The All-American Boys. by Cunningham, Walter - 1977

New York: Macdonald and Co, 1977. First edition of "the best of all the astronaut books" (Los Angeles Times). Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Dick, one of the All-City boys. Hope you enjoy it as much I enjoyed living it. Walt (ex-writer)." The recipient, Richard J. V. Johnson was the long-time chairman and publisher of the Houston Chronicle and covered the Apollo 7 mission. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Robert Silverman. Written with the assistance of Mickey Herskowitz. The All-American Boys is a no-holds-barred candid memoir by a former Marine jet jockey and physicist who became NASA's second civilian astronaut. Walter Cunningham presents the astronauts in all their strengths and their weaknesses in this dramatically revised and totally updated edition of a book that was considered an instant classic in its first edition over two decades ago. From its insider's view of the pervasive "astropolitics" that guided the functioning of the astronaut corps to its thoughtful discussion of the Columbia tragedy, The All-American Boys resonates with Cunningham's passion for humanity's destiny in space which endures today.