Of Flight and Life – Charles A. Lindbergh (1948)
Written by the legendary aviator Charles A. Lindbergh, this contemplative essay collection bridges his pioneering feats in aviation with profound philosophical musings on technology, human values, and the future of civilization in the atomic age. Composed in the shadow of World War II, Lindbergh reflects on his own journey—from the solo transatlantic flight that made him a global icon to his controversial pre-war isolationism and his later missions as a wartime pilot.
The title essay grapples with aviation’s double-edged legacy: a force that connects humanity but also delivers destruction. Lindbergh argues for balancing technological progress with spiritual and ecological wisdom, warning against the dehumanizing potential of machines. Other pieces explore themes of individual courage (“Life’s values are intangible”), the sanctity of wilderness, and the moral responsibilities of scientists.
Though criticized for its occasional moral simplifications, the book remains a fascinating window into Lindbergh’s complex mind—part poet, part pragmatist—as he seeks meaning beyond fame.
“A pilot’s perspective on earthbound dilemmas—where the horizon of ethics meets the runway of progress.”
