One of the most exhilarating true adventures in history; the race into space was marked by courage; duplicity; political paranoia; astonishing technological feats; and unbelievable triumphs in the face of overwhelming adversity. It is the story of an unparalleled rivalry between superpowers and of the two remarkable men at the center of the conflict. On the American side was Wernher von Braun; the camera-friendly former Nazi scientist; who was granted hero status and almost unlimited resources by a government panicked at the thought of the Cold War enemy taking the lead. The Soviet program was headed by Sergei Korolev; a former political prisoner whose identity was a closely guarded state secret. Korolev was expected to—and did—work miracles on a shoestring budget; his cooperation assured through intimidation and threats of possible disgrace or death. These rivals were opposite in every way; save for one: each was obsessed with the idea of launching a man to the Moon.Deborah Cadbury's extraordinary history combines action and suspense with a moving portrayal of the space race's human dimension. Using source materials never before available; she tells a riveting story of the espionage; ambition; ingenuity; and passion behind humankind's mind-bending voyage beyond the bounds of Earth.
#270552 in Books Johnson; Paul 2008-12-02 2008-12-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .76 x 5.31l; .54 #File Name: 0061143170336 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Salty-flavored HeroesBy John W. PearsonIf you're looking for the perfect vacation read this summer; here's my recommendation. Superb writing. Memorable stories. Quotable one-liners. Leadership lessons.But first...here's a Pop Quiz. Over lunch or dinner this week with family or friends; create a list of notables (no longer living) that would make your "Top-30 List of Heroes and Heroines." Extra credit: write page-turning; short but ample historical summaries of each person. P.S. The publisher wants 300 pages.Prolific author Paul Johnson did just that with Heroes: From Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar to Churchill and De Gaulle; and his contrasts; comparisons and commentaries are as fascinating as the heroes themselves. Johnson can pack more insight and interest into one sentence than some writers can blather about in a full book.The biblical book of Judges: "By rights it should be called the Book of Heroes; for most of its celebrities were not judges but fighters; who enabled the Hebrews; or Israelites as they began to be called; to survive as a recognizable; independent people during extremely difficult times."The Hebrew language "was not only sinewy; expressive and resourceful; but peculiarly adapted to the recording of history."The author's biblical heroes: Deborah; Judith; Samson and David. Growing up Baptist; I was unfamiliar with Judith (a heroine in the Apocrypha). All four accounts delivered enriching and unexpected treats.Johnson is an equal opportunity dispenser of Hero and Heroine titles; especially with his Old Testament picks--and he explains why. The Hebrew people "tapped a physical resource which most ancient peoples denied themselves: they made full use of the brains and courage of their women.""What follows in this book;" Johnson writes in the introduction; "is a small selection of heroes and heroines who still evoke wonder or admiration or respect or in some cases sympathy." He adds; "I am trying to approach the subject of heroism not so much by definition and analysis as by example.""Heroic behavior;" he admits; "is to be found in every age and in all kinds of places. The chief criterion is the verdict of the public and this; being arbitrary; eccentric and often irrational (as well as changeable); gives a salty flavor to the business."I've previously reviewed two other Johnson books: Creators: From Chaucer and Durer to Picasso and Disney (P.S.); and his quick-read Churchill. His writing is exceptional; like his lists in this week's book: --Alexander the Great: his career can be divided into seven phases (in Phase 6 his army refused to go deeper into India--so much for "Great"). --Reason #4 of 10 why Alexander succeeded: excellent planning based in part on very good maps. (Map reading; I learned; is a common competency of heroes.) --Principle #9 from Queen Elizabeth I: practice "masterly inactivity." She believed it was better to make no decision than the wrong one. (Hmmm...classic description of an "analytical" in the social styles system.)Some heroes are likely on your list: Joan of Arc (from the chapter on "Exemplary Heroes"); St. Thomas More ("Heroism in the Age of the Axe"); and Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee ("Two Kinds of Nobility").But how about Ludwig Wittgenstein; the only award winner under "Cerebral Heroism"? Or Jayne Welsh Carlyle and Emily Dickinson ("Tortured Heroism in a Man's World")?At times; Johnson's freshness is delicately seasoned with biting humor--you dare not skip a page or a chapter. It's a feast.On Oliver Cromwell--who didn't qualify: "You cannot write about Cromwell without falling into those terrible pseudobiblical cadences; rhetorical apostrophes and ironic name tags. To de-Carlyle [he made it in] Cromwell is not impossible--writers have done it. But it requires the kind of vigilance that I find irksome and which for me spoils the huge pleasure of biography. So out with Cromwell too!"A measure of a good book--for me--is underlined passages. My markings pronounce judgment: good book! And a great book for leaders and managers.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Paul Johnson has a special gift.By jeanette frances conwayWhen I see a book authored by Paul Johnson I know I am going to be intellectually stimulated. I "click" with his almost automatic habit of placing his literary material into authentic historical context. His degree of consistency with regard to the high standard of his literary research is quite exceptional. In the case of Heroes; he constructs a collection of formulaic mini-biographies of individuals he assesses to have reached heroic heights during their lifetime. These people come to life with much colour and vivacity and seem to step easily off the page and into my imagination. By the time I reached the last page; I had the sense of having met each of these people; personally; psychologically and culturally. Paul has a special literary gift. My one slight irritation is his habit of proclaiming each of his chosen characters as the absolute best in his/her field. There is no doubt he has been captivated by these fascinating individuals. However; in our big wide world there are likely to have been numbers of other people who vie for his enthusiastic top-shelf accolades.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Paul Johnson great; and this book ranges from biblical to 1950's ...By RWSPaul Johnson great; and this book ranges from biblical to 1950's heroes. You'll disagree with some of it; but compact; full; bio's of world's most interesting people.
