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Howard Hughes  By  cover art

Howard Hughes

By: Peter Harry Brown, Pat H. Broeske
Narrated by: Michael Prichard
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Publisher's summary

Howard Hughes was one of the most amazing, intriguing, and controversial figures of the 20th century. He was the billionaire head of a giant corporation, a genius inventor, an ace pilot, a matinee-idol-handsome playboy, a major movie-maker who bedded a long list of Hollywood glamour queens, a sexual sultan with a harem of teenage consorts, a political influencer with intimate ties to Watergate, a Las Vegas kingpin, and, ultimately, a bizarre recluse whose final years and shocking death were cloaked in mystery. Until now, few people have been able to penetrate the wall of secrecy that concealed this complex man. In this revelation-packed biography, the full story of one of the most daring, enigmatic, and reclusive power brokers America has ever known is finally told.
©2000 Peter Brown and Pat Broeske (P)2000 Books on Tape, Inc.

What listeners say about Howard Hughes

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Well Researched, on the affairs he had any way

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Less about his sex life, more about his accomplishments and what it took to achieve them

Which character – as performed by Michael Prichard – was your favorite?

Prichard did a good job with the reading. The editing was bad in some places. You could definately tell it was a different day with both sound level, voice and tone changing.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

They did their research as far as I can tell.

Any additional comments?

Howard Hughes was a very complex, interesting and landmark figure. This is a three volume set. I would say easily two-thirds of the book are about his conquests of Hollywood starlets and wannabes. How many times do you have to go into his methods for meeting, courting, manipulating bedding and then dumping a woman? Many of the women (girls) were underage and would have resulted in jail time for him in this day and age. It just got so repetitive after awhile. I certainly don't appreciate this side of Hughes, but dwelling more on what and how he accomplished what he did , would have been more entertaining. The book makes it look like he spent 23 hours a day chasing tail, and one hour a day building a multi-billion dollar empire. The authors also seem to go out of their way to emphasize the Mormon aides around Hughes and how they manipulated him with drugs and information control. I find it ironic, that Hughes the master of manipulation control and brass knuckle tactics is protrayed as a helpless victim here. He created the world and asylum he ended up living in. He surrounded himself with sycophants, and like every other billionare, president, king, emperor that sounds himself with a court of yes men and brown nosers, they begin to see themselves as the source of power and assume control. To make into a Mormon thing seemed to smack of religous bigoty.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Puff piece

Any additional comments?

I stopped listening half way through because the book was just a tabloid piece focused on Hughes lover affairs with Hollywood starlets.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful!

I loved hearing about Howard’s life and the things he did, and invented. He was a truly gifted amazing man with an incredible life, until the end.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

same thing again and again

Read the epilogue and last chapter. It will save you time and aggravation of hearing the same escapades over and over. Painful.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So interesting!

They left so much out of the Aviator movie. Loved listening to this man's life. Wow.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing life Amazing Book!!!

Amazing life Amazing Book!!!
Wow....... this mans life will blow your mind!!!
Wow........
Doesn't even seem true!!!
A must read......!!!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great book!

Would you listen to Howard Hughes again? Why?

yes, he has a great story and outlook on life

What was one of the most memorable moments of Howard Hughes?

his struggles when going into business, incredible!

Which scene was your favorite?

nothing specific

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

it would be impossible to listen to this book in one sitting

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Terrible reading.

The voice is terrible and old timey. The starry is of course interesting but it’s so unlistenable.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Too many girlfriends

Did Howard have a lot of girlfriends? Absolutely. But they dominate the story. You could easily miss Spruce Goose and everything around it because the author is too focused on the girlfriends.

If you are interested in the tabloid side of Howard's life, it's good. It is well written and well performed. But I quit with about 6 hours to go. I am not sure I'll ever return.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning detail - eye-opening

Well researched, compelling, epic account of the life of one of the most incredible, interesting and influential businessmen of all time.

Fascinating- yes- long and a lot of attention paid to his many love affairs and less on his business exploits. But it gives great color to the story.

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