Enzo Ferrari: The definitive biography of an icon

by Luca Del Monte

**DAILY MAIL BOOK OF THE WEEK**

Soon to be an AppleTV+ series, this is the definitive account of how Enzo Ferrari became the master of motor racing, and one of the most complex, important and imposing figures in the 20th century.

The book draws upon years of original research, conducted in Italy and abroad, and unveils hidden aspects of Ferrari's career - from his early days as a racer, to how he founded the Ferrari company, and even his dealings with the Italian Fascist government and Communist leaders.

Learn how Ferrari pushed his drivers to the brink of disaster, revolutionised the automobile industry and overcame family and company infighting on his rise to greatness.

Genres: Biography, History

785 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 29, 2024

Reviews

[Sembray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Octopus Books for sending me a proof copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5

This is a fascinating, deeply researched and eminently readable portrayal of one of the most complex and compelling characters within the world of motor racing. I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable fan of the man and his cars, but there were countless illuminating details covering everything from Enzo's role helping the Italian Resistance during the Second World War and to his often turbulent family life. Del Monte covers all of Ferrari's racing triumphs and disasters, as well as the man's relationships with legendary drivers from Nuvolari and Ascari to Villeneuve and Alboreto. However, more impressively, he cuts away much of the mystique around this compelling and often solipsistic figure in prose that sparkles with wry humour and anecdotes. Whether you're a die-hard fan eager to peer behind his carefully cultivated visage, or just after a gripping and engrossing biography, Enzo Ferrari is a highly enjoyable insight into the mind and career of a hugely important and interesting individual at the heart of the world's greatest car manufacturer.

[William Dury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exhaustive (exhausting?) book. Hagiographic to be sure, likely funded by the company, but somehow more convincing than Brock Yates takedown. (Not that Yates was excessive. He just didn’t bow and scrape). It pretty much feels like the full story and that’s what I wanted. Too much? That’s why it took me two months. And the hagiography extents to the achievements, not the man. Ferrari doesn’t come as either some kind of genius or saint. Just a determined, smart, tough man. Quite convincing in that regard.

What’s what’s impressive about the guy is that he never changed. He was this small town big shot who was only truly interested in running a racing team. He genuinely did not care about the passenger car side of things. He was completely unimpressed by kings and movie stars. His only goal was to win races, clown with his friends and subordinates on Friday nights, and periodically agitate the Italian press. His provincialism played charmingly as old world craftsmanship (hah!) on the world stage. It created the cult on view at every F1 race and made the world safe for knockoffs like McLaren and Lamborghini. Hail the king.

[David Jonescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for biography lovers. This is a very thick biography on a big figure in the auto world. Overall good book with a ton of information!

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once familiar with the (at times) odd language used in the translation, the description of an extraordinary life is mesmerizing. As an automotive aficionado, the earlier part of his life story offers a sympathetic explanation of how he became such an inspirational figure.

[Jason Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic read on one of the biggest icons of the automotive world. ferrari became one of the most ubiquitous brands in the world but it all started in the maranello, where it continues today. the biography draws from enzo’s personal writings as well as from others’ stories, and spans his entire life. there are dry parts to this book, especially when discussing enzo’s personal racing career, or how deeply he may have felt the loss of each driver who passed. still, i was unable to put it down. one of the best books on racing and a racing icon.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing life story told with incredible detail. I really enjoyed the detail but be prepared for an almost race by race commentary. Enzo Ferrari kept a journal and wrote several books himself so there was plenty of information on his life and company. A must for anyone interested in motor sports but I would still recommend for non racing readers purely for what Ferrari achieved in his life.

[Mark Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read. Now understand what an honour it is for them to want Hamilton so badly.

[Jon W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book with an appreciation for the art of modern sports cars, but not much background on the man or the company that so passionately influenced them. Dal Monte does a great job of tying together the many complicated facets of Enzo’s life. The time taken on each one in the book seems to portray the energy each aspect of his life received from the man himself. By the end, you feel as though you have known Enzo and the red hot clarity with which he pushed himself and those around him to achieve racing wins. You feel the tendency to look into the future that prevents those wins from leaving him satisfied. You get a taste of the situations that formed bitter, lifelong rivalries and how they came about from usually either intentionally or unintentionally neglecting what Enzo valued most. You get a window into the torments of his personal life, and quotes to describe how he struggled with them. Of course there are some points in the book where, amidst sparse history, conclusions are drawn that favor Enzo’s image. During these, however, Dal Monte always makes the reader aware and therefore you are free to decide for yourself. Overall I greatly enjoyed following Enzo’s journey through Dal Monte’s pen, and leave with a deeper appreciation for the company sporting the prancing horse.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and very thorough. Heavily focussed on the racing side of Enzo's life with very limited personal biography - his brother almost unmentioned and other close family go decades without a mention. But maybe that reflects his priorities? Still a fascinating book. Most interested in the details of his anti fascist activity (at great personal risk) during the war. Also the fact that he was knighted before the war for winning a race. What a prize!

[David Jonescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for biography lovers. This is a very thick biography on a big figure in the auto world. Overall good book with a ton of information!

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[John Linklater · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shallow biog

Little insight. Just an endless record of races. Wish I knew how to get rid of this from my kindle.

[Vitor Barreto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantástico book. For a die hard F1 Fan like me is worth the read (i may ready it again myself). It goes into so much detail about his racing career both as a Driver and as a Racing team manager.

[3 Things About This Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

📕You would think Enzo Ferrari, being an Italian through and through, would be a Catholic man. Also you would think that being successful during the WWII, he would be a Mussolini supporter. Well, her was neither. He had faith and wanted to find that reason to believe in organized religion and God as Catholics believed in him. However, he never found that reason. He didn’t bend the knee to any authority figure. He only signed up for the party because he wanted to go abroad to do what he did the best: racing
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📗I have enormous amount of respect for those who get behind the wheel and didn’t care if there was a chance to hit a solid wall while going 300km/h. I love motor racing, especially Formula 1, as a testament to heights that engineering can climb. Enzo Ferrari was one of those visionaries who made it possible. He turned motor racing into a test for our heart rates instead of an indicator of mental health. Him going to his office on his last days shows how much he valued his work and efforts of others
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📘It was good to read about the human Enzo Ferrari instead of the businessman, mechanic, and driver Enzo Ferrari. His losses and what ifs made him more fragile than one expected him to be. He had a life that was lived well, but I wish he didn’t have to bury his son. I cannot wait to watch the series will be based on this book

[Syavash Kazemi Neira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book powerfully captures the essence of Enzo Ferrari: a man who didn't just have a passion—a passion had him. His extreme focus was relentless and singular.

The biography, while a testament to his tenaciousness, can be overwhelming with its excess of information and detailed race accounts. The defining moment is when the champion, once rejected by Fiat, returned to the same park bench and wept tears of triumph, settling a 30-year-old emotional debt.

His drive, however, came at a high cost: profound loneliness and a disastrous marriage. He noted a passionate man cannot be a good husband. Yet, Ferrari was unstoppable, always seeing each victory as only the starting point for the next. He built a company whose name is now synonymous with success.