The Impossible Factory
The Remarkable True Story of Kelly Johnson and the Lockheed Skunk Works, America's Innovation Machine
$59.62
- Hardcover
496 pages
- Release Date
19 May 2026
Summary
The extraordinary true story of Lockheed Martin’s “Skunk Works”—the radical innovation hub that designed the greatest airplanes of the twentieth century—and the visionary who made it all possible
“A kerosene-soaked masterclass in what extreme innovation looks, feels, and even smells like.” — Ashlee Vance
It began with a humble warehouse building in Burbank, California, and a charismatic young engineer named Kelly Johnson. In 1938, Johnson, who was the…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781524745516 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1524745510 |
| Author: | Josh Dean |
| Publisher: | Penguin Books Ltd |
| Imprint: | Dutton |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 496 |
| Release Date: | 19 May 2026 |
| Weight: | 669g |
| Dimensions: | 236mm x 159mm x 40mm |
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Critics Review
“Josh Dean has delivered a kerosene-soaked masterclass in what extreme innovation looks, feels and even smells like. This story could not be more timely as the U.S. tries to revive its industrial base and rekindle its inventive spirit.” —Ashlee Vance, New York Times bestselling author of When The Heavens Went On Sale
“I absolutely loved The Impossible Factory. It’s a page-turner that reveals who Kelly Johnson was as a person and how he and the brilliant team he assembled at Lockheed Skunk Works were able to design the aircraft that shaped the twentieth century. We learn about the evolution of planes over seventy years and meet test pilots and engineers, military leaders and politicians, collaborators and successors – all people essential to building the world we live in today. A must-read book.” —Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of The Women with Silver Wings
“An immersive account of Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works and its visionary founder, Kelly Johnson. The Impossible Factory brings to life the flat management and speed-focused approach that would become a precursor to the ‘move fast and break things’ mantra of Silicon Valley. Josh tells this epic story of the power of American ingenuity with style, making you feel like you’re working with Johnson on the 20th century’s signature aircraft.” —New York Times bestselling author Kevin Maurer
“An engaging life of an inventor and aviation pioneer with an astonishing, if little-known, roster of accomplishments. … A key figure in the annals of aviation technology, Johnson well merits this detail-packed life.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Johnson’s legacy with projects such as the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft to Area 51 will interest a wide audience, but it is the aviation enthusiasts who will truly relish this extensive history of Skunk Works and Kelly Johnson.” —Booklist
“This improbable story of how impossible machines reshaped modern warfare and technology itself is highly recommended for readers of military history, aviation, and American innovation.” —Library Journal (starred)
About The Author
Josh Dean
Josh Dean is a New York–based journalist, author, and podcaster. His work has appeared in Popular Science, GQ, Men’s Journal, Rolling Stone, and many other places. He is the cofounder of the acclaimed narrative podcast studio Campside Media, and the author of The Taking of K-129: How the CIA Used Howard Hughes to Steal a Russian Sub in the Most Daring Covert Operation in History, as well as Show Dog: The Charmed Life and Trying Times of a Near-Perfect Purebred.
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