Leighton Collins "Takeoffs and Landings"

I'm looking for some book recommendations - but the request comes with a
story:

A couple months ago I went with my wife to a quilting exhibition at the
local state fairgrounds. Quite nice quilting work, actually, though of
course I saw only one other male there. When we arrived the parking lot
was much fuller than I expected because it turned out that a used book
sale was also being done in another larger building. So after looking
over the hundred or so quilts we decided to wander over to the book sale
do some good old fashioned book browsing. Never know what old treasures
or curious titles one may stumble across.

Still, I had to restrain myself because I already have quite a few unread
books. I fear I'll never get through the backlog I already have before I
exit this mortal coil. But I did come across a couple used books that I
figured were worth spending $4 each on:

"Takeoffs and Landings" by Leighton Collins

"Free Flight" by James Fallows

The Collins book had a forward by Wolfgang Langewieshe, and the short bio
on the backcover told me all I needed to decide the book was worth
picking up.

The Fallows book had a picture of a Cirrus descending under parachute,
and the contents seem to suggest it would give some historical context to
the origin of Cirrus Aircraft and the concept of very-light-jets. The
book definitely covers those points, but also the cultural divide between
what Fallows calls the "enthusiasts" (those who seem to find anything
that flies interesting in itself) and "civilians" (pretty much everybody
else, who see aviation as just another mode of transportation).

I found both books to be quite instructive, entertaining, and useful. A
good fit for my current state of knowledge of the field of aviation. Old
hands may not find them of any value and might even have issues with
them.

I believe Collins' book is back in publication by ASA and I think it
makes an excellent follow-on to Langewiesche's "Stick and Rudder" book.

So to those who may be familiar with either book - do you know of
similarly interesting books? For example, I noticed there was one theme
(besides aviation of course) both books covered: how some ideas intended
to make planes easier or (hopefully) safer to fly sometimes encountered
resistance from the existing market or pilot base, and some never
catching on for one reason or another (I'm not qualified to judge whether
the reasons are valid). For example:

* Wing tip leading-edge slots, which allegedly significantly improve
lateral stability at the stall - but cost a few knots cruise speed.

* Stall resistant, spin-proof airplanes, like the Ercoupe and Skyfarer.

* Angle-of-attack indicators. (Collins had included this in his chapter
"Lost Causes" but since 1981, when the book was written, they appear to
have found strong market acceptance. At least that is my perception.)

* Castoring conventional gears to eliminate crosswind landing problems.
(Guess it was a bit unnerving to roll down the runway slightly sidways!)

* Ballistic parachutes for full size aircraft.