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History of the Mercury / Gemini / Apollo programs with lots of detail; also information regarding Russian efforts, capped by the Apollo-Soyuz joint mission. Shepard & Slayton are listed as authors but probably served as primary source for co-authors Jay Barbree and Howard Benedict, journalists who followed the space program and who are most likely the actual writers.
Well written and very interesting read. Would recomend for any space enthusiast.
Ralph E. (Ralpho) reviewed Moon Shot : The Inside Story of America's Race to the Moon on + 37 more book reviews
Two of the origiinal Mercury astronauts tell their story together.
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Rather melodramatic, at least at the beginning. They describe the Mojave Desert (Edwards AFB) a "snake-infested expanse where sand and sun whiten the bones of long forgotten misadventures." I've spent a lot of time exploring the Mojave Desert (I don't get out of the car much when it's summer), and I don't recall seeing any snakes or bleached bones.
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A first hand white-knuckle behind the scenes account of the race to the moon, by America's coolest astronaut and colleagues. Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton.