AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF HOWARD HUGHES: Confessions of an Unhappy Billionaire

by Clifford Irving

"The most daring literary caper of all time." -- Newsweek

"It's almost impossible to know where fact leaves off and fiction begins, if indeed that distinction should be made. This is a hypnotizing narrative, a brilliant study of
money's power to corrupt absolutely. It's a crime not to publish it." -- Robert Kirsch, Los Angeles Times

Immense wealth. Corrupt political power. Scientific genius. Sexual kinkiness. Howard Hughes, the legendary Texas billionaire, exemplified all these qualities. Oil tycoon, record-breaking aviator, Oscar-winning moviemaker, and the shy lover of dozens of Hollywood movie stars, he bought the favors of U.S. presidents and even tried to buy Las Vegas. In his twilight years he became a recluse, hiding in shadowed hotel suites. Many believed that he had died and his business associates had stolen his billions.

Enter author and adventurer Clifford Irving. "Howard Hughes is alive and he's alive, and wants me to help him write the story of his life. He's going to tell a more shocking story than anyone could have foreseen."

The book was called "a stunning hoax," but many believe that Richard Nixon's fear of the truths in the manuscript caused him to order the burglary of Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate.

For what he had done, Clifford Irving was sentenced to 2 ½ years in federal prison.
Except for a small private 1998 edition, this is the Hughes Autobiography's first publication in the United States.

"Until now, the most famous unpublished book of the 20th century." -- International Herald Tribune.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History

340 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Clifford Irving was the author of 20 published books & just released 12 of his works as Kindle/Nook eBooks; he was currently writing a memoir called Around the World in 80 Years.

Reviews

[James Hickel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm old enough to remember this scandal. In the 1970's, Clifford Irving conned the world into thinking he had secretly worked with the notoriously reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes on his autobiography. And he came very, very close to getting away with it. Irving made the mistake of being very hard on then-President Richard Nixon in the book, so the White House put pressure on a reluctant Hughes to call a press conference -- via speaker phone -- to announce that the book, and Irving, were a fraud. It was the end of the line for Irving, who wound up in jail. And the publisher destroyed all copies of the book, making it very rare for a long time.

I'm a bit of a Howard Hughes buff, and I've been trying to get my hands on this book for decades. In the 1990's, for a short time, Irving would sell you a copy of the book if you e-mailed him your credit card information, which even then didn't seem like a smart idea, so I didn't. Well, now I finally have it -- and it wasn't worth the money or the wait.

Howard Hughes led an incredible, bizarre life, and there are plenty of honestly-written, well-researched books on the subject. (Try "Citizen Hughes" for starters.). Irving's book, however, is supposedly an oral history, with Irving asking questions and Hughes answering them. Know how it was written? Irving and some other con artist took turns role-playing Hughes and interviewing each other, transcribed the tapes and turned it into a manuscript.

And that's exactly what you get in this book: Two con artists making up sh*t about Howard Hughes. If you've got the time and money to spend on this pointless garbage, congratulations! You're leading a wealthier and more leisurely life than I am.

[Andrés]

Definitivamente va sobre Howard Hughes

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book where the story behind it is almost as fascinating as the book itself, Irving's fictionalised "autobiography" of flying tycoon Howard Hughes is a great soap opera tale.

Hughes's playboy lifestyle, his aviation adventures and, later, his withdrawal into becoming a recluse is gripping and bizarre, with Irving's research making this much, much more than just a rehash of known anecdotes.

But Howard Hughes: My Story is hamstrung throughout by the problem of divorcing the fact from the embellishment and exaggeration (a problem with all life stories) from the pure fantasy. That makes it impossible to take seriously and so can only ever be an introduction to Hughes's crazy life.

Read this, then go and read one of the other, real, Hughes biographies.

[Bettye McKee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly entertaining

I enjoyed reading this book. If a genuine autobiography of Howard Hughes had ever been written, this story is what I would have wanted it to be.

Some of the events ranged from over-the-top to outlandish. I loved every single one.

31

[Therese · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I picked up this book, I didn’t know it was a complete fabrication although by the time I started it I had become aware of this fact. I read another book that was a hoax, but it was still entertaining and kept me turning the pages. This book did nothing of the sort. The author and a friend of his made up the story after doing a lot of research on the eccentric billionaire. They asked each other questions back and forth and this was the end product. They were supposedly good authors, but this book doesn’t reflect that. They didn’t do any justice to Howard Hughes either. He comes across with an ego as big as his bank account when something goes his way, and when it doesn’t, then woe is me. It was someone else’s fault. So-and-so made me do it. This really was a waste of time, and the only good thing I can say about it was that I didn’t spend a penny for it.

[Charles Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reclusive billionaire, Howard Hughes, is one of the most famous, and little-known men of the 20th century. Tycoon, recluse, filmmaker, and aviator, more myths have been circulated about Hughes than the ‘Flying Dutchman.’ Clifford Irving’s Autobiography of Howard Hughes: Confessions of an Unhappy Billionaire purports to be Hughes’ life story, told in his own words. While the veracity of this account cannot be definitely established, it rings true, and is not just a story of Howard Hughes, but a series of untold stories of many other luminaries in American history during the period of Hughes life.
Whether you chose to believe this account or not is irrelevant, it is mesmerizing reading. A new, and somewhat disturbing look at the lives and times of some of the most well-known personalities in politics, entertainment and business, that will challenge everything you think you know.

[Yulia Kazachkova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Это фейк и Ирвинга осудили за обман на пару лет тюрьмы, но написано неплохо, было по большей части интересно. Проверяла по ходу, и внешние факты он передал верно, а нутрянку и детали откуда брал и что из этого придумал, не знаю. Выглядит как монологи Хьюза, иногда перебиваемые конкретными вопросами.

На мой вкус местами развязно, с излишними сальностями. И этот бахвалистый самоуверенный тон, это и правда стиль Хьюза, или Ирвинг считал, что так разговаривает постаревшая золотая молодежь 20-30-х?

Говард Хьюз был экстравагантным богачом, сошедшим под конец жизни с ума, вы можете знать его в образе Леонардо ди Каприо из фильма “Авиатор”. Странно, что о фильме, где играли Кейт Бланшетт и Джуд Лоу, я запомнила только как Лео отказывается открывать кому-то дверь, а ведь человек-то Хьюз был интересный: одержимый полетами, увлеченный кино.

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A CI. (AOHH ) [:(COAUB)

CI. has written an autobiography of Howard Hughes which details the part of his life that was extreme
and beyond the bounds of normal living. I was impressed with the conclusion. I have often wonder why this work has been limited in design. HH. was a hidden American hero at creating the right profile to fit the problem. He developed the Super Connie for one reason. To get as many Jewish people that he could from the destructive Third Reich. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

[Alicia Green]

Being a personal friend of the late Robert P. Eaton, the writer/ editor of the only authentic autobiography of Howard Hughes, and being in possession of the original copy, knowing the lengths that Irving went through, creating the hoax, and his attempt to rob Robert Eaton of his merit, I wouldn't even give Irving's fabrications the time of day, by reading it.

[Vic]

rwr review

[Kelli Santistevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I read from Clifford Irving and I enjoyed it. He did a good job telling the story. I believed every word. It was fun reading this and I was surprised when I discovered that none of it was true. I've never read anything like this before.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was strange.

I'd read the whole story, unaware that it was actually a hoax, and thought that I had struck gold by finally uncovering the truth about Howard Hughes. Alas, you can imagine my disappointment and perplexity upon discovering it was all a fabrication by Irving. I ascertained that he was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison, of which he served 17 months, after he and his collaborators confessed to the hoax in 1972.

Despite this however, it could be regarded as a well-written piece of fiction about Hughes, and therefore a reasonable choice if you're just looking for something to keep your mind busy - perhaps whilst on the toilet.

[Ricky Kimsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Infamous Fake

I had read Clifford Irving's prison diary about his two and half years for writing this fake autobiography. I originally had no intention of reading it but when Amazon offered it for free awhile back I changed my mind. He does take the known facts about Howard Hughes to make a convincing fake.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book for a hoax. Not great, but very interesting.

[Irene]

Enjoyed this very much.