Leo Janos

I've had this book for 14 years and it was only when I heard an old interview of Chuck Yeager that I was inspired to read his autobiography. And worth it. The first few chapters, relating his youth, are mildly entertaining in being filled with all the childish and adolescent pranks that he could remember. But when he learns to fly, that's when the story gets interesting: dog-fighting, the sound barrier, the age of jets, then the age of rockets; WW 2, Korean War, Pakistan vs. India, Russian MiGs. His life is filled with danger...and luck. One real trick of the authors was to interspersed book with the recollections of his wife, friends, comrades, superiors--along with some biographies of his close friends, adding texture to his life by showing who he loved and was loved by, and how they intermingled. The autobiography, is not "gripping" as such...but it does have some very gripping moments--and some nice insights into Russian aviation vs USA. It's an easy and entertaining read.… (meer)