Charles Lindbergh , the aviator legendary for his nonstop, one-man flight from New York to Paris in 1927, recounts his life in this autobiography. He tells of his early life, his education, and his interest in science and mechanics. He became fascinated with flying after seeing his first airplane, but wouldn’t get near one for several years. He went to college to study engineering, then left school for Nebraska to enroll in flight lessons. He moved on to doing stunts at barnstormers, until he was finally able to buy his own plane from wartime surplus. He goes on to tell of his aviation career up to the point where he got financial backing to build his famous airplane, Spirit of St. Louis , to try for the Orteig prize for the first person to make a nonstop flight from New York to Paris.

Reluctant to write about the incredible worldwide reception he received after the flight, Lindbergh chose the writer Fitzhugh Green to add several chapters to his autobiography on the phenomenal reaction to his achievement: not only were the crowds in Europe and the States overjoyed at his accomplishment, but his modesty, grace, youth, and lack of self-seeking motives made him all the more endearing. He continued to promote commercial aviation and foresaw a time when cities would be connected by regular air service. In reference to his famous flight, he always used “we” to refer to all who were involved in building the Spirit of St. Louis and enabling his endeavor, and refused to take sole credit.