The Right Stuff

In the late 1950s, a new, incredibly prestigious profession emerged in the U.S. — the astronaut. Its first representatives were seven military pilots: Al Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper, and Deke Slayton. In April 1959, even before any space flights, following a routine NASA press conference, they were instantly dubbed «America's greatest daredevils».
«The Right Stuff» is a fascinating story of these men, spanning the period from their test flights over the Mojave Desert to the moment they conquered space. Tom Wolfe masterfully depicts the first, most dramatic years of the American space program. He focuses less on technical details and more on the personal stories of the «First Seven» and their wives, showing a world where every launch could either kill the astronauts or make them immortal legends.
Wolfe's book became not only one of the best ever written about space travel but also inspired an entire generation of future astronauts. It is a testament to courage, ambition, and the human spirit in the pursuit of the unknown.