Book description
Private, mysterious and some say sinister, 79 year-old Bernie
Ecclestone criss-crosses the globe in his private jet mixing with
celebrities, statesmen and sporting heroes. Ecclestone's success has
not just been to create a multi-billion pound global business but to
resist repeated attempts to snatch the glittering prize from his
control. Ecclestone has never before revealed how he graduated from
selling second-hand cars in London's notorious Warren Street to become
the major player he is today. He has finally decided to reveal his
secrets: the deals, the marriages, the disasters and the successes on
race tracks, in Downing Street, in casinos, on yachts and in the air.
Surprisingly, he is telling his life's story to Tom Bower, described
by Ecclestone as 'The Undertaker' - the man who buries reputations -
and has given him access to all his friends and enemies. All have been
told by Ecclestone, 'Tell him the truth, good or bad.' The result is a
unique story of a simple, driven man who unlike shady tycoons offers
an intriguing insight into the sport, business and, above all, the
human spirit. 'I'll accept your facilities,' Bower told Ecclestone,
'but if I find evidence of wrongdoing or hear any criticism, it will
all be published.' After a brief moment, Ecclestone replied, 'Tom, I'm
no angel.'
Tom Bower has a distinguished reputation as an investigative
historian, broadcaster and journalist. He has written biographies of
Robert Maxwell, Mohomad Fayed, Gordon Brown, Richard Branson and
Conrad Black, among others. His books about the Nazis include Blind
Eye to Murder and the definitive biography of Klaus Barbie. Broken
Dreams, his investigation into corruption in English football, won the
William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award in 2003. His latest book
was The Squeeze: Oil, Money and Greed in the 21st Century.
