...a scrupulously detailed, colorful portrait of the somewhat enigmatic brothers. The first full biography of the Wright Brothers themselves, set against the rich background of the world in which they worked--a world of crackpots, charlatans, and daredevils in the early days of aviation. 16 pages of halftones. ...discussion of other personalities and their achievements (or lack of) in seeking flight, as they impacted the Wrights' lives and efforts.

This book gives some flavor of the Wrights' personalities and some detail on the technical achievements. I am somewhat technical-minded, and, it's enough for me. After a century has passed, a definitive study of their personalities may not be possible. After a century of flight, the finer points of aeronautical engineering and the experience of flying are covered well elsewhere. The best, most important contribution of this book may be the discussion of other personalities and their achievements (or lack of) in seeking flight, as they impacted the Wrights' lives and efforts. The author is uniquely qualified to do this, and he has done it well.

That may sound lukewarm, but I love the book, pick it up again & again for a lift. It's nostalgia, I suppose. What better technical achievement has man made, than to fly. And, what an amazing story; two machinists on a shoestring budget succeeded where well-financed men of high station failed again and again. And, kept it a virtual secret for several years until revealing it to an astonished world. ( )