Enzo Ferrari: The Man and the Machine

This is a detailed and comprehensive account of Ferrari's life from his early days racing Alfa Romeos through to his death after the Fiat take-over of his company. The author takes a commendably unalloyed view of Enzo Ferrari, his successes and failures and offers a meticulous account of each technical development that supported the evolution of the cars. The book also carries a useful post-script updating the story from after Ferrari's death. I have awarded 4 stars because there are no illustrations, photos or maps so unless you have an encyclopedic knowledge of the cars, or know the layout of Maranello you'll find yourself looking at other sources for the full picture. Nevertheless the text alone makes this book a must for anyone interested in the man and his machines.

This is a factual book, but in a good way it reads like a work of fiction. Ferrari comes across as a interesting and quite flawed individual. I finished the book in no doubt that he was a very successful businessman, but I did not warm to him as a person. That said, the book is an interesting read and grabs you throughout. Highly recommended.

It is rare to read a car book written by somebody who can really write a captivating story. This is a great read, well written with vivid and creative metaphors full of facts and stories about the great man. The portrait of Enzo Ferrari and his cars is demystifying and harsh when you are used to the usual glorification of his persona and cars. Sometimes it goes a bit too far, but maybe it's all not far from the truth.

Warts and all account of Ferrari's life. If you think he was a saint, read on!

THE book to read on Enzo