All too often, America's triumph in the space race is reduced to "famous firsts" and larger than life heroes; this unconventional history instead delves into the inner lives of the Mercury 7—including John Glenn, Gus Grissom, and Alan Shepherd—but also ace pilot Chuck Yeager, who was snubbed by NASA. The 1979 publication of this New Journalism milestone earned Tom Wolfe the National Book Award and lasting acclaim, in addition to inspiring the Academy Award-winning 1983 film.

"Technically accurate, learned, cheeky, risky, touching, tough, compassionate, nostalgic, worshipful…. [This book] is superb."—NYTBR