A Season in the Air

This book is a bit of a touchstone in my life. I've been a land-based textbook aviator forever, always yearning to take flight instruction (in a real airplane, not just on a home pc simulator), but too timid to pursue it. Now in my 50's and semi-retired, it's time, and I've signed-up for that first hands-on-the-yoke lesson at a local airport. The author Simmons brought me to this moment. A needed push. A very interesting bio, too. I was taken in by his trials as an academic--his struggle teaching literature at M.I.T.--and about his distant relationship with his father, his stifling relationship with his mother and the ridiculous dogma she forced on him as a child, and then the final nail--his failed marriage. It all fed powerfully into his escape to the cockpit (inspite his white knuckle fear of flying!!!). Here's a mid-30s hard-working guy, full of angst, rage and chronic disappointment over the choices he's made thus far, trying to do the right thing to please everyone but himself. He confronts his most acute fear, airplanes. Ultimately, it's in the air that he finds exhileration in mastering intricate flight systems and in managing such risk, which gives him confidence in his powers to change his life for the better. He brings the insecure but rational-thinking student-pilot to life as I've never read anywhere else before. And the personalities of the flight personnel who helped him along the way to becoming a private pilot are revealed in wonderful, believable detail. I really enjoyed this book.

A Season in the Air is a lovely, moving story of a man's struggle to break free from the chains that bind him. His childhood religion, fears of flying, family problems, and a career that is going nowhere are all holding him back from something; but he doesn't even know what that missing something is. Through flying lessons, he learns to let go of his fears and demons. Even as his family, career, and credit are taking a downward spiral, Simmons is learning that his pilot's license may be everything he needs.This book is very moving, full of beautiful imagery and thoughts. The non-pilot will not be confused, or disappointed, and may even want to learn to fly after reading this. Highly recommended!