Hughes: The Private Diaries, Memos and Letters

The Definitive Biography of the First American Billionaire

By: Richard Hack

Narrated by: Dan Cashman

Length: 17 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

"Howard Hughes would have hated this book...because he never wanted the truth to be told. As the man who knew Hughes best for 17 years and to whom he referred publicly as his alter-ego, I now believe that the entire story has finally been told." (Robert Maheu)

Howard Hughes was a true American original: legendary lover, record-setting aviator, award-winning 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 now, 25 years after his death, inaccurate stories continue to circulate, and many have been published as fact. Hughes explodes the illusion of his life and exposes the man behind the myth. He was a playboy whose sexual exploits with Hollywood stars were legendary. He was a man without compassion; an entrepreneur without ethics; an explorer without maps; and ultimately, an eccentric trapped by his own insanity, sealed off from reality, who died a lonely and - until now - mysterious death.

Newly uncovered personal letters, over 110,000 pages of sealed court testimony, recently declassified FBI files, never-before-published autopsy reports and exclusive interviews reveal a man so devious in his thinking, so perverse in his desires, and so influential that his impact continues to be felt even today. From entertainment to politics, aviation to espionage, the influence and manipulation of this billionaire 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

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)

Intriguing biography but not definitive

Not the best Biography. Hughes is portrayed as a severely dysfunctional individual: mentally, socially, and even dysfunctional in his business dealings, yet he became the first billionaire in America. These facts do not make sense and the book does not attempt to explain, analyze, or even acknowledge this discrepancy, thus it cannot be the definitive biography of Howard Hughes, as claimed by the author. Many other minor paradoxes are not even acknowledged. What stands out in the book is that HRH was a consummate predator of human beings, a cannibal, which you will clearly see is something very different than a warrior. Intriguing but not definitive.

Hughes Biography

Outstanding and very interesting - what a nut Howard turned out to be. Very good and enjoyed the entire book

Hughes - The Aviator

Many people were introduced to the story of Howard Hughes through the 2004 film, The Aviator. Martin Scocese covered highlights from the 1920s - 1940s. However, those wanting the whole story will definitely appreciate this audiobook! In great detail, Richard Hack tells of Hughes' curious dealings in business and his odd personal relationships. What I found most interesting was Hughes' accomplishments as an aviator and businessman (many of which were ommitted in the movie) and his ongoing battles with the government - which included censorship, anti-trust lawsuits, federal surveillance. My only critism, if any, is how long this book is(17.5 hours!). Yet the narrator does a good job at keeping you hooked to the story.

Through Detail on Howard Hughes

While some might read this because their curiosity was peaked by The Aviator, the actual events of Howard Hughes' life are far more interesting than Scorsese's biopic. Genius, degenerate, innovator, cheapskate, philanthropist and narcissist are words that characterize the eccentric Mr. Hughes. The unbelievable stories of his business life, personal life and his spiraling mental state will stun you. And despite this, his influence can still be seen today with multiple namesake real estate holdings, the work of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and his contributions to aerospace. Mr. Hughes is a one-of-kind human being that certainly didn't change the world a la Edison, Ford, Gates or Jobs, but, his story is arguably among the most interesting of the 20th century.

The Aviator comes to audible

If you liked the movie Aviator you will love this book. The movie is very true to the book which of course goes into much more wonderful detail. This is one of the better all around great jobs that Audible has brought to market. The author did a great job, the narrator did a great job and Audible did a great job bringing the book to the audible market. Well done.

Hughes

Good listen, but the narrator must be about ten years old to be so lame in his pronunciations of people, places, and things. It seems one would have to grow up in total isolation not to know how to pronounce names like "Nadine" and "Tonopah". These are just two examples of dozen's of mispronuncitions. It was annoying especially for a resident of Houston.

Fabulous

This is an awesome book and a must read for all who love biographies. Huges' (also known as the eccentric billionaire) life is thoroughly interesting and keeps one totally on their toes. The story goes on to show how, inspite of being one of the most wealthy people in the world, one cannot buy happiness and peace of mind. Huges' life is amazinly eventful and he was always upto something in life, from getting the most beautiful women to being the biggest private landlord in Nevada. It is tragic to see the end has had. Must read for everyone.

Extremely entertaining

Forget everything you thought was motivating Howard Hughes. This is a highly entertaining inside story of a man who marched to a drummer on a different planet. The richest man in the world sits in the stench of a filthy darkened room, obsesses about germs, mucks up multi-million dollar business deals, compulsively lies and has no comprehension, much less concern, about the havoc he causes others. This is a great listen.

Too weird

As a young woman, I read Howard Hughes' adventures, or misadventures, in the tabloids. Later, when he died, I read about his peculiarities. Intrigued by Hughes' life, I bought this audiobook, it is very well written, read by a great narrator, and goes into great detail about the absurdity surrounding his early years and how it affected his adult life. Good read if you'd like to know what molded an outstanding man. I found way too much detail of the absurd and while "reading" it had the same queasy feeling when, as a small child, I went into a carnival booth showing the "spider woman" - revolted yet at the same time fascinated

HRH a historical figure

Saw this because of the Richard hack interview at the 9/11 museum. hack makes the story cohesive and adds his own perceptions as to the unknowable motivations HRH had. This biography reveals through his memos internal strife that would have been lost in media frenzy. HRH while not a traditional historical figure, was instrumental in the development of the American Southwest and this book illustrates his involvement.