This reminds me of a story that I think was about Yeager, where due to some human error on the part of a mechanic (I think in regards to fueling his plane) Yeager almost died, and after the accident he surprised everyone by asking for the same mechanic to be assigned to service his plane on his next flight. He explained his choice by saying expected that mechanic would not make the same mistake twice.

I probably butchered that story a bit.. anyone recognize it and have a link to the original?

I heard the same story but it was Bob Hoover and not Yeager.

The Right Stuff is non-fiction, not a novel.

Some non-fiction books can read very much like novels, even if the term technically doesn't apply to them. These are sometimes called "non-fiction novels".

A great example is Endurance by Alfred Lansing, which tells the story of Shackleton's incredible expedition to Antarctica in 1914. It is apparently a very accurate re-telling, and a book that I highly recommend. Even though I knew the outcome of the expedition, the book was suspenseful to the very end, and surprisingly character-driven.

This reminds me of reading Maya Angelou’s _I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings_ in high school.

I asked our teacher (who also made us memorize the opening to beouwouf) how Angelou could remember some of the quotes. I recall the teacher’s response being something like, “this is what she remembers”

Looking at that book now in the context of this thread I found this:

>Reviewers often categorize Caged Bird as autobiographical fiction because Angelou uses thematic development and other techniques common to fiction, but the prevailing critical view characterizes it as an autobiography, a genre she attempts to critique, change, and expand.

Ah, I had remembered it written as a story. Presumed it took some dramatic liberties / based on a true story.

Have never heard of Yeager before but after quick reading of Wikipedia ... OMG, what an amazing man and amazing life.

Might I ask where you are from? If anyone going to school in the US does not learn about Chuck Yeager, then I weep even worse for our education system.

I am originally from the Soviet Union but had moved to Canada very long time ago.

Also while I am totally floored by such a man maybe his place is not in a schoolbooks yet. If the US is similar to Canada school education wise I suspect that kids in US are in desperate need of basic fundamental knowledge. This should come first I believe.

And he's still alive! Wow, 97 years old.