• The Limit

  • Life and Death on the 1961 Grand Prix Circuit
  • By: Michael Cannell
  • Narrated by: Fred Stella
  • Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (169 ratings)

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The Limit  By  cover art

The Limit

By: Michael Cannell
Narrated by: Fred Stella
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Publisher's summary

Phil Hill, a lowly California mechanic who, defying all expectations, became the first American to win the Grand Prix championship. In the tradition of Seabiscuit and The Right Stuff, Cannell’s high-octane narrative evokes the lives of the daredevils who tempted fate each Sunday by driving well over 150 mph without benefit of seat belts or roll bars.

Written with the pacing of a novel, The Limit pits Hill against his Ferrari teammate, German Count Wolfgang Von Trips, as they jockey for the top spot throughout the 1961 season, culminating in one of the deadliest races in Grand Prix history. The Limit captures a distinct moment when men the world over were driven to push the boundaries of the possible.

©2011 Original material Michael Cannell. Recorded by arrangement with Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group USA. (P)2011 HighBridge Company

What listeners say about The Limit

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

Great Intro to F1 History

Even though I have followed Formula 1 fairly closely for the better part of two decades, I must admit to having known very little about the sports golden age. I'd heard the outlines of course, about a time when the glamour and glory to be had was only heightened by the danger and sense of fatalism that colored racers' outlooks. This was, I'd heard, a time when racing legends were as likely to end up in an early grave as on a championship podium, and where things like safety measures were a far distant consideration next to performance on the track.
So I was very happy to find in this book not only an account of an iconic American driver's life and times, but a vivid portrait of a world long lost in which death and fame were the fruits of success on the Grand Prix circuit. The author rather dramatically paints in the details of the 1961 rivals' lives, highlighting their contrasting upbringings and sketching in the careers of the drivers and other people who influenced their development. Along the way, there is a long series of tragic stories of men's demise after pushing the limits of their abilities and those of their fragile race cars, or simply being unlucky. By the end, as the author suggests his subject did as well, the reader is left in awe and dismay at the spectacle of this great era in motor sport and the terrible toll it took in lives destroyed.
This book fills a rather specific niche. If you like me knew very little of the details of the early days of Formula 1 racing, it is very much a worthwhile listen. If you are well acquainted with the period however, aside from a few stories here and there with which you might not be familiar, I'd expect you'd get very little from this production.
As for the narration, it is good enough but by no means outstanding. Also, the reader notably employs uncommon pronunciations of several foreign names and racing terms.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Fine story, marred by so-so performance.

What did you like best about The Limit? What did you like least?

Hill's life was loaded with contradiction... This was captured well.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Correctly pronouncing names and places takes a beating. Michael Schumacher is not pronounced Mikhail Schumacher......

Do you think The Limit needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No.... However, Hill's subsequent career was largely skipped over. It was just as interesting as his early career.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Ruined by the narration

What did you like best about The Limit? What did you like least?

Some of the historical tidbits

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Limit?

I'm not sure there was a memorable moment. The story is well known.

What didn’t you like about Fred Stella’s performance?

The book was ruined by his constant mispronouncing of words and names.

Could you see The Limit being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

no

Any additional comments?

no

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2 people found this helpful

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

Excellent!

A great book for fans of Motorsport. For those who are familiar with the Phill Hill story and those who are not. The author captured the personalities and the era with entertaining flare supported by impeccable research. Strong recommend.

UPDATE: I noticed some folks complaining about the narration. I had my speed set at 1.2 and it moved along at a speedy clip.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Good book about the 1961 Formula 1 season

This book gave some great descriptions of the race car drivers from Formula One during the 1961 season. I especially enjoyed the background of that seasons champion American Phil Hill. I recommend this book.

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

Even Michael Schumacher

Great story of the F1 speed racers who couldn’t outrun death. The thread of destiny from the 60s winding to the 90s. Excellent!

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

Fans of formula one !

Well read and engrossing tale of the 50’s formula one season !
Good for any sort of racing fan

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

Interesting book!

As a gear head, i learned many details of early F1 & Phil Hill that I’d never come across prior. The last 60 seconds of the epilogue is unfortunately so, so, true. Modern culture is compiled of risk averse pansies. (My translation…and not the p word I’d prefer to use)

S. L. Reeves, MD

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • MC
  • 04-20-23

Wow

This is an amazing glimpse into the sheer
voluntary pursuit of dangerous passions. Well done.

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

Must listen for racing history fans and ferrari fans!!

One of the lesser known amazing seasons from one of the most brutal and iconic seasons from formula one. You really feel the dangers and drivers putting their lives on the line for speed and . Love how it covers both Von Tripp’s and hill’s upbringings and pre Grand Prix era. The cross over from other legendary drivers are great!

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