The Aviators

Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and the Epic Age of Flight

By: Winston Groom

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Gifted storyteller Winston Groom, the best-selling author of Forrest Gump, has written the fascinating story of three extraordinary heroes who defined aviation during the great age of flight: Charles Lindbergh, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Jimmy Doolittle. 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 during 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 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 the intertwined stories—from broken homes to Medals of Honor (all three would receive one), barnstorming to the greatest raid of World War II, front-page triumph to anguished tragedy, and near-death to ultimate survival—of these three men who took to the sky, time and again, to become exemplars of the spirit of the "greatest generation."

©2013 Winston Groom (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

good synopsis

good reading. It was similar stories of 3 great aviation pioneers that emerged at the same time. I had a hard time though mixing up who was being talked about. Now my head is a jumble of great stories attributed arbitrarily to three people.

Excellence

Fantastic listening experience. Edge of your seat history! Once again Winston Groom produces a tour de force. The true story of three great Americans. The stories flow into each other flawlessly, and produce interesting nuggets of historical magic when the paths of these men actually cross. Can't say enough about this book!

History ties (flies) together

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Not only would I recommend this book, I did.

What did you like best about this story?

I have only heard some of the early aviator stories. This book ties them together very well. I really never knew how intertwined these aviators really were.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I tried to listen to this in as few as possible sittings. It is intriguing and therefore wanting you to listen in the lease amount of time.

Great History Report/Story

The Aviation history of the identified individuals was a Great story of specific pioneers to our countries use of air warfare. Their love of the machine caused them and others to respect and love the machines they flew.

thoroughly enjoyed

Amazing and enthralling! Loved the interlacing of stories with periods connections. Wouldn't change a thing.

hungry for more!

I enjoyed listening to this recorded book and was sorry to finish. more history please.

Very Educational

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the achievements of these great men! It kept me interested from start to finish.

Three Giants

What a great book about three amazing men during an amazing time of technological advancements in aviation history. Mr. Dean has become one of my favorite narrators. I'll listen to any books he narrates.

A great overview of these early pioneers

There are certainly more detailed books about these three giants of aviation, but this one does a great job in pulling everything together and weaving it into a relatively coherent narrative that culminates in these men's contributions to aviation as well as to World War 2.

Well-paced and entertaining, I enjoyed this book very much.

One of my fave audiobooks ever!

If you are a fan of aviation and great pilots, this is your book. If you are a fan of early 20th century politics, war and crazy media coverage, this also was a book for you. I hated to put the thing down, so I would find tasks to do around the house so I could listen to it. It’s that good.