simmoril's review against another edition
4.0
One of the best book recommendations I ever received was for Skunk Works by Ben Rich, chronicling the development of the F-117A stealth fighter at Lockheed's Skunk Works. Enthralled by the legend of Kelly Johnson, I put his autobiography on my to-read list.
Kelly: More Than My Share of It All I would consider a 'prequel' to Ben Rich's book. In his own words, Kelly walk us through the path that led him to becoming one of the greatest aviation engineers of all time. He gives us an unvarnished account of his early days leading up to his time at Lockheed, the creation of the Skunk Works division, and the development of two of Skunk Work's most iconic aircraft, the U-2 and the SR-71.
While the pacing of the book felt a little uneven to me at times, and the writing in places seemed somewhat stiff, I think overall the book does a decent job of giving the reader insight into the driving forces behind Kelly's career and the types of things he valued as part of his decision-making process. His work ethic, his drive to understand, to solve problems, and his never-ending curiosity can really be felt throughout. An inspiring tale, and one that I hope to emulate in my own career.
Kelly: More Than My Share of It All I would consider a 'prequel' to Ben Rich's book. In his own words, Kelly walk us through the path that led him to becoming one of the greatest aviation engineers of all time. He gives us an unvarnished account of his early days leading up to his time at Lockheed, the creation of the Skunk Works division, and the development of two of Skunk Work's most iconic aircraft, the U-2 and the SR-71.
While the pacing of the book felt a little uneven to me at times, and the writing in places seemed somewhat stiff, I think overall the book does a decent job of giving the reader insight into the driving forces behind Kelly's career and the types of things he valued as part of his decision-making process. His work ethic, his drive to understand, to solve problems, and his never-ending curiosity can really be felt throughout. An inspiring tale, and one that I hope to emulate in my own career.
More...