Tristan's Review
Falling Upwards: How We Took To The Air
Introduction
I chose the book Falling Upward: How We Took To The Air because for 1 it has a super catchy title and cool artwork on the front, but as you all know don't judge a book by its cover. The introduction to the book was even better by the end of the 1st chapter I was hooked and I knew this was the book I wanted to read.
Summery
Many people had crazy ideas. One English inventor wanted to use a small hot-air balloon to carry loads of manure. While Benjamin Franklin wanted to send thousands of French soldiers in balloons to England, like paratroopers in World War II fighting behind enemy lines.
Some seen the benefit of taking a peek at an enemy army from the skies. Balloons may well be the early version of spy planes and even reconnaissance satellites. The scientists James Glaisher and Henry Coxwell survived an ascent to more than 30,000 feet on a scientific mission in 1862. The lack of oxygen could have killed them and it nearly did. Their altitude record stood for decades.
This book is just full of inspiring stories. For all in the name of science.
Opinion
The book sometimes drifts and gives you too much information about things you don't really care about such as too much details about characters that don't really matter. However, it makes up for with fascinating accounts of daredevil balloon flights and the siege of Paris during the war with Prussia in 1870. Overall it was a fun read with a lot of interesting History.
There are lots of great stories, facts, research, and photos and add up to a very interesting book. I loved reading about the history of ballooning, its effect on history, how history affected ballooning.