Rating: 
Summary: PART NOVEL, PART BIO, ALL INCREDIBLE
Review: For the reviewer that compares this book to a gothic novel, I have a piece of advice...run out and read a gothic novel and then perhaps you'll realize how wonderfully written and finely crafted this biography actually is. What amazed me about "Hughes" was author Richard Hack's ability to deliver thousands of facts about this man's life and write them in a way that never bored the reader. If anything, this book unfolds like a drama, with each chapter peeling the onion that is Howard Hughes and exposing his inner core. I am now mid-way through my second read of this book, and find it even more exciting. I highly recommend it to anyone who is ready for this larger-than-life story of an American original. Good job.
Rating:
Summary: Spruce Goose found home,..inland...
Review: From CA, Hughes wartime heroic Huge! aircraft-now in MUSEUM in Dakotas. This treatment will serve as screenplay... Similarities between eccentric-H..H. & iconclastic Marlon Brando,*(age 78) are emerging. Brando owns an atoll in Tahitti, & H.H. fell into dissolution..in Caribe' Isle...Viva Las Vegas! * new Bio by P.Bosworth,Penquin Viking- Series...Sept.2001
Rating:
Summary: Portrait of an Eccentric Billionaire
Review: He flew the fastest times around the world, he dated the most sought after starlets of Hollywood's Golden Age (around 18, I lost count at last) as a 6'4 playboy, inherited his father's Hughes Tools and subdivided it into Hughes Aircraft and Hughes Medical to turn $800,000 into a billion dollar megalith corporation, he directed and produced revolutionary movies, he was a well gamed golfer, publicized Las Vegas as an up-n-coming paradise oasis in the desert, and in the end he turned into a mysterious hibernating hermit who rarely communicated with anyone face to face and never saw sunlight for months on end.What led to such strange transmutations of this charismatic character who would eventually turn his back on the glam and glitter of the penultimate Hollywood lifestyle? Was it the numerous life-threatening accidents he endured, his rigorous all night 18 hour work day binges, or was it some deeper more dark force that gained control over his mental faculties? This book, with great insight into the debauchery that is not only Hollywood, but that is the corrupt dealings that take place between government and business, especially when it comes to covering up military affairs, exposes the vast psychological and political gains that are gained through the power of money. From dealing with libel suits, to anti-monopoly regulation, to tax-deductible accounting practices, to government contracts, this is not only a great book about the entertainment industry, but also about the gamesmanship of an entrepreneur. This biography is very intriguing and shows you that money doesn't buy you happiness and many times corrupts you, as it did with Howard's own trusted personal assistants who sacrificed proper medical care and honest advice for monetary gains after his death. A great and quick read that gets into the heart and mind of this most opaque individual.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Much Ground to Cover in One Book
Review: Howard Hughes is one of the most interesting people to enter into the public consciousness during the 20th Century. Unfortunately his legacy is one of lunacy, political scandal, and a string of broken relationships with women and business associates. Along the way, the firms he controlled accomplished a great deal and could be studied by business students in great detail. This biography by Mr. Hack tends to focus more on the personal side of Howard Hughes. If you are interested in who he slept with and who he married, and what kind of drugs he took, this book covers it in detail. In many ways it's a lurid story that we see in supermarket tabloids. The difference in this case, is that Hack covers the issue quite well and you come away from the book learning more about Hughes. If you are seeking to learn more about Hughes as a businessman or the business accomplishements of Hughes Oil Tool or Hughes Aircraft, this is not the book for you. There are plenty of other business books that cover the business side of Hughes quite well. On the other hand if you are looking for a well-done recounting of Hughes as a person, this book is worth the time. My only real complaint is that it is impossible to fully cover anything about Hughes in just one book. Most incidents in Hughes'history are given a page or two, but that's necessary to keep the flow of the book moving. Obviously you could spend hundreds of pages discussing the antitrust case between Hughes Aircraft and TWA but it wouldn't provide the same mass appeal that this book targets. Given the constraints, Hack does a good job and I would recommend it to most people.
Rating: 
Summary: What a fitting name for the author
Review: Howard Hughes was a hell of an interesting man. The same could be said for Richard Hack's writing style; interesting. Hack managed to turn 5 star content into a 3 star book. If this is the definative Hughes book then I guess you've no choice but to read it but Hack's prose is painful to get through. He feels the necessity to use literary devices in the way a 5th grader would. "Hughes landed the Hercules with the prowess of a cat walking on a thin fence while other cats looked on." Okay, so that wasn't a legit quote but, you get the point. If you can get past reading an author who should probably be an "Access Hollywood" reporter instead, go ahead and read Hughes.
Rating:
Summary: This guy is unbelievable!
Review: Howard Hughes was born in 1905; he died in 1977. His mother had died in 1922 , his father in 1924 - thus, Hughes became independent at age 17 - with a guardian (Aunt Annette) and his inheritance (Hughes Tool Company) - valued at $626,000. He ignored his Aunt's advice to attend Rice Institute. He'd already identified his three main goals in life: to become the world's greatest golfer, the world's greatest pilot, and the world's greatest movie-maker. He entrusted the management of Hughes Tool Company (eventually acclaimed for having revolutionized the oil producing industry) to the same people his father had hired; thus, he enjoyed security and independence, a comfortable income, plus time and money to pursue his goals.
At 19 Hughes decides that a serious, young entrepreneur like himself needs a wife; he chooses Ella Rice, a pretty, socially prominent young lady in Houston. Though already in love with another `promising' young man, Ella was persuaded by her mother and Aunt Annette that Howard - handsome and already rich - was a better 'catch'. After a 3-month honeymoon in New York City the newlyweds headed for California - where Hughes could launch his movie-making career. Soon Hughes was so involved in his golf (he eventually lowered his handicap to a respectable 2-plus) and movie making, that he had little time or energy left for Ella, who left him after 6 months.
In Hollywood Hughes hires an 'executive assistant'. Together they produce in 1926 one flop and one `so-so' movie, then in 1927 they produce and Hughes directs "Two Arabian Nights" (with actors William Boyd and Boris Karloff ) - a film that wins for Hughes an Oscar for `Best Director of a Comedy'. In 1928 Hughes begins "Hell's Angels" - a movie that includes 'dogfights' in Sopwith Camels and German Fokkers (78 of them!). Though the movie must eventually be totally re-made (converted from silent to 'talkie' version) , Hughes in the process discovers actress Jean Harlow and the movie establishes box-office records everywhere. The film's premier at Grauman's Chinese Theater was the `best night of his life' - according to Hughes. Hughes goes on to make many other famous and profitable films (Scarface, the Outlaw), discover other starlets (Jane Russell), and in 1948 he buys a major movie studio - RKO - which establishes him as a major film maker.
Meanwhile, Ella has divorced him , thus freeing Howard to 'play the field'. He's still only 23 - but now richer, more famous and even more handsome than ever - ergo, a very eligible bachelor. Plus, he now has his own little air force, a movie studio and a 170-foot yacht. He thus has little trouble meeting and squiring the world's most beautiful women -like Lana Turner, Ginger Rogers, Ava Gardner, Ida Lupino, Olivia de Havilland, Katherine Hepburn, Terry Moore, Yvonne DeCarlo, Kathryn Grayson, Bette Davis, Rita Hayworth, Linda Darnell, Billie Dove, and Faith Domerigue - to name a few. Not infrequently he'd be engaged to two, even 3, women at the same time. His love life was in a word - hectic. In 1957 an aging Hughes finally remarries - to actress Jean Peters, a former beauty-contest winner from Canton, Ohio.
In 1927, prompted by the exploits of Charles Lindbergh, and Amilia Earhart, Hughes turns again to his third yet unachieved goal - to become the world's best pilot. He seeks out J.B. Alexander - an experienced pilot-instructor, who is also a `barnstormer' and stunt flyer. Alexander reports that Hughes was a natural flyer. Soon Hughes was flying his own planes and conjuring up new goals related to flying. In the early `30's, when the depression was hurting Hughes Tool Company profits and Hughes' movie-making pursuits , Hughes takes a 11 month `sabbatical`. He works temporarily (incognito) as an airport baggage handler, then , elsewhere, as a stunt pilot - for $250.00 per month. Later, Hughes employs a pilot-mechanic and tasks him with `souping up' Hughes' recently purchased 8-passenger Sikorski S-43. Together they would make flights around the country with Hughes' movie-star girlfriends - and sometimes with 'best friend' Cary Grant and Randolph Scott - two famous actors who later were reportedly bi-sexual - which fueled the rumor mill that Hughes, too, was probably bi-sexual.
In 1934 Hughes and his team set about designing and testing a plane (the H-1) that Hughes wanted to use to set flight records that would establish him as a great pilot. A year later, after Hughes had personally flight-tested the plane, he started flying it to establish new records - speed records, long distance records, altitude records, and, in 1938, a new record for an around-the-world flight. These achievements won for Hughes other awards and recognition for flying : a congressional medal, the Harmon Trophy, and the Collier Trophy. He was also honored with a ticker-tape parade down Broadway in New York City. Hughes, now convinced that air travel had a future, eventually acquired an airline (TWA) that promised fast, comfortable air travel for the general public.
During World War II Hughes' enterprises expanded to meet war demands. Hughes' empire eventually became one of the government's biggest suppliers of aircraft, helicopters, aircraft parts, weapons, missiles and munitions. In 1966 Hughes was declared a billionaire and the richest man in the world. His latest interests now included Las Vegas, where by 1971 he controlled 17% of the city's gambling revenues and employed some 8,000 people. By now Hughes has `done it all' and he's become a recluse.
Howard Hughes was a giant of his times. He was shrewd, but also lucky: the fields of endeavor that he chose to enter were all just `taking off`: real estate investments in California and Las Vegas, gambling in Nevada, air travel, golf, the movie industry, and the oil industry (which boomed when the auto industry exploded.). Hughes also profited immensely because he was well positioned when World War II began. Hughes' life reads like a fairy tale. Just unbelievable! Believe me!
Rating:
Summary: This guy is unbelievable!
Review: Howard Hughes was born in 1905; he died in 1977. His mother had died in 1922 , his father in 1924 - thus, Hughes became independent at age 17 - with a guardian (Aunt Annette) and his inheritance (Hughes Tool Company) - valued at $626,000. He ignored his Aunt's advice to attend Rice Institute. He'd already identified his three main goals in life: to become the world's greatest golfer, the world's greatest pilot, and the world's greatest movie-maker. He entrusted the management of Hughes Tool Company (eventually acclaimed for having revolutionized the oil producing industry) to the same people his father had hired; thus, he enjoyed security and independence, a comfortable income, plus time and money to pursue his goals.
At 19 Hughes decides that a serious, young entrepreneur like himself needs a wife; he chooses Ella Rice, a pretty, socially prominent young lady in Houston. Though already in love with another 'promising' young man, Ella was persuaded by her mother and Aunt Annette that Howard - handsome and already rich - was a better 'catch'. After a 3-month honeymoon in New York City the newlyweds headed for California - where Hughes could launch his movie-making career. Soon Hughes was so involved in his golf (he eventually lowered his handicap to a respectable 2-plus) and movie making, that he had little time or energy left for Ella, who left him after 6 months.
In Hollywood Hughes hires an 'executive assistant'. Together they produce in 1926 one flop and one 'so-so' movie, then in 1927 they produce and Hughes directs "Two Arabian Nights" (with actors William Boyd and Boris Karloff ) - a film that wins for Hughes an Oscar for 'Best Director of a Comedy'. In 1928 Hughes begins "Hell's Angels" - a movie that includes 'dogfights' in Sopwith Camels and German Fokkers (78 of them!). Though the movie must eventually be totally re-made (converted from silent to 'talkie' version) , Hughes in the process discovers actress Jean Harlow and the movie establishes box-office records everywhere. The film's premier at Grauman's Chinese Theater was the 'best night of his life' - according to Hughes. Hughes goes on to make many other famous and profitable films (Scarface, the Outlaw), discover other starlets (Jane Russell), and in 1948 he buys a major movie studio - RKO - which establishes him as a major film maker.
Meanwhile, Ella has divorced him , thus freeing Howard to 'play the field'. He's still only 23 - but now richer, more famous and even more handsome than ever - ergo, a very eligible bachelor. Plus, he now has his own little air force, a movie studio and a 170-foot yacht. He thus has little trouble meeting and squiring the world's most beautiful women -like Lana Turner, Ginger Rogers, Ava Gardner, Ida Lupino, Olivia de Havilland, Katherine Hepburn, Terry Moore, Yvonne DeCarlo, Kathryn Grayson, Bette Davis, Rita Hayworth, Linda Darnell, Billie Dove, and Faith Domerigue - to name a few. Not infrequently he'd be engaged to two, even 3, women at the same time. His love life was in a word - hectic. In 1957 an aging Hughes finally remarries - to actress Jean Peters, a former beauty-contest winner from Canton, Ohio.
In 1927, prompted by the exploits of Charles Lindbergh, and Amilia Earhart, Hughes turns again to his third yet unachieved goal - to become the world's best pilot. He seeks out J.B. Alexander - an experienced pilot-instructor, who is also a 'barnstormer' and stunt flyer. Alexander reports that Hughes was a natural flyer. Soon Hughes was flying his own planes and conjuring up new goals related to flying. In the early '30's, when the depression was hurting Hughes Tool Company profits and Hughes' movie-making pursuits , Hughes takes a 11 month 'sabbatical'. He works temporarily (incognito) as an airport baggage handler, then , elsewhere, as a stunt pilot - for $250.00 per month. Later, Hughes employs a pilot-mechanic and tasks him with 'souping up' Hughes' recently purchased 8-passenger Sikorski S-43. Together they would make flights around the country with Hughes' movie-star girlfriends - and sometimes with 'best friend' Cary Grant and Randolph Scott - two famous actors who later were reportedly bi-sexual - which fueled the rumor mill that Hughes, too, was probably bi-sexual.
In 1934 Hughes and his team set about designing and testing a plane (the H-1) that Hughes wanted to use to set flight records that would establish him as a great pilot. A year later, after Hughes had personally flight-tested the plane, he started flying it to establish new records - speed records, long distance records, altitude records, and, in 1938, a new record for an around-the-world flight. These achievements won for Hughes other awards and recognition for flying : a congressional medal, the Harmon Trophy, and the Collier Trophy. He was also honored with a ticker-tape parade down Broadway in New York City. Hughes, now convinced that air travel had a future, eventually acquired an airline (TWA) that promised fast, comfortable air travel for the general public.
During World War II Hughes' enterprises expanded to meet war demands. Hughes' empire eventually became one of the government's biggest suppliers of aircraft, helicopters, aircraft parts, weapons, missiles and munitions. In 1966 Hughes was declared a billionaire and the richest man in the world. His latest interests now included Las Vegas, where by 1971 he controlled 17% of the city's gambling revenues and employed some 8,000 people. By now Hughes has 'done it all' and he's become a recluse.
Howard Hughes was a giant of his times. He was shrewd, but also lucky: the fields of endeavor that he chose to enter were all just 'taking off': real estate investments in California and Las Vegas, gambling in Nevada, air travel, golf, the movie industry, and the oil industry (which boomed when the auto industry exploded.). Hughes also profited immensely because he was well positioned when World War II began. Hughes' life reads like a fairy tale. Just unbelievable! Believe me!
Rating:
Summary: Hughes' movies should have been so spectacular.
Review: Howard Hughes' life had all the elements to make a titillating yarn -- Hollywood movie-making, dozens of sexy starlets, racing airplanes, spending millions of dollars on a whim, and a truly eccentric protagonist. This bio is a page-turner because the subject's life was far more intriguing than any of the movies he strove so hard to create. The author doesn't burden his narrative with the details of Hughes' business dealings, which could probably occupy several volumes in themselves. Instead, we learn mostly about his personal relationships and obsessions. The text could have stood another word-editing, as there are some questionable word choices and grammatical slipups, but these are minor irritations in a fascinating yarn.
Rating:
Summary: WHAT A STORY!!
Review: I always thought that Howard Hughes was this strange guy who freaked out, never cut his hair or fingernails, and tried to leave his billions to some guy who owned a gas station in Nevada. How wrong I was! After reading "Hughes," I discovered that this guy was the consummate patriot, the ultimate eccentric, a great lover, and amazing aviator. Richard Hack managed to make Howard Hughes come alive for me twenty-five years after his death. Hack's writing draws you into this man's life and holds you in his grip until the very last page. I never thought a biography could read better than a novel, but this one does. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a fascinating story that combines elements of lust, intrique, espionage, Hollywood and humor. Prepare yourself to spend some time with this wonderful book. You won't want to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Good book, but not a full story of his life
Review: I bought this book and read it cover to cover in a matter of two weeks, it was highly fasinating, but most of the content centered on his depression, and maniacial ways - such as being a recluse in hotels around the world, and his constant desire to have nothing to do with his expanding empire.
If your looking for a book that goes deep into the mind and thoughts of Howard Hughes, this is the one, but if you are looking for a book that describes his business dealings, and growing empire, your better off looking somewhere else for this doesnt go into great detail.
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