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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Bernie Ecclestone is best-known as the architect and figurehead of modern Formula One, but he has been a constant and often controversial presence in both Formula One and British public life since the 1970s. In this exhaustive and insightful biography, initially written in close collaboration with Bernie, Susan Watkins analyses in detail his rise to prominence, from his early entrepreneurial exploits as a schoolboy to his position today as a peerless businessman and multi-billionaire. All aspects of his business and racing exploits are examined, and contrasted with intimate insight into his personal life.
About the Author
Susan Watkins has written acclaimed biographies of Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I and Jane Austen. She has lectured internationally on her historical subjects, and recently has written a stageplay and screenplay on the Guinea Pig Club and Sir Archibald McIndoe, maverick WWII plastic surgeon. Married to Prof Sid Watkins, F1 surgical and safety consultant, she has been an F1 insider since the early 1980s, and her extended family has included Ayrton Senna, James Hunt, Jackie Stewart and Stirling Moss.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The nearest thing to an authorised biography of Bernie. Lots of details and stories, and I think the early part of the book is quite interesting, the used car days, the racing, the involvemnet with driver management, and the early days fo the Brabham purchase, but the second half seems to get bogged down once it goes into Bernie's financial dealings for FOCA, and successive ventures.
Biggest problem is that I'm sure some of the stories have been cleaned up, and some stuff carefully omitted. You don't get to where Bernie is, without "breaking a few legs" or something similar, it's just too nice and simple, "he's a wonderful chap, buys his mother flowers", none of the real "Doug and Dinsdale" stuff.
However, compared to the alternative Tom Bower book, this is a work of genius.
Biggest problem is that I'm sure some of the stories have been cleaned up, and some stuff carefully omitted. You don't get to where Bernie is, without "breaking a few legs" or something similar, it's just too nice and simple, "he's a wonderful chap, buys his mother flowers", none of the real "Doug and Dinsdale" stuff.
However, compared to the alternative Tom Bower book, this is a work of genius.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have a large collection of motor racing books and looked forward to adding this from the point that rumours about it having been written started to circulate.
I have been very disappointed. From very early on I began to get the feeling that this was a very sanitised biography. As with another review certain phrases began to grate and I found myself skipping through it, eventually giving up half way.
My copy is now in the care of our local Oxfam book shop and I hope that someone else does get pleasure from it. For me it was one of those rare failures, but there are so many good books around at the moment that I'm hardly short of something decent to read.
I have been very disappointed. From very early on I began to get the feeling that this was a very sanitised biography. As with another review certain phrases began to grate and I found myself skipping through it, eventually giving up half way.
My copy is now in the care of our local Oxfam book shop and I hope that someone else does get pleasure from it. For me it was one of those rare failures, but there are so many good books around at the moment that I'm hardly short of something decent to read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book paints Bernie Ecclestone in the loveable rogue, business is business mould.
Frequently the author describes a scenario and then informs the reader that this was a clear demonstration of the man's caring disposition (or his business is business attitude). I could see many of these scenarios in a completely different light. BE was required to authorise the books publication - I think this is very evident.
The thinking reader will see numbers of situations where the author allows BE's version of events to take precedent. Where the events are controversial, there is no questioning of these events by the author - or views from parties that would have been on the other side.
As such I don't see much point in buying this book - it simply does not penetrate enough.
Frequently the author describes a scenario and then informs the reader that this was a clear demonstration of the man's caring disposition (or his business is business attitude). I could see many of these scenarios in a completely different light. BE was required to authorise the books publication - I think this is very evident.
The thinking reader will see numbers of situations where the author allows BE's version of events to take precedent. Where the events are controversial, there is no questioning of these events by the author - or views from parties that would have been on the other side.
As such I don't see much point in buying this book - it simply does not penetrate enough.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bernie - A Decent Read
A good read. Beyond the already known business knowledge and power of the man, we get a glimpse into the human side of the great man with entertaining anecdotes otherwise unknown... Read more
Published 10 months ago by I_Am_Smash
a great read
I've read a number of biographies and usually sail through them in a few days, however Susan Watkin's brilliant biography of Bernie takes longer. Read more
Published 15 months ago by iainecg
The lovable Bernie
As other reviewers have said this book paints Bernie in a favourable light and whether a family friend - as Susan Watkins is - was best best placed to act as a biographer is open... Read more
Published 15 months ago by P. N. I. Jeffrey
Sue on Bernie
This is the best book on Bernie yet. A phenominal amount of research must have gone into this, even though Sue Watkins
is quite close to him.
An excellent read. Read more
is quite close to him.
An excellent read. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. P. C. Anderson
Business Bernie
This is an interesting book for fans of Business Bernie, however, if it's the lowdown on what ticks inside F1 this isn't it. Read more
Published 15 months ago by skipppy
Disappointing biography of Bernie Ecclestone
The book give a fairly good account of the mans life but generally I found it disappointing and lightweight. Read more
Published 15 months ago by J Lyle
Susan Watkin's biography of Bernie Ecclestone
The enigmatic Bernie Ecclestone lives a private life and I've always wondered what he's really like. This book provides quite a few clues. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mr. C. Winwood
A Revealing Portrait
Having followed F1 for several years I was interested to find out something about the man behind the scenes. Read more
Published 16 months ago by mark mckerrell
Fascinating: a very well written and presented title though the...
`Bernie, The Biography of Bernie Ecclestone', is written by Susan Watkins who is married to Professor Sid Watkins (ex-F1 medical guru). Read more
Published 16 months ago by Chris Of The OT
Worth a tenner but ...
I noticed it is now a biography not an autobiography and that sets the tone. Yes interesting bits, in the very early days, but as time goes on so we get lost in a morass of... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Dino
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