On 20 July 1969, the world stood still to watch 38-year-old astronaut Neil Armstrong become the first person ever to walk on the Moon. Perhaps no words in recent human history became better known than those few he uttered at that historic moment. Upon his return to Earth, Armstrong was honored and celebrated for his achievement. But he was also misunderstood. As authorized biographer James Hansen reveals in this fascinating and important book, it was the act of flying that had driven Armstrong rather than the pull of the destination, from his distinguished career as a fighter pilot in the Korean War right through to his most famous mission. Drawing on flight logs, family and NASA archives and over 125 original interviews with key participants, First Man vividly re-creates Armstrong's life and career in flying, from the heights of honor earned as a naval aviator, test pilot and astronaut, to the dear personal price paid by Armstrong and, even more so, by his wife and children, for his dedication to his vocation. It is a unique portrait of a great but reluctant hero.

【美】詹姆斯·汉森（James R. Hansen）

美国宇航局前历史学家，科学与技术史专家，奥本大学荣誉历史学教授。创作了12本航空航天史专著，两次被提名普利策奖历史类著作奖，荣获美国国家太空俱乐部授予的罗伯特·戈达德奖、美国空军历史基金会颁发的杰出证书、技术史学会颁发的尤金·弗格森杰出参考著作奖等。

1995年创作的《航天革命》被美国宇航局提名普利策奖，这是美国宇航局唯一一次提名一本书。另著有《起飞》《风与远方》等历史著作。

《登月第一人》是他的代表作品，2018年被导演达米恩·查泽雷改编并拍成同名电影，荣获金狮奖提名、奥斯卡金像奖最佳视觉效果等多项大奖。