posted April 23, 2012 11:20 AM            

I really enjoyed this book on the selection of the Mercury seven from the final thirty two candidates. Very thorough and well researched it is well written and the chapters on the gruesome medical, physiology and psychology tests are not stuffy and at times humourous. Some of the biographies were tragic and brought home how dangerous the life of a test or fighter pilot could be. Others not selected had wonderful careers, many finishing with very high ranks and the fact they did not make the final seven did not hold them back, rightly so. I found that I liked to read one at a time and then reflect rather than read through quickly, they merited that. And of course the final seven really were special. None of them should be forgotten so how fortunate we have Colin Burgess to make this unique record of such a momentous selection board at the beginning of manned space travel. I recommend this book to all space and aviation enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in history.