Falling Upwards
By Richard Holmes
How We Took to the Air Pantheon, 2013.
Summary of Falling Upwards book by Richard Holmes
A charming, whimsical, and entertaining look at the history of balloon flight that blends history and biography to create an engaging account of the first aeronauts and their adventures as they took to the skies.
Chapters in Falling Upwards book summary
What do you get from this book? Experience the romantic, exciting, and dramatic history of balloon flight
Balloon flights have a dangerous history that spans more than two hundred years
Within a few years, balloons were being used both for scientific research and by armies
Balloons were used to assist a besieged city and played a part in fleeing oppression
Risky early balloon flights fascinated the public and provided thrilling entertainment
Balloons were used to gain important scientific knowledge about the upper atmosphere
Balloons were used to undertake record-breaking, long-distance voyages of exploration
The excitement of ballooning inspired some of the earliest examples of futuristic science fiction writing
Balloons provided the first opportunities for mass flying, but other technologies soon rendered them obsolete
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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Falling Upwards — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Falling Upwards book
- balloonists
- aviation history enthusiasts
- anyone who enjoys accounts of daring and adventure
- science fiction fans
About the author of Falling Upwards
Richard Holmes
Richard Holmes is the author of several bestselling non-fiction books including The Age of Wonder (2008), which won the Royal Society Prize. He is also a book reviewer whose work has been featured in publications including the New York Review of Books. Holmes has worked as a professor of biographical studies at the University of East Anglia.
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