Into That Silent Sea: Trailblazers of the Space Era, 1961-1965 Book

The most comprehensive look at early space programs for both the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Chapters deal with individual flights, starting with a biography of the principles and ending with their further career accomplishments. It was also fun to read!

I have read articles about Titov or Tereshkova, but this book goes into much more detail than any other source I have found. The authors speculate on the propaganda which has covered up the facts also, though in some cases we may never know more. Interviews were conducted with subjects on both sides of the former iron curtain, giving us an unprecedented look into the space race.

In the last year, I've read The Right Stuff and Gus Grissom's biography, but neither is as useful or interesting. This book is followed by In the Shadow of the Moon: A Challenging Journey to Tranquility, 1965-1969, and both are part of the Outward Odyssey series by the University of Nebraska press.