Howard Hughes chronicles the life and legacy of one of the most intriguing and accomplished Americans of the twentieth century. Hughes made big-budget movies, built the world&;s fastest and largest airplanes, and helped transform and grow Las Vegas. He was a respected trailblazer and firebrand, but behind the façade his physical and mental health declined to the point of incapacitation. This book takes you behind the curtain to understand what really happened to Howard Hughes and what he has left behind. Based on in-depth interviews with individuals who knew and worked with Hughes, the book provides an insider&;s view of his final years and their aftermath, as well as a detailed assessment of his legacies and impact on popular culture.
This newly revised and expanded edition of Howard Hughes chronicles the life and legacies of one of the most intriguing and accomplished Americans of the twentieth century. Hughes, born into wealth thanks to his father&;s innovative drill bit that transformed the oil industry, put his inheritance to work in multiple ways, from producing big-budget Hollywood movies to building the world&;s fastest and largest airplanes. Hughes set air speed records and traveled around the world in record time, earning ticker-tape parades in three cities in 1938. Later, he moved to Las Vegas and invested heavily in casinos. He bought seven resorts, in each case helping to loosen organized crime&;s grip on Nevada&;s lifeblood industry.
Although the public viewed Hughes as a heroic and independent-minded trailblazer, behind closed doors he suffered from germophobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and an addiction to painkillers. He became paranoid and reclusive, surrounding himself with a small cadre of loyal caretakers. As executives battled each other over his empire, Hughes&; physical and mental health deteriorated to the point where he lost control of his business affairs.
This second edition includes more insider details on Hughes&; personal interactions with actresses, journalists, and employees. New chapters provide insights into Hughes&;s involvement with the mob, his ownership and struggles as the majority shareholder of TWA and the wide-ranging activities of Hughes Aircraft Company, Hughes&;s critical role in the Glomar Explorer CIA project (a deep-sea drillship platform built to recover the Soviet submarine K-129), and more. Based on in-depth interviews with individuals who knew and worked with Hughes, this fascinating biography provides a colorful and comprehensive look at Hughes&;from his life and career to his final years and lasting influence. This penetrating depiction of the man behind the curtain demonstrates Hughes&;s legacy, and enduring impact on popular culture.
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