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Quick answer: The best books on the Apollo 11 Moon landing tell the story of July 1969 from the astronauts, engineers and Mission Control. Start with First Man by James R. Hansen, Carrying the Fire by Michael Collins, A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin, Magnificent Desolation by Buzz Aldrin and Moonshot by Brian Floca for kids.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed the lunar module Eagle on the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility while Michael Collins circled overhead in Columbia. Armstrong’s first step was watched by hundreds of millions of people around the world. Behind it were about 400,000 people who worked on Apollo, from engineers and seamstresses to the programmers who wrote the guidance software. The mission was nearly derailed by computer alarms and a low fuel supply in the final seconds before landing. The books below include the astronauts’ own memoirs, the best histories, books about the technology and the people behind it, and wonderful books for children.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Man | James R. Hansen | Biography | Neil Armstrong’s life |
| Carrying the Fire | Michael Collins | Memoir | The best astronaut memoir |
| Magnificent Desolation | Buzz Aldrin | Memoir | Life after the Moon |
| A Man on the Moon | Andrew Chaikin | Narrative history | The whole Apollo program |
| Shoot for the Moon | James Donovan | Narrative history | Apollo 11 in context |
| One Giant Leap | Charles Fishman | History | How it was done |
| Apollo | Charles Murray and Catherine Bly Cox | History | The engineers’ story |
| Digital Apollo | David A. Mindell | History of technology | Tech lovers |
| Moonshot | Deke Slayton and Alan Shepard | Memoir | Insiders’ view |
| Of a Fire on the Moon | Norman Mailer | Literary journalism | Literary readers |
| Apollo 11: The Inside Story | David Whitehouse | History | A concise account |
| The Last Man on the Moon | Eugene Cernan | Memoir | The end of Apollo |
| Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 | Brian Floca | Picture book | Ages 4–8 |
| Who Was Neil Armstrong? | Roberta Edwards | Kids’ biography | Ages 8–12 |
| Margaret and the Moon | Dean Robbins | Picture book | Ages 4–8 |
1. First Man by James R. Hansen
Hansen’s authorized biography of Neil Armstrong is thorough and revealing about a famously private man. It became the 2018 film First Man.
2. Carrying the Fire by Michael Collins
Collins, who orbited the Moon alone while his crewmates walked on it, wrote his own memoir with humor and honesty. Many consider it the best book ever written by an astronaut.
3. Magnificent Desolation by Buzz Aldrin
Aldrin describes the landing and his struggles with depression and alcohol afterward. It’s honest and surprising. Content note: depression and alcoholism.
4. A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin
Chaikin interviewed the Apollo astronauts for this sweeping history of all the Moon missions. It inspired the HBO series From the Earth to the Moon.
5. Shoot for the Moon by James Donovan
Donovan tells the story of the Space Race leading to Apollo 11, with a gripping account of the landing itself. It’s a great single-volume history.
6. One Giant Leap by Charles Fishman
Fishman explains the enormous effort behind Apollo, from computers to spacesuits, and argues it changed technology on Earth. It’s fascinating and full of surprises.
7. Apollo by Charles Murray and Catherine Bly Cox
This classic tells the Apollo story through the engineers and flight controllers who made it work. It’s detailed and gripping.
8. Digital Apollo by David A. Mindell
Mindell explains how humans and computers worked together to land on the Moon, including the famous alarms during Apollo 11’s descent.
9. Moonshot by Deke Slayton and Alan Shepard
Two of the original Mercury astronauts tell the inside story of the race to the Moon. It’s personal, candid and full of anecdotes.
10. Of a Fire on the Moon by Norman Mailer
Mailer covered Apollo 11 for Life magazine and wrote this ambitious, opinionated book about what it meant. It’s a unique portrait of 1969.
11. Apollo 11: The Inside Story by David Whitehouse
Whitehouse, a former BBC science correspondent, uses interviews and archives to tell the mission’s story clearly and concisely.
12. The Last Man on the Moon by Eugene Cernan
The commander of Apollo 17 describes the program and his final steps on the Moon in 1972. It’s a moving companion to the Apollo 11 story.
13. Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca
Floca’s beautifully illustrated picture book follows the mission from launch to splashdown. It’s accurate, exciting and perfect for reading aloud.
14. Who Was Neil Armstrong? by Roberta Edwards
This short Who Was? biography tells the story of the shy boy from Ohio who became the first person to walk on the Moon.
15. Margaret and the Moon by Dean Robbins
This picture book tells the story of Margaret Hamilton, who led the team that wrote the software for the Apollo guidance computer. It’s inspiring for young readers.
Tips for Reading About Apollo 11
- Read Collins first. Carrying the Fire is warm, funny and honest.
- Then go broader. A Man on the Moon covers every Apollo mission.
- Learn the technology. Digital Apollo and One Giant Leap explain how it worked.
- Listen to the audio. NASA’s mission recordings bring the landing to life.
- Ignore hoax claims. The evidence for the landings, including Moon rocks and retroreflectors, is overwhelming.
- Read with kids. Moonshot by Brian Floca is a family favorite.
Related: best books on the Space Race and best books on the Cold War.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book about Apollo 11?
Carrying the Fire by Michael Collins is the best astronaut memoir, and First Man by James R. Hansen is the definitive Neil Armstrong biography.
What is a good Apollo 11 book for kids?
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca is a beautiful picture book for ages 4 to 8, and Who Was Neil Armstrong? suits ages 8 to 12.
When did Apollo 11 land on the Moon?
The lunar module Eagle landed on July 20, 1969, and Neil Armstrong stepped onto the Moon a few hours later.