The Long, Lonely Leap Hardcover – January 1, 1961

by Joseph W. Kittinger (Author), Martin Caidin (Author), Marvin Feldstein (Epilogue),

4.6 8 ratings

Joe Kittinger's story, the first man to jump & free-fall from the edge of space.
The jump from 16 miles high. And reaching speeds in excess of 600 miles per hour.

Print length

249 pages
Language

English
Publisher

E. P. Dutton & Co.
Publication date

January 1, 1961
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0007DYSIA
Publisher ‏ : ‎ E. P. Dutton & Co.; First Edition (January 1, 1961)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 249 pages
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds

Best Sellers Rank: #6,778,600 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 8 ratings

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Akanbe D.

Holy Grail of Aviation Books!

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2012

Verified Purchase

As a skydiver this book is the one! Col. Joe is regarded as a true pioneer in space exploration and is still a very active member of the parachuting community. As a friend of both Colonel Kittinger and Felix Baumgertner I had to have this book! It is not available either in digital or as a reprint and most copies are in sad condition. I was thrilled to find it in such great condition with dust jacket and at what I considered a very good price. I was able to get Col. Joe to sign it for me and I am now happier than a kid with a Honus Wagner card!

3 people found this helpful

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Robert F. Smith

JOE KITTINGER

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2013

Verified Purchase

I HAVE FINALLY COMPLETED MY JOE KITTINGER COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL ITEMS. JOE WAS TRAINED BACK IN THE DAY BY NAVY AND AIR FORCE TEST PARACHUTIST IN EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA. I HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR MANY YEARS AND ADMIRE HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE HIS INVOLVEMENT IN FELIX BAUMGARTNER'S RED BULL STRATOS PROJECT WHEN HIS OVER 50 YEAR RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST JUMP WAS FINALLY BROKEN. JOE HAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE A "HERO" IN MY OPINION.

5 people found this helpful

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Chris Lynch

Easily, one of our ten best LTA books

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2015

Verified Purchase

Easily, one of our ten best LTA books, Man High by Simons is another, same subject, same quality. Great read, Col. Kittinger and maybe 10 other men paved the way for our space program with their courage, and yes, the book does sell 400-600 in good condition with DJ, we've sold maybe a dozen copies, and have an open waiting list.

5 people found this helpful

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A Newton Brown

C'mon Amazon $449.95 Really!?

Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2012

That says it all.
To err is human, but to really screw things up takes a computer.
You are missing all of the attention for Baumgartner and Kittinger.
Please edit your algorithm.

5 people found this helpful

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Kevin G. Coulombe

Freefall To History

Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2008

The Long, Lonely Leap is long overdue for a reprint. An excellent read, it is the first person account of the US Air Force Manhigh and Excelsior projects, which attempted to define and find a satisfactory escape system from exteme altitude. The book is very informative considering the project was conducted with a modicum of secrecy. The personal protection the author and test subject, USAF Capt Joseph Kittinger, wore was state of the art and therefore highly proprietory. Kittinger also flew to altitude in an open gondola relying entirely on his partial pressure suit. This was very daring at the time as all high altitude ascents (the pricipal players being the US and USSR) were conducted in pressurized gondolas.

The book may still be found in the stacks of the more secure libraries.(And an excerpt can be found in the National Geographic magazine of the period.) Informative, exciting and astounding, I think the book owes some of its edge to co-author Martin Caidin. There are several photographs. The best of which depicts Kittinger only a hearbeat after departing his gondola for the Earth 103,000 feet below. Well worth reading.

13 people found this helpful

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Johnny Allred

Republish the book !!.

Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2022

Great story! it realy is. So why is this book not in print? other books not as exciting to read are back in print The cost if you can even find a readable copy is way out of anyone's price range ($200.00 plus and up past $1000.00) and not in verygood shape this should not be the case. The book should be in print so other can enjoy it.

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Friend

An excellent find at your local library

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2020

This book was an excellent read. I was so engrossed in it, it was as if I had passed through a void, bereft of all sound and sensation, and time had lost all meaning. A terrific account of the Excelsior projects, the book provided some key insights on how USA abruptly changed the game. Cheers. And, at these prices, sellers really have the reader over a barrel, so a copy can be hard to locate. I would give it a 9.973 out of 10.0 00.

One person found this helpful

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