The Right Stuff - Tom Wolfe ---------------- 3.5 Stars

I've had The Right Stuff on my "to read" list for a number of years, which isn't surprising as the book has been around for many years and is well reviewed. While I had a bit of a misconception (explained below) about the book, I did enjoy the read.

While this book came out in 1979, I really wasn't aware of it until much more recently. A popular book by the well regarded Tom Wolfe, it tells the story of the beginning of the US's space program. First, focusing on Chuck Yeager, the first person to break the sound barrier, and then the Mercury 7 astronauts. The book included deep research about the early start of NASA, the family of these famous astronauts, the background behind many of the space goals, and trying to explain why some people may have the "right stuff" to be pilots or astronauts.

What surprised me about the book was the way Wolfe told these stories. Incorrectly, I had assumed it would be a much slower and "academic" read than it turned out to be. Perhaps because of the dates covered, I figure this would read a bit more like a history book. So, imagine my surprise, when I picked up the book and quickly had to adjust to, what Wolfe dubbed, "new journalism." This included using many first person, point-of-view from characters, more slang and unique jargon, and a general informality that was unanticipated. 

Mostly because of this style, I found myself unable to put the book down after starting. Between his playful writing style and fascinating stories about Yeager's piloting skills, I was exhilarated by the story. As the book moved on, I continued to be interested in the fascinating details that Wolfe brough to many aspects of the story along with his interesting writing style. It was such a welcome and enjoyable surprise.

Unfortunately, as the book moved on, I found this style to begun to becoming grating. While fun and novel at the begin, it did begin to wear thin throughout the story. Sometimes I felt Wolfe just went too long with certain parts and didn't move on quick enough. Perhaps a better editor would have helped.

As a whole, I found this an interesting book that was fun to read (until it wasn't). It rekindled my interest in space and the early astronaut program (I wish he would have gone through the moon landing) and I am tempted to watch the movie based on the book now too (though, 3+ hours makes me think otherwise). While I know I am a bit late to enjoying this popular book, I am happy I circled back to it and was able to enjoy it.