The Flight
My previous exposure to Charles Lindbergh was through the alternate history thriller Plot Against America where he was depicted as a Nazi sympathizer who defeated Roosevelt in a WWII presidential election and lead America down a dark path.
I don't know much about the real Lindbergh's politics or views, but the depiction of his solo flight across the Atlantic in The Flight is thrilling. Following Lindbergh as he journeys across the Atlantic over a 33 hour period, oblivious to the uproar building up down below, reads like the best fiction.
The Flight is presented from the pilot's perspective. I feel like not much has changed in nearly 100 years, as Lindbergh flies The Spirit of St. Louis like I'm supposed to fly my Cessna 172 trainer. But he flies way closer to the ground for some reason -- like 10 feet up at times, close enough that he worries that waves will kick up and pull him down.
As I fight to to land consistently enough that my CFI deems me solo worthy (VERY CLOSE -- FLARE ANOOP FLARE!!!), this book is giving me some much needed encouragement. Maybe one day I'll be able to fly from the US to Europe. Like these the reverse of these guys: