Empire

The Life, Legend, and Madness of Howard Hughes

By: Donald L. Barlett, James B. Steele

Narrated by: Christopher Hurt

Howard Hughes lived one of the greatest, most heroic, misunderstood, mysterious, bizarre, and tragic lives in American history. In this brilliantly documented biography, the mythology that surrounded that life is disentangled from the truth.

Hughes had always been different. Certainly his riches set him apart, but he was also tough. Orphaned and a millionaire at 18, Hughes repudiated his relatives, seized control of the Hughes Tool Company, the linchpin of his fortune, and went on to become a flamboyant movie producer, holder of many world aviation records, principal owner of Trans World Airlines, a critically important defense contractor, Hollywood's most pursued and elusive bachelor, and partner of the United States government.

This is an epic biography of an epic figure who bestrode the world like a colossus yet could not master himself.

©1979 Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele (P)1994 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Of all the books written about Howard Hughes, Empire is easily the best...." ( New York Times Book Review)
"A remarkable job of investigative reporting....cracks Hughes's public persona as it disentangles the psychodrama of his private doings...." ( Publishers Weekly)
"[The] most responsible and authoritative biography of Hughes to date." ( Newsweek)

Great story / bad narration

I'm not sure if it was just my download but it seemed like there were two narrators on this book (and I'm not referring to when he's talking as Hughes or others. ). Just something weird about the narration

Interesting book about a fascinating man

Interesting book about a fascinating man. He was a genius and a visionary who wasn’t properly diagnosed or treated - in fact, seems his doctors were delinquent and negligent in his care, rather content to continue milking him for his money rather than trying to cure him. One has to wonder what other advances or technological improvements he would have made had he lived longer.

Fascinating

Only wish the ending detailed out what happened to his estate and his companies.

Wikipedia states his estate is worth over $10 billion...unclear as to how this happened

Excellent Overview of a difficult individual

I can't help but draw similarities between Hughes and Trump. Both born into immense wealth and achieving sovereignty over their fathers fortune at an early age. Both were narcissistic and vain, lording their personal power over all in their path. Friendless to the end.

Brilliant

This book was everything you want in an audiobook. Great narrator, captivating story, interesting subject. Five stars