Tom Wolfe.
tOM WOLFE: BIOGRAPHY OF THE MERCURY ASTRONAUTS
the RIGHT STUFF (1979)
One of the Guardian’s 100 best non fiction books of all time.
Tom Wolfe writes vividly about the early US astronauts - all experienced top flight test pilots. They became instant national celebrities, basking in fame even before they took off.
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Tom Wolfe (1930 - 2018) achieved national recognition in the 1960s following his book about the Merry Pranksters and Ken Kesey - The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. His book The Right Stuff, about the Mercury astronauts, was made into a film in 1983. He was a pioneer of the New Journalism, a technique combining journalism with literary style. Much of his work revolved around the uncoventional life of the intellectual elite of New York City. He was noted for his stylish appearance, his signature outfit being a white (often three-piece) suit.
