regard every message that he sent to me as extraordinarily special (Hansen, Preface). Perhaps the author’s unmatched excitement to write on this subject is the cause for such a phenomenal portrayal of Armstrong’s voyage. Neil Armstrong’s early life is described to be nothing peculiar. He grew up in a small and peaceful Ohio town that fostered his down-to-earth personality. Attempting to describe the impact that Armstrong’s hometown had on his overall character, Hansen remarks, “In these genuine Smallvilles, young people––with the right kind of family and community support––grew up embracing ambition” (p. 36). To my delight, Hansen compares Armstrong humble beginnings to the American hero Superman who demonstrated similar attributes, valuing virtues such as truth, justice and simplicity above other more superficial