The Last American Hero: The Remarkable Life of John Glenn

Along with Neil Armstrong, long revered as the first man on the moon, John H. Glenn, Jr. (1921–2016) is arguably one of the most famous and beloved astronauts. Historian George (The Assassination of John F. Kennedy) explores the fascinating life of Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. From his Norman Rockwell childhood in Ohio, to his daring escapades as a marine fighter pilot during World War II, to his storied career as an astronaut, and to his four-term service as a U.S. senator, the stalwart and amiable husband and father proved time and again that he had the mettle and experience to take on a variety of challenges throughout his life. When he was chosen as part of the first group of astronauts—the Mercury 7—he captured the media spotlight and the public’s imagination with his caring manner and his record-breaking space flight, hallmarks of his heroism.