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Aviators, The: Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and the Epic Age of Flight Hardcover – November 5, 2013

4.6 out of 5 stars 2,133

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Written by gifted storyteller Winston Groom (author of Forrest Gump), The Aviators tells the saga of three extraordinary aviators--Charles Lindbergh, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Jimmy Doolittle--and how they redefine heroism through their genius, daring, and uncommon courage.
 
This is the fascinating story of three extraordinary heroes who defined aviation during the great age of flight. These cleverly interwoven tales of their heart-stopping adventures take us from the feats of World War I through the heroism of World War II and beyond, including daring military raids and survival-at-sea, and will appeal to fans of
Unbroken, The Greatest Generation, and Flyboys. With the world in peril in World War II, each man set aside great success and comfort to return to the skies for his most daring mission yet. Doolittle, a brilliant aviation innovator, would lead the daring Tokyo Raid to retaliate for Pearl Harbor; Lindbergh, hero of the first solo flight across the Atlantic, would fly combat missions in the South Pacific; and Rickenbacker, World War I flying ace, would bravely hold his crew together while facing near-starvation and circling sharks after his plane went down in a remote part of the Pacific. Groom's rich narrative tells their intertwined stories--from broken homes to Medals of Honor (all three would receive it); barnstorming to the greatest raid of World War II; front-page triumph to anguished tragedy; and near-death to ultimate survival--as all took to the sky, time and again, to become exemplars of the spirit of the "greatest generation."

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a winner, combining an engaging narrative and appropriate documentation into one solid study of three iconic aviators and their times." --Library Journal, starred review

"A gripping document of a brilliant era in our history and a few of the men who helped make it so." --
Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“As Mr. Groom's absorbing narrative unfolds, we see one man enduring a horrendous ordeal on the open sea; another nearly losing his life in a bombing run; and yet another finding a sort of redemption for his battered public image.”
The Wall Street Journal

"Groom’s rich narrative tell the intertwined stories of these aeronautical pioneers as they took to the air to become exemplars of the spirit of the “greatest generation.”
--Flight Journal

"That the imagination that conceived Forrest Gump could conjure up fresh ways to tell stories of American history is astonishing...Groom's epic story is a tribute...Readers of all his fiction and nonfiction might well feel inclined to testify that he is fast becoming a national treasure. Forrest Gump would agree." --
The Advocate

“Winston Groom writes history like a novelist. Readers will appreciate his careful and accurate use of aviation and military terminology, and description of each aircraft in the narratives. Groom handles this complex subject in clear, understandable terms, woven into a great air war story.”  –American Aviation Historical Society

"Groom is at his best sharing history through the personal stories of the people involved. Not only is this history a learning experience, it is a joy to experience the suspenseful adventures of these extraordinary aviators as they spent their lives developing and promoting aviation in this country. An important narrative not to be missed!" --Stephanie Crowe, Page and Palette Bookstore

This will be an alternate selection in History Book Club, Military Book Club, and Book-of-the-Month Club.

About the Author

WINSTON GROOM is the author of 14 previous books of nonfiction and fiction, including Shiloh 1862, Vicksburg 1863, Patriotic Fire, Shrouds of Glory, Forrest Gump, and Conversations with the Enemy (with Duncan Spencer), which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. He lives with his wife and daughter in Point Clear, Alabama.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ National Geographic (November 5, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1426211562
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1426211560
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.48 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.3 x 2 x 9.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 2,133

About the author

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Winston Groom
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Winston Francis Groom, Jr. (born March 23, 1943) is an American novelist and non-fiction writer. He is best known for his book Forrest Gump, which was adapted into a film by Robert Zemeckis in 1994. The film became a cultural phenomenon, and won six Academy Awards. He published a sequel, Gump and Co., in 1995. He has also written numerous non-fiction works, on diverse subjects including the American Civil War and the Great War.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
2,133 global ratings
Missing page.
4 Stars
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Excellent read. Too bad page 126 is missing. Page 125 ok but on the other side of the sheet was page 216. Next page was 127.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2016
I have been a fan of Winston Groom since “Better Times Than These”. I am an even bigger fan of his non-fiction, finding him a very readable historian with the ability to make the reader “see” history.
This book is no exception as the author looks at three larger than life men from the early age of flight.
Rickenbacker managed to cram more adventure into one life than most could do in several.
Groom presents him as he was, tough, determined and very intelligent.
Doolittle is an extra ordinary pilot, instrumental in the development of instrument flight and famous for raiding Japan in 1942.
Lindbergh, the “Lone Eagle” is best known for flying the Atlantic and the kidnapping of his son.
Somewhat infamous as a supporter of Hitler, his WWII activities are a surprise.
This is a very well written book, alternating between the three men while keeping the times in perspective.
This is a complete look at these men as the author covers their good and bad activities.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2024
Different perspectives from a similar lens, that being aviation. The challenges faced by the personalities highlighted in this book are instructive. Voices from the past, illuminating many of the problems faced by current aviators.
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2013
These men were genuine heroes and they led important and interesting lives. None of them had to serve in World War II, but they did. Eddie Rickenbacker was the top American ace in World War I and shortly after the war he visited Germany where he met some German pilots, one of whom was Hermann Goering. We tend to think of Goering as something of a clown which in many ways he became, but this meeting had a chilling outcome. Goering explained how the German empire was going to be restored through air power. The Germans would train future military air people through civilian associations. Civilian aircraft would be the basis for future military aircraft and they would build a large modern air force under the noses of the allies. About 15 years later Rickenbacker visited Germany and met Goering again. Goering reminded Rickenbacker of their last meeting and showed him that the Germans had done what Goering had predicted. Rickenbacker then tried to warn the British and American governments who naturally ignored him by following the universal rule, especially of governments, of ignoring the smart guy.
Winston Groom writes well, he is the author of "Forrest Gump". The book isn't 3 separate biographies, but is arranged in approximately chronological order. This is sometimes confusing because you can sometimes forget which man did what in the less dramatic events. The book is well worth reading
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Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2022
This is a very enlightening and entertaining history of early flight and three giants of aviation. It is extremely well written and takes the reader through brief but exhilarating biographies of the three greatest heroes in American aviation. Highly recommended!
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Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2023
Wonderful profiles of Lindbergh, Rickenbacker and Doolittle.
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2015
This book is the extraordinary story of three extraordinary aviators. It follows a timeline from the early 1900's through the 1950's, switching back and forth among the stories of Rickenbacker, Doolittle and Lindbergh. These men were key players in the early history of aviation, often risking their lives so others could be safer. Besides their exploits as aviators, which alone are almost beyond belief, they all played important roles in the aviation business as well as the role of aviation in the military. Europe had a huge head start in every aspect of early aviation, and it took men like these to demonstrate the growing importance of the airplane to U.S. policy makers.
These men are true heroes, repeatedly pushing themselves to their limits. And when you are pushed to your limits weaknesses reveal themselves. The author shows us their weaknesses, but in the context of extraordinary lives and circumstances. Nearly all of us "regular" folks would have crumbled far earlier and contributed far less.
Mr. Groom has done an excellent job of telling these stories, and I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in aviation or American history.
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2024
Excellent read. Too bad page 126 is missing. Page 125 ok but on the other side of the sheet was page 216. Next page was 127.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Missing page.
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2024
Excellent read. Too bad page 126 is missing. Page 125 ok but on the other side of the sheet was page 216. Next page was 127.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2015
Depending on your age (I am 62 and the son of a WWII pilot), and interest in aviation, especially the coming of the modern age of aviation, you will want to read this book from cover to cover in one sitting. Of course, it is too long for that, but you will not want to put it down. If you have an inkling of the names of Doolittle, Lindbergh and Rickenbacker, you will be astonished at their stories. The author intermixes the lives and accomplishments of Doolittle, Lindbergh and Rickenbacker in such a way that you feel their genius was timed in such a way that otherwise we would still be flying propeller driven planes. You shake your head at what they went through and how determined they were to advance the age itself through aviation. I suppose there are still men and women out there now that are similarly determined, but we either don't hear about them, or our culture does not recognize them for what they are worth and the impact they are truly making. You will be awed by the impact The Aviators made on our lives. I first listened to the book on CD from my library, but was so impressed with it, I purchased it to have as a permanent part of my select personal library. If you love history and those who made it, you will love this book.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

M555
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2018
One of the best books I have ever read about these Aviators and true Americans. Would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of flight.
2 people found this helpful
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Fred
5.0 out of 5 stars Well Written Book
Reviewed in Canada on October 25, 2016
I just finished this book and feel it was one of the best 3 I've read out of 12 I've read so far this year. The author covers the 3 aviators in sufficient detail to give readers a thorough understanding of them and the era without getting bogged down with too much detail.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars The Aviators
Reviewed in Canada on December 19, 2017
I will actually rate this a 3.5. The story about these three great men and pilots in the golden era of flight is great. Every flight was an adventure and a hazard, but with men like this the aviation world evolved rapidly. The author is a noted American historian and writes a great book but being a historian the errors (and there are a few) should not happen. Still a great book and highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
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james john
5.0 out of 5 stars Aviators flies high.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2017
Carefully researched and a brilliant read. Each character comes to life and you find yourself minding very much about them and how they survived. I was sorry to turn the last page.
One person found this helpful
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fourniers
4.0 out of 5 stars Three USA 20-century pioneering aviators
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 6, 2017
I had the good fortune to obtain this as a Bookbub download, albeit the illustrations are poor and maps are unreadable, as is all too often the case with Kindle downloads. However, this has to be one of the best aviation books I have read for a long time, particularly because it places the three protagonists sharply into the context of the period and of their remarkable courage within severe limits of the state of aviation 'art' at that time. It has to be said, all too often biographies of this type and period can adopt a somewhat flippant, swashbuckling style which can rather gloss over the realities of the dangers and often horrors of the experiences of early fliers, especially those subjected to war conditions. There is nothing lighthearted or flippant to be said about being seriously injured or even killed in an aeroplane accident, or being blown out of the sky in a sky battle. However, Groom happily avoid that all too facile trap whilst at the same time producing a work of both historical enlightenment and of special readability for those who may ordinarily avoid 'war' and aeroplane' topics. There is, of course, some technical content. That is inevitable, but its extent is never of such dry detail as to detract from the enthralling interest of the narratives. After all, those who thirst after 'rivet-counting' detail have access to a plethora of publications which provide for those demanding such highly specialised technical detail, be that for engineering types, or for those who are keen to read about the finer points of military tactics and strategies. The added bonus to this book is how it not only relates the stories of the three aviators, it also places them into the context of the social, political and economic conditions of their times and which I found to be particularly helpful and fascinating, not least because it emphasises just how our 'establishment' juggernauts can dismiss sound counsel from those who truly know the realities from their sharp end experiences and how that official inertia and crass ignorance all too frequently results in disastrous consequences, both militarily and politically. A very good read which has tempted me to buy the 'proper' paper version!
3 people found this helpful
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