Includes bibliographical references (pages 395-416) and index.

I: An American genesis -- The strong of arm -- The strong of spirit -- II: Tranquility base -- First child -- The virtues of Smallville -- Truth in the air -- Aeronautical engineering 101 -- III: Wings of gold -- Class 5-49 -- Fighter Squadron 51 -- Fate is the hunter -- The ordeal of eagles -- IV: The real right stuff -- The research pilot -- Above the high desert -- At the edge of space -- The worst loss -- Higher resolve -- I've got a secret -- V: No man is an island -- Training days -- In line for command -- Gemini VIII -- The astronaut's wife -- For all America -- VI: Apollo -- Out of the ashes -- Wingless on luna -- Amiable strangers -- First out -- Dialectics of a moon mission -- VII: One giant leap -- Outward bound -- The landing -- One small step -- Return to earth -- For all mankind -- VIII: Dark side of the moon -- Standing ground -- To engineer is human -- The astronaut is icon -- Into the heartland.

The story of Neil A. Armstrong, who became the first person to walk on the moon, on July 20, 1969. This biography examines the complex legacy of Armstrong, as an astronaut and as an individual, to form a portrait of a great but reluctant hero who will forever be known as history's most famous space traveler.