November is “Aviation History Month,” in commemoration of the first experiments involving hot air balloon travel conducted by the Montgolfier brothers in November of 1782. If you’d like to learn more about the history of human air travel, here are some books you can check out using your Livingston Library card. (Descriptions provided by the publishers)
Aircraft: The Definitive Visual History by DK Publishing / Smithsonian Institution
Uncover the engineering behind more than 800 aircraft models, from military jets to commercial planes. This visual history ebook captures the fascinating story of airplanes and aviation, and how their groundbreaking discovery has influenced the 21st Century.
Higher Steeper Faster: The Daredevils Who Conquered the Skies by Lawrence Goldstone
The pioneers of early flight performed death-defying feats and broke new technological ground as they took to the skies to thrill crowds and advance the boundaries of human innovation.
The Great Air Race; Glory, Tragedy, and the Dawn of American Aviation by John Lancaster
Reclaiming one of the most important moments in American aviation history, this incredible, untold story recounts the transcontinental air race of October 1919, which riveted a nation as the aviators pioneered the first coast-to-coast air route, despite much drama and tragedy.
Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History by Keith O’Brien
From NPR correspondent Keith O’ Brien comes this thrilling Young Readers’ edition of the untold story about pioneering women, including Amelia Earhart, who fought to compete against men in the high-stakes national air races of the 1920s and 1930s–and won.
Damn Lucky: One Man’s Courage During the Bloodiest Military Campaign in Aviation History by Kevin Maurer
The incredible true story of John “Lucky” Luckadoo, who survived 25 missions as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot in WWII. Drawn from Lucky’s firsthand accounts, acclaimed war correspondent and bestselling author Kevin Maurer delves into this extraordinary tale, uncovering astonishing accounts of bravery during an epic clash in the skies over Nazi Germany.
West with the Night by Beryl Markham
Beryl Markham chronicles her unconventional, free-spirited girlhood in Kenya and her adventures as a rescue pilot, mail carrier, and bush pilot, scouting game for safaris all over Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. The book earned high praise upon its publication in 1942, but fell out of print and into obscurity. When it was republished in 1983, the book became an international bestseller and is now considered both a classic of its genre and a significant literary achievement. National Geographic Adventure ranks it number 8 in a list of 100 best adventure books.
—Joe, Adult Services & Acquisitions