Until his death in September 2007, W. David Lewis was a Distinguished University Professor at Auburn University.

This well-written and well-researched biography tells the life story of one of America's greatest, most widely-recognized, and controversial airmen. Skyways 2005 Mr. Lewis' research, 15 years of it, is meticulous, showing the beauty of how fact-based reality can top fiction for excitement, irony and tragedy. Mr. Lewis has painted a balanced, complete picture of an extremely complex man. It's obvious the author has a love for his subject, but this is not hagiography: All aspects of Rickenbacker's personality are laid on the table. Washington Times 2006 Lewis is comprehensive about his subject. Booklist 2005 A riveting read-certainly the best telling of the Rickenbacker story we are ever likely to have. Airways 2006 Makes for an avid story not just of Rickenbacker and his world, but of an evolving transportation industry. California Bookwatch 2006 Lewis provides readers with the definitive biography of this extraordinary man. Register of the Kentucky Historical Society 2005 This book will give a whole new generation of readers insights into a truly unique American character. The Western Front Association 2006 Lewis's intent is to replace Rickenbacker's self-promoting, ghost-written autobiographies with a reliable scholarly life. Journal of American History 2006 Lewis has given us an unabashedly individual and heroic story from the heart of our era's passion for motorized speed. Technology and Culture 2007 [Lewis] has compiled the definitive biography of Eddie Rickenbacker, an often forgotten American hero and entrepreneur. Exhaustively researched and well written, Lewis's study chronicles the life and achievements of Rickenbacker from his humble beginnings as the son of Swiss immigrants through his rise to heroic military veteran and founding father of American auto racing and airline travel. H-War, H-Net Reviews 2006

• Prologue. A Boy and His Flying Machine1. Starting Line2. Ignition3. Acceleration4. Full Throttle5. Shifting Gears8. A Matter of Luck9. Climax10. Homecoming11. Domestic Front12. Frustrations13. Comeback14. Apex15. Pivot16. Call to Duty17. Pacific Mission18. New Mandate19. Anticipating Victory20. Turbulence and Descent21. End GameEpilogue. In the ArenaAcknoldgmentsNotesEssay on Primary SourcesIndex

Until his death in September 2007, W. David Lewis was a Distinguished University Professor at Auburn University.

This well-written and well-researched biography tells the life story of one of America's greatest, most widely-recognized, and controversial airmen. Skyways 2005 Mr. Lewis' research, 15 years of it, is meticulous, showing the beauty of how fact-based reality can top fiction for excitement, irony and tragedy. Mr. Lewis has painted a balanced, complete picture of an extremely complex man. It's obvious the author has a love for his subject, but this is not hagiography: All aspects of Rickenbacker's personality are laid on the table. Washington Times 2006 Lewis is comprehensive about his subject. Booklist 2005 A riveting read-certainly the best telling of the Rickenbacker story we are ever likely to have. Airways 2006 Makes for an avid story not just of Rickenbacker and his world, but of an evolving transportation industry. California Bookwatch 2006 Lewis provides readers with the definitive biography of this extraordinary man. Register of the Kentucky Historical Society 2005 This book will give a whole new generation of readers insights into a truly unique American character. The Western Front Association 2006 Lewis's intent is to replace Rickenbacker's self-promoting, ghost-written autobiographies with a reliable scholarly life. Journal of American History 2006 Lewis has given us an unabashedly individual and heroic story from the heart of our era's passion for motorized speed. Technology and Culture 2007 [Lewis] has compiled the definitive biography of Eddie Rickenbacker, an often forgotten American hero and entrepreneur. Exhaustively researched and well written, Lewis's study chronicles the life and achievements of Rickenbacker from his humble beginnings as the son of Swiss immigrants through his rise to heroic military veteran and founding father of American auto racing and airline travel. H-War, H-Net Reviews 2006

• Prologue. A Boy and His Flying Machine1. Starting Line2. Ignition3. Acceleration4. Full Throttle5. Shifting Gears8. A Matter of Luck9. Climax10. Homecoming11. Domestic Front12. Frustrations13. Comeback14. Apex15. Pivot16. Call to Duty17. Pacific Mission18. New Mandate19. Anticipating Victory20. Turbulence and Descent21. End GameEpilogue. In the ArenaAcknoldgmentsNotesEssay on Primary SourcesIndex