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ttodd86's review against another edition
4.0
A must-read book for those who enjoy flying. Interesting insights into what it is like to be a pilot as well as some of the technical and process side of the air industry. A very enjoyable read.
michy7's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
One of my favourite travel books due to the description, narration, and the perspectives.
asnook29's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
rollforlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Quite eloquently written. I especially liked the section on navigation
maa_pix's review
2.0
I almost gave this book 1-star, but bumped it back up to two. I was expecting something more of a memoir, but instead the book was almost nothing but exposition on planes and the practice of flying, plus some philosophical points on the implications of being a world traveller. It contained practically no stories or anecdotes. If the author had thrown in at least a few real-world examples to keep things interesting and relatable the book might have succeeded. The first chapter was promising, when the author talked about his original feelings about planes and flying and how he came to have a career as a pilot. But the second and third chapters came across pretty dry. I scanned the rest of the book and it didn't seem to get any better later on, so I dropped it there.
johndiconsiglio's review against another edition
2.0
Aloft and aloof, the pilot-author at the controls of this book muses for 300 pages on the wonders of flight. Yeah, yeah, it’s transcendent. I get the picture. The prose is poetical but oddly impersonal. We learn little about the airman other than he really, really likes planes. Some lovely layovers, but too often has its head in the clouds. Best when grounded with anecdotes & trivia. (Pilots can’t listen to music in the cockpit. There’s only 15% of the earth’s surface where an unclothed man could survive for 24 hours.) Glides by wistfully, but flies in circles.
tarugani's review against another edition
3.0
This had enough little gems that I'm still glad I read it, but it draaaaaagged at times. You have to really like this sort of thing.
fwlichstein's review against another edition
4.0
I loved his descriptions of the view from the cockpit. It’s not always a fast moving book, but I enjoyed it.
konigsburg's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful meditation on flying from a British Airways pilot who feels deeply about the meaning of places, travel, and the interconnections among people. Surprisingly personal (though there is not a single mention of his partner), this book spoke to me as someone who flies a lot long distance but doesn't think a lot about the miracle of modern air travel. Part science (speed, altitude, radar and other mechanics make appearances), part poetry, part personal history; I have not read such a wonderful mix of genres in a while. Thoroughly enjoyable.