WarRoom Battleground EP 824: Reality Of A Ceasefire Situation In Ukraine; Cutting The Bureaucratic Bloat

Published in 1979, 'The Right Stuff' by Tom Wolfe is a seminal work of nonfiction that delves into the lives of the pilots and astronauts involved in the U.S. postwar research with experimental rocket-powered aircraft and the early human spaceflight program, Project Mercury. Wolfe's book is based on extensive research, including interviews with test pilots, astronauts, and their families. It focuses on the bravery, machismo, and the unspoken code of 'the right stuff' that defined these individuals. The book contrasts the Mercury Seven astronauts with other test pilots like Chuck Yeager and Scott Crossfield, highlighting their courage, skills, and the risks they undertook. Wolfe's narrative is characterized by its vivid descriptions and use of literary techniques to evoke the era and the people involved in the early days of American space exploration.

In 'In the Kingdom of Ice', Hampton Sides recounts the true story of the USS Jeannette's disastrous 1879-1881 polar voyage. Led by Commander George W. De Long, the expedition aimed to reach the North Pole but ended in tragedy when the ship was crushed by ice. The crew's struggle for survival in the harsh Arctic environment is a testament to human endurance and determination. The book explores the historical context, including the theories of August Petermann and the sponsorship by James Gordon Bennett Jr.