The Race - by James Schefter (Paperback)

About the Book

As incredible as the "official" story of the space program is, the true, behind-the-scenes tale is more thrilling. From feuds and practical jokes to near-fatal accidents, "The Race" reveals the colorful characters who pulled off the greatest exploration in the history of humankind. of photos.

Book Synopsis

"Indispensable to anyone interested in the space race."--Houston Chronicle

In 1963, a young reporter for Time-Life named James Schefter was given a dream job: cover America's race to the moon. Since the astronauts were under contract to Life for their stories, Schefter was given complete access to the biggest players at NASA. But at the time, his primary role was to excite the public about the new, expensive, experimental space program, and he couldn't write about everything he saw. In The Race, he does.

From drunken astronaut escapades to near disasters to ferocious political battles, the race to the moon was anything but the smooth process it appeared. There were vicious fights between the engineers, feuds and practical jokes, near-fatal accidents, and dozens of brave, smart, and colorful characters pulling off the greatest exploration in the history of humankind. Like Undaunted Courage and D-Day, this is a tale of achieving the extraordinary against extraordinary odds. As incredible as the "official" story of the space program is, the true, behind-the-scenes tale is more thrilling, more entertaining, and ultimately more ennobling.

Review Quotes

"A great book for both the space buff who wants to learn some trivia and for the reader unfamiliar with the monumental events it describes. It's an exciting account of an exciting era."--Chicago Tribune

"Some reporters get to cover the story of a generation. Count Jim Schefter among this lucky bunch--the tale is still thrilling."--Denver Rocky Mountain News

About the Author

James Schefter was Time-Life's NASA correspondent from 1963 to 1973. His work has appeared in magazines as diverse as Popular Science, Reader's Digest and Paris Match. He is the author of All Corvettes Are Red: The Rebirth of an American Legend. He lives in Park City, Utah.