Man Flies

I read this book , here in Brazil.This book is good.It is a correct biography.The main failure of this book is that it forget the theories about flying of Santos Dumont.Even so, this book is a good biography.The main lesson of this book is this:the past is decided in the future.Even making everything excellent, the future became against Santos Dumont. The past was decided the future.Wright Brothers even being without no doubt racists, eugenicists and perhaps even buffoons and liars, got the recognization, from the world, while Santos Dumont went to nothing in aviation's history.

I have just read the book, and it's great. It's really well written, and even if it doesn't go too deep (and I believe that was never Mrs. Winters' goal with this project), it goes deep enough to raise a few eyebrows, and make us wonder: how come the real inventor of the airplane can be almost forgotten nowadays? After all, his vehicle, the 14-bis, unlike the Wright Brothers Flyer, could fly by its own means...

Like the previous reviewer, I agree that the writing is simple and there is a lack of depth in the presentation. However, unlike the previous reviewer, I don't believe that that spoils the project. This little volume was meant as a general intro to a subject with many chapters and even more footnotes. For readers with just a passing interest, this will be sufficient information. For others, it will whet their appetites (a short bibliography is included). Either way, there is no denying that this little book is very handsomely produced and a delight to behold. The many vintage photos and illustrations are outstanding - they compensate nicely for the sparse text . If you only read books found in univeristy libraries, this project will probably disappoint. But if you like smartly produced picture books and the story of early flight is of interest to you, you will be happy to have Ms Winter's work. At a mere 5 in. X 8 in., this little volume travels well, too.

It left me wanting for even more! This book told me a lot about the greatest pioneer of aviation! Very pleasant presentation and chronological progression of events.The photographs, some of which I've never seen before, are very nice too! I wish the author would release yet another book from the product of her diggings about Santos-Dumont.