More with Less: Paul MacCready and the Dream of Efficient Flight

In the 1970s, when most aeronautics designers were interested in bigger and more powerful planes, engineer and all-around mad visionary Paul MacCready was obsessed with man-powered flight. L.A. Times writer Paul Ciotti has written a biography of MacCready, who built not only the Gossamer Condor, an award-winning man-powered plane, but also solar-powered planes and cars. More With Less: Paul MacCready and the Dream of Efficient Flight traces the sources of MacCready's inspiration and describes the community of maverick engineers and designers concentrated in Southern California (where MacCready worked). Threaded through the book are interviews with MacCready himself, who continues to work today and is particularly interested in renewable-resource technology. (Sept.)