The book, Riders Of The Winds: The Story Of Ballooning covers the full span of ballooning achievement from the early experiments of the Montgolfiers in 1783 up to the early 1970s.  This comprehensive book not only explores ballooning as an adventurous sport, it also describes the important scientific and military uses of balloons over almost two centuries.  Along the way, “Riders Of The Winds: The Story Of Ballooning” highlights some of the most daring balloonists of all time including the following balloonists: 1) Pilatre de Rozier; 2) Jean-Pierre Blanchard, 3) Madame Thible; 4) Etienne Gaspard Robertson; 5) Charles Ritchel; 6) John Wise; 7) Monck Mason; 8) Jean & Jeannette Piccard and 9) Captain W. Kittinger, Junior.  A concluding section on modern-day sport ballooning provides information on how and where to get formal ballooning instruction and training.  The major sections of “Riders Of The Winds: The Story Of Ballooning” includes the following major sections: 1) Preface; 2) Acknowledgements; 3) Chapter 1 – Sport Of The Gods; 4) Chapter 2 – What Good Is A Newborn Babe?; 5) Chapter 3 – Up, Up, And Away; 6) Chapter 4 – Ballooning In The New World; 7) Chapter 5 – The Balloonatics; 8) Chapter 6 – To The Poles!; 9) Chapter 7 – Grandfather Of The Jet Stream; 10) Chapter 8 – Europe Or Bust!; 11) Chapter 9 – War Balloons; 12) Chapter 10 – Hotels In The Sky; 13) Chapter 11 – Ghost Balloons; 14) Chapter 12 – Hands Off!; 15) Chronology; 16) Balloon Makers; 17) Balloon Schools; 18) Balloon Clubs And Societies; 19) Bibliography and 20 Index.  In addition to an informative narrative, “Riders Of The Winds: The Story Of Ballooning” includes the following features: 1) Approximately 70 black and white photographs and 2) 1 black and white illustration.  “Riders Of The Winds: The Story Of Ballooning” provides vivid first-hand accounts of ballooning, as well as, a wealth of fascinating facts and anecdotes, which makes it well worth reading.  This book is 180 pages and is in very good condition.  The author is Don Dwiggins.  Edition published in 1973.