About the book
Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele set out to show that the popular image of Howard Hughes, the aviator, playboy and entrepreneur who alternately courted and shunned publicity, was almost wholly false. His fortune came from his father's tool company and later from Hughes Aircraft, which thrived only because he was kept from interfering. No company under his control produced a successful aircraft; he came close to destroying TWA, ruined a major film studio, and saw his Las Vegas gambling empire crippled by corruption. The authors also trace his last 18 years, spent addicted to drugs and trying to hide the madness he feared he had. The text first appeared under the title Empire.
Elon Musk was reported to have said he had just finished it, and Ryan Holiday ranked it first among the cautionary biographies he read in 2015, crediting the authors for respecting Hughes's daring while staying clear about his flaws.
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This book has 2 recommendations
Elon Musk (Founder/SpaceX)
On Elon Musk’s 14 Books That Inspired Elon Musk (Business Insider)
Ryan Holiday (Founder/Brass Check)
For me, this year was filled with what one might called “cautionary biographies”—bios of people you don’t want to end up like—and Hughes is at the top of the list. The authors clearly respect what was great about Howard—his daring, his talent for flying, his sense for people and love of negotiation—but they also see clearly his many, crippling flaws. They are able to tell his story in a way that gives one real insight into the life of a tragic and tortured figure. I very much related to the stories in the book given my more recent experiences at American Apparel and I imagine anyone else who has dealt with powerful personalities and eccentric figures will too.
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Donald L. Barlett, James B. Steele