Hughes: The Private Diaries, Memos and Letters Audiobook By Richard Hack cover art

Hughes: The Private Diaries, Memos and Letters

The Definitive Biography of the First American Billionaire

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Howard Hughes (1905-1976) was a true American original: legendary lover, record-setting aviator, idiosyncratic film producer, talented inventor, ultimate eccentric—and, for much of his lifetime, the richest man in the United States. His desire for privacy was so fierce and his isolation so complete that even several decades after his death, inaccurate stories continue to circulate about him. Richard Hack explodes the illusion of Hughes' life and exposes the man behind the myth--a playboy whose sexual exploits with Hollywood stars were legendary, an entrepreneur without ethics, an explorer without maps, and ultimately, an eccentric trapped by his own insanity.

Drawing on secreted letters, declassified FBI files, autopsy reports, more than 110,000 pages of court testimony, and exclusive interviews, Hack reveals a man so devious in his thinking and so perverse in his desires that his impact continues to be felt even today. From entertainment to politics, aviation to espionage, the influence and manipulation of Howard Hughes has left an indelible and unique mark on the American cultural landscape.

©2001 New Millennium Audio, All Rights Reserved (P)2001 New Millennium Audio, All Rights Reserved Biographies & Memoirs Professionals & Academics Entertainment & Celebrities Business Aviation Biography Celebrity

Critic reviews

"In the most exciting bio of the year, Hack presents the American dream curdling into the American nightmare, personified in a legend who at last has an accounting worthy of him." (Publishers Weekly)

"A fascinating, captivating listen." (AudioFile)

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Fascinating Biography • Detailed Research • Pleasant Voice Tone • Comprehensive Account • Well-researched Information

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This has been the best told story I have heard !! It was exciting, complete and kept me coming back for more.

Exceptional!!!

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All in all, this is a great book. The research is excellent and Hughes' story is fascinating, though incredibly depressing. What a pathetic individual. He was brilliant but he was a brilliant, spoiled brat.

The writing is good but has some definite issues. The author frequently describes Hughes thoughts about particular topics as though he knows exactly what Hughes was thinking. Hughes didn't keep a diary and apparently didn't carry on a lot of personal conversations in the latter half of his life, so I don't know how the author would know his intimate feelings. I find this sort of pure invention in biographies annoying. There are also some very wierd similies and metaphors used in the book (unfortunately, it's hard to go back and find an example in an audiobook). Fortunately, the excellent research saves the book from some of the minor failings of the writing itself.

The narrator was very good in tone and pace though I too was astonished at the number of basic mispronunciations.

Excellent Research

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This life of priviledge went horribly wrong. Although repelled, the listener can't turn away.

Fascinating and repelling.

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Howard Hughes lead a life of nutty and/or brilliant behaviors--performed over and over again. But he never had the personal growth or relationships that make for a compelling biography.

Not really such an interesting man

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Essentially this is a rehashing of all the other biographies written about the world's most famous billionare. There is little new information, and many pertinent facts are left out. The only redeeming quality is a thorough account of the battle over Hughes estate, which is often merely summarized in other volumes.If this is your first foray into works about Howard Hughes, it is a good start, but there are better references out there.

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