Items related to Sonic Wind: The Story of John Paul Stapp and How a...
Sonic Wind: The Story of John Paul Stapp and How a Renegade Doctor Became the Fastest Man on Earth - Softcover
The untold story of an eccentric, scientific visionary whose death-defying research has saved millions of lives.
Sixty years ago, cars and airplanes were still deathtraps waiting to happen. Today, both are safer than ever, thanks in part to one pioneering air force doctor’s research on seatbelts and ejection seats. The exploits of John Paul Stapp (1910–1999) come to thrilling life in this biography of a Renaissance man who was once blasted―faster than a .45 caliber bullet―across the desert in his Sonic Wind rocket sled, only to be slammed to a stop in barely a second. The experiment put him on the cover of Time magazine and allowed his swashbuckling team to gather the data needed to revolutionize automobile and aircraft design. But Stapp didn’t stop there. From the legendary high-altitude balloon tests that ensued to the ferocious battles for car safety legislation, Craig Ryan’s book is as much a history of America’s transition into the Jet Age as it is a biography of the man who got us there safely.
8 pages of illustrations"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author:
Craig Ryan is the author of acclaimed books on extreme adventure and scientific discovery in the stratosphere as well as the coproducer of the documentary film The Angry Sky. He lives in Portland, Oregon.
Review:
“A beautifully presented and admiring portrait of Stapp.... Mr. Ryan demonstrates a gift for making the complex science of Stapp’s experiments understandable, and he is equally skilled at capturing the spirit of his subject.”
- Patrick Cooke, Wall Street Journal
“Compelling and compulsively readable...a curious but charming tale, the story of a man who courted danger―and death―in the ultimate pursuit of safety. Sonic Wind is an engrossing read, and Ryan brings his unlikely hero to life, deftly describing Stapp’s missionary zeal―inherited, presumably, from his parents―for safety.”
- Emily Anthes, Washington Post
“A fine, groundbreaking biography of one of aeromedical sciences’ more legendary figures.”
- John Carver Edwards, Library Journal, Starred review
“[The] remarkable, almost-forgotten story of an aerospace pioneer. ...Ryan's full-length biography uncovers the private man, Stapp's offbeat sense of humor, his awkward love life, his passion for classical music, and his friendships with daring test pilots Chuck Yeager and Joe Kittinger, fellow trailblazers whose fame has persisted. A consistently fine appreciation of the medical maverick who, as much as any other, helped make the Space Age possible.”
- Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“Remarkable...[an] intriguing book about this unusual and mostly intriguing man.”
- Michael Merschel, Dallas Morning News
- Patrick Cooke, Wall Street Journal
“Compelling and compulsively readable...a curious but charming tale, the story of a man who courted danger―and death―in the ultimate pursuit of safety. Sonic Wind is an engrossing read, and Ryan brings his unlikely hero to life, deftly describing Stapp’s missionary zeal―inherited, presumably, from his parents―for safety.”
- Emily Anthes, Washington Post
“A fine, groundbreaking biography of one of aeromedical sciences’ more legendary figures.”
- John Carver Edwards, Library Journal, Starred review
“[The] remarkable, almost-forgotten story of an aerospace pioneer. ...Ryan's full-length biography uncovers the private man, Stapp's offbeat sense of humor, his awkward love life, his passion for classical music, and his friendships with daring test pilots Chuck Yeager and Joe Kittinger, fellow trailblazers whose fame has persisted. A consistently fine appreciation of the medical maverick who, as much as any other, helped make the Space Age possible.”
- Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“Remarkable...[an] intriguing book about this unusual and mostly intriguing man.”
- Michael Merschel, Dallas Morning News
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherLiveright
- Publication date2016
- ISBN 10 0631491910
- ISBN 13 9780631491910
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages432
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 13.18
Shipping:
US$ 2.64
Within U.S.A.
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Seller Image
Sonic Wind : The Story of John Paul Stapp and How a Renegade Doctor Became the Fastest Man on Earth
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 25232286-n
Buy New
US$ 13.18
Convert currency
Seller Image
Sonic Wind: The Story of John Paul Stapp and How a Renegade Doctor Became the Fastest Man on Earth by Ryan, Craig [Paperback ]
Published by
Liveright
(2016)
ISBN 10: 0631491910
ISBN 13: 9780631491910
New
Soft Cover
Quantity: 10
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9780631491910
Buy New
US$ 15.83
Convert currency
Stock Image
Sonic Wind: The Story of John Paul Stapp and How a Renegade Doctor Became the Fastest Man on Earth Format: Paperback
Published by
WW Norton Publishers
(2016)
ISBN 10: 0631491910
ISBN 13: 9780631491910
New
Softcover
Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Brand New. Seller Inventory # 9780631491910
Buy New
US$ 11.99
Convert currency
Stock Image
Sonic Wind: The Story of John Paul Stapp and How a Renegade Doctor Became the Fastest Man on Earth
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_0631491910
Buy New
US$ 21.27
Convert currency
Stock Image
Sonic Wind: The Story of John Paul Stapp and How a Renegade Doctor Became the Fastest Man on Earth
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Buy for Great customer experience. Seller Inventory # GoldenDragon0631491910
Buy New
US$ 24.91
Convert currency
Stock Image
Sonic Wind: The Story of John Paul Stapp and How a Renegade Doctor Became the Fastest Man on Earth
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. New. Seller Inventory # Wizard0631491910
Buy New
US$ 25.62
Convert currency
Stock Image
Sonic Wind: The Story of John Paul Stapp and How a Renegade Doctor Became the Fastest Man on Earth
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. New Copy. Customer Service Guaranteed. Seller Inventory # think0631491910
Buy New
US$ 28.03
Convert currency
Stock Image
Sonic Wind: The Story of John Paul Stapp and How a Renegade Doctor Became the Fastest Man on Earth
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # FrontCover0631491910
Buy New
US$ 29.07
Convert currency
Stock Image
Sonic Wind: The Story of John Paul Stapp and How a Renegade Doctor Became the Fastest Man on Earth
Published by
Liveright
(2016)
ISBN 10: 0631491910
ISBN 13: 9780631491910
New
Softcover
First Edition
Quantity: 15
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Num Pages: 432 pages, 8 pages of illustrations. BIC Classification: BGT; PDX; TBX; TR. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 209 x 140 x 26. Weight in Grams: 344. . 2016. 1st Edition. Paperback. . . . . Seller Inventory # V9780631491910
Buy New
US$ 24.32
Convert currency
Stock Image
Sonic Wind: The Story of John Paul Stapp and How a Renegade Doctor Became the Fastest Man on Earth
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Num Pages: 432 pages, 8 pages of illustrations. BIC Classification: BGT; PDX; TBX; TR. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 209 x 140 x 26. Weight in Grams: 344. . 2016. 1st Edition. Paperback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # V9780631491910
Buy New
US$ 27.38
Convert currency