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What Doesn't Kill You...: My Life in Motor Racing
Johnny Herbert was one of the most brilliant natural talents to emerge in motor racing, but for all his bravery and prowess, he's lucky to be alive. After becoming British Junior Karting Champion (losing part of a finger in the process), then the Formula 3 title for Eddie Jordan in 1987, he was all set for a glittering debut season in Formula 1 when he was caught in a mass pile-up at Brands Hatch. That horrific crash threatened to end his career, but Herbert made a miraculous recovery, was a hugely popular winner of the British Grand Prix in 1995, and enjoyed 25 years of competitive motorsport, becoming the only British driver to win the 24 hours of Le Mans followed by a Grand Prix. And all that despite driving every pace in extreme pain; in fact, as the first and only disabled driver in F1 history.
While chronicling an extraordinary life behind the wheel with cheer and his trademark cheeky humour, What Doesn't Kill You... contains a wealth of stories from the hard end of Formula 1: on Johnny's team-mate Michael Schumacher, legends like Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, his fellow British adversaries Damon Hill, Martin Brundle and Nigel Mansell, and of course all those gruesome accidents. With an encyclopaedic knowledge and love of the sport, Johnny Herbert's memoir, much like the man himself, delivers brilliance from the back of the grid.
While chronicling an extraordinary life behind the wheel with cheer and his trademark cheeky humour, What Doesn't Kill You... contains a wealth of stories from the hard end of Formula 1: on Johnny's team-mate Michael Schumacher, legends like Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, his fellow British adversaries Damon Hill, Martin Brundle and Nigel Mansell, and of course all those gruesome accidents. With an encyclopaedic knowledge and love of the sport, Johnny Herbert's memoir, much like the man himself, delivers brilliance from the back of the grid.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 10, 2016
I couldn't help reading this and thinking that I might have a reasonable chance of making a living as a ghost-writer/editor. Two Formula 1 drivers of the 1990s have published their autobiographies recently and suffice to say that this is not the one which was written by a man who decided to spend his retirement doing an English Lit. degree and coming away with 1st class honours. It is not a particularly well-written book: something of a concatenation of sporting cliches and jokes that maybe were funny if you were there, but don't quite land on the page.
All the same, for all that the writing is not great, I found it easy enough to overlook this once I'd got immersed in his story. Probably this book is only going to be of interest to people who, like me, spent their early years at Silverstone, Oulton Park and Brands Hatch, watching Johnny Herbert and his contemporaries coming up through the ranks (in contrast, with, say Richard Williams' 'The Death of Ayrton Senna', which I think might work even for readers who can't think of anything more deathly dull than being forced to watch the Grand Prix on a Sunday afternoon).
It helps that his story is more interesting than I had at first realised. As I remembered it, he'd been a rising star of the junior formulae who, when he finally reached the top of the sport, was found slightly wanting, but nonetheless came away with a few lucky wins. I'd not appreciated the full impact of his 1988 accident that saw him laid up in hospital for months and where he narrowly escaped having his foot amputated and was told that he would probably never walk again, let alone race. Nor that when he first returned to the sport, he simply didn't have the strength to use the brakes properly, and that throughout the whole of his career, he continued to be in considerably pain when driving. He describes himself as the sport's first disabled driver (not strictly true, though as Archie Scott Brown only ever competed in one race, I'll let that slide) and there remains the question of how good he might have been had he not been seriously injured. His description of his first run in a go kart after his accident (he was still wheel-chair bound) is wince-inducing (it took place at Buckmore Park, a place I've been to myself and remember mainly for throwing up inside a full face helmet, free tip: if you can help it, don't...) That said, as he acknowledges at the end, he came out of the sport more or less intact, unlike a number of those he raced with: Nannini, his team mate at Benetton, who lost his arm in a helicopter accident; Zanardi, his Lotus team mate who lost both his legs in a race accident (though he went on to be a very successful paralympian) or his Formula Ford rival Roland Ratzenberger who died the day before Ayrton Senna.
The story of his complex relationship with the man who had single-handedly rescued his career after his accident, retaining him at Benetton for 1989 against the wishes of more or less everyone else in the team, finding him work in Japan the following year while he tried to continue his recovery and then hiring him at Lotus in 1991 notwithstanding that he had no backers and the team were desperate for money, but whose refusal to let him out of his contract to go to one of the big teams as Lotus teetered on the edge of bankruptcy arguably sabotaged his career (Herbert says he heard later that he had asked Ron Dennis for £21m to release him from his contract – a ludicrous figure even in the make-believe-money world of F1).
Despite his/his ghost-writer's limitations, he's good too on describing the feeling of exhilaration that he first got from racing karts at the age of 8, and which he experienced again when he stepped into a 1,000 brake horse power F1 car for the first time some 15 years later. And the description of his time as team mate to Michael Schumacher in 1995 was illuminating not least in that it showed that even now, he doesn't quite know why Schumacher was so much faster than him. The perhaps justified paranoia is all too obvious (it is notable that a whole string of highly rated young talents went up against Schumacher at Benetton and every one of them came away with their reputation severely dented. Whether it was because Schumacher was simply other-wordly fast or that he was good at ensuring his team mates did not get equal equipment was never entirely clear).
So, no work of great literature, but if like me you have fond memories of watching the Formula 1 on the telly a quarter century back, it's a diverting read.
All the same, for all that the writing is not great, I found it easy enough to overlook this once I'd got immersed in his story. Probably this book is only going to be of interest to people who, like me, spent their early years at Silverstone, Oulton Park and Brands Hatch, watching Johnny Herbert and his contemporaries coming up through the ranks (in contrast, with, say Richard Williams' 'The Death of Ayrton Senna', which I think might work even for readers who can't think of anything more deathly dull than being forced to watch the Grand Prix on a Sunday afternoon).
It helps that his story is more interesting than I had at first realised. As I remembered it, he'd been a rising star of the junior formulae who, when he finally reached the top of the sport, was found slightly wanting, but nonetheless came away with a few lucky wins. I'd not appreciated the full impact of his 1988 accident that saw him laid up in hospital for months and where he narrowly escaped having his foot amputated and was told that he would probably never walk again, let alone race. Nor that when he first returned to the sport, he simply didn't have the strength to use the brakes properly, and that throughout the whole of his career, he continued to be in considerably pain when driving. He describes himself as the sport's first disabled driver (not strictly true, though as Archie Scott Brown only ever competed in one race, I'll let that slide) and there remains the question of how good he might have been had he not been seriously injured. His description of his first run in a go kart after his accident (he was still wheel-chair bound) is wince-inducing (it took place at Buckmore Park, a place I've been to myself and remember mainly for throwing up inside a full face helmet, free tip: if you can help it, don't...) That said, as he acknowledges at the end, he came out of the sport more or less intact, unlike a number of those he raced with: Nannini, his team mate at Benetton, who lost his arm in a helicopter accident; Zanardi, his Lotus team mate who lost both his legs in a race accident (though he went on to be a very successful paralympian) or his Formula Ford rival Roland Ratzenberger who died the day before Ayrton Senna.
The story of his complex relationship with the man who had single-handedly rescued his career after his accident, retaining him at Benetton for 1989 against the wishes of more or less everyone else in the team, finding him work in Japan the following year while he tried to continue his recovery and then hiring him at Lotus in 1991 notwithstanding that he had no backers and the team were desperate for money, but whose refusal to let him out of his contract to go to one of the big teams as Lotus teetered on the edge of bankruptcy arguably sabotaged his career (Herbert says he heard later that he had asked Ron Dennis for £21m to release him from his contract – a ludicrous figure even in the make-believe-money world of F1).
Despite his/his ghost-writer's limitations, he's good too on describing the feeling of exhilaration that he first got from racing karts at the age of 8, and which he experienced again when he stepped into a 1,000 brake horse power F1 car for the first time some 15 years later. And the description of his time as team mate to Michael Schumacher in 1995 was illuminating not least in that it showed that even now, he doesn't quite know why Schumacher was so much faster than him. The perhaps justified paranoia is all too obvious (it is notable that a whole string of highly rated young talents went up against Schumacher at Benetton and every one of them came away with their reputation severely dented. Whether it was because Schumacher was simply other-wordly fast or that he was good at ensuring his team mates did not get equal equipment was never entirely clear).
So, no work of great literature, but if like me you have fond memories of watching the Formula 1 on the telly a quarter century back, it's a diverting read.
September 18, 2020
Really enjoyed this book. Bought it a while ago but use decided to read it. Follows the career of a man who seems to have been able to make a career out of something he loved doing. I’m a bit of a Motor Racing geek anyway so this was right up my street
May 17, 2017
While I was never a huge fan of him while he was driving, I've got to quite like him through his work on Sky Sports. It wasn't until I started reading this that I really came to appreciate him a bit more. This really starts at the beginning, with him falling into Karting while bored on holiday. He gets the bug, and with no small amount of natural talent, works his way up through the formulas until a horrendous accident while racing in F3000. While I knew it was a bad accident, I hadn't realised the extent to which it completely affected his future. He almost lost his foot, and to this day still walks with a limp. He didn't have the strenght to properly use the pedals, yet still managed to get into, and race, in F1. While it very likely wasn't the career he would have had without his accident, he still managed to have a respectable one.
By his own admission, he heas made a lot of mistakes through out his career, made a few enemies, a lot of friends, and had a fair amount of luck. He's not shy about pointing out where he's gone wrong, or what he should have done, but even so you get the feeling he does it all with a smile on his face. This carrys over into the writing. I'm in two minds about this. There's a lot of stylistic tics, and just plain errors throughout the book, and although a decent editor could have tidied it up a lot, there's a certain charm to it. It feels less like an autobiography, and more like a chat in the pub over a couple of beers. I do wish someone had fact checked it though.
By his own admission, he heas made a lot of mistakes through out his career, made a few enemies, a lot of friends, and had a fair amount of luck. He's not shy about pointing out where he's gone wrong, or what he should have done, but even so you get the feeling he does it all with a smile on his face. This carrys over into the writing. I'm in two minds about this. There's a lot of stylistic tics, and just plain errors throughout the book, and although a decent editor could have tidied it up a lot, there's a certain charm to it. It feels less like an autobiography, and more like a chat in the pub over a couple of beers. I do wish someone had fact checked it though.
May 1, 2022
Johnny Herbert never was F1 champion and has only 3 wins in his record. Why is it worth reading this book then? There are multiple reasons, some of which are:
1. His career was seemingly over after a monstrous shunt in British F3 - the doctors needed to be persuaded a lot not to amputate his smashed legs. He and others claim that after this he was never the same driver, hence Damon Hill's words printed on the cover, stating that "He was one of our lost world champions" may very well be true.
2. The description of the enormous pain he had to endure with years after this - not only this, but show it as little as possible in his "work life" is really admirable from a human perspective.
3. He has a great sense of humour which not only was used to hide the constant pain, but has been used abundantly in the book.
4. There are numerous gems of information for F1 (and not only!) from the 90's - from Flavio Briatore's despicable antics in Benetton. Widely known already, but the perspective of the "other, unwanted driver" is always interesting.
5. Numerous funny stories, including drinking, nude swimming while drunk, and pole-dancing (yes - also while drunk ;)).
6. The author doesn't take himself as god's gift to motorsport, which is a nice difference with a lot of other autobiographies :). Also - he likes to make jokes with himself!
If this is not enough, I don't know what else would be, but what else shoudl be mentioned is the fantastic work that the ghost-writer James Hogg has done and 16 pages of great colour photographs!
1. His career was seemingly over after a monstrous shunt in British F3 - the doctors needed to be persuaded a lot not to amputate his smashed legs. He and others claim that after this he was never the same driver, hence Damon Hill's words printed on the cover, stating that "He was one of our lost world champions" may very well be true.
2. The description of the enormous pain he had to endure with years after this - not only this, but show it as little as possible in his "work life" is really admirable from a human perspective.
3. He has a great sense of humour which not only was used to hide the constant pain, but has been used abundantly in the book.
4. There are numerous gems of information for F1 (and not only!) from the 90's - from Flavio Briatore's despicable antics in Benetton. Widely known already, but the perspective of the "other, unwanted driver" is always interesting.
5. Numerous funny stories, including drinking, nude swimming while drunk, and pole-dancing (yes - also while drunk ;)).
6. The author doesn't take himself as god's gift to motorsport, which is a nice difference with a lot of other autobiographies :). Also - he likes to make jokes with himself!
If this is not enough, I don't know what else would be, but what else shoudl be mentioned is the fantastic work that the ghost-writer James Hogg has done and 16 pages of great colour photographs!
April 12, 2018
Invaluable research for my upcoming book www.1994f1.com
Johnny gives great insight into his time at Benetton as well as his conflict with Briatore, and the reasons why he believed he struggled against Schumacher during 1994 & 1995. All of which supports comments he made at the time in magazine articles like Autosport, so it is a genuine account and helps paint a picture in regards to the 1994 Benetton cheating allegations. All of which is analysed in greater detail within my upcoming book.
Johnny puts his story across in a very amusing manner and doesn't hold back on his comments about some of the 'stars' of F1.
Johnny gives great insight into his time at Benetton as well as his conflict with Briatore, and the reasons why he believed he struggled against Schumacher during 1994 & 1995. All of which supports comments he made at the time in magazine articles like Autosport, so it is a genuine account and helps paint a picture in regards to the 1994 Benetton cheating allegations. All of which is analysed in greater detail within my upcoming book.
Johnny puts his story across in a very amusing manner and doesn't hold back on his comments about some of the 'stars' of F1.
February 8, 2020
Makes for a great story
Having watched Herbert in F1 and knowing of his earlier accident it was a great read to learn about all his challenges to get him to his dream. The writing jumps around a bit but that's just Johnny.
If you are a fan of his or just F1 in general is gives you a little snapshot of what you don't see on race weekends and all the politics of racing. With a few minestrone in to entertain
Having watched Herbert in F1 and knowing of his earlier accident it was a great read to learn about all his challenges to get him to his dream. The writing jumps around a bit but that's just Johnny.
If you are a fan of his or just F1 in general is gives you a little snapshot of what you don't see on race weekends and all the politics of racing. With a few minestrone in to entertain
April 22, 2020
The reviews in general said that this is a "must read" and so I dutfully did. Herbert is a brave fellow indeed and the story is interesting to a point. Even though he assure us it is "not all about me" is is ! Being an autobiography, it probably should be, but that does not make it riveting reading.
What was heartening to see that in spite of all the wealth and stealth there were some very solid guys out there to help and support him.
What was heartening to see that in spite of all the wealth and stealth there were some very solid guys out there to help and support him.
October 6, 2022
What a brilliant book. I love Johnny when I watch him as a pundit on Sky Sports F1 and I knew he was a talented driver back in the day but I never quite realised how good he was. There are so many what ifs in his tale but it is obvious he looks back on his career with a lot of fondness and positivity.
If you have any interest in motorsport or rising from the ashes style stories then this is definitely a book for you.
If you have any interest in motorsport or rising from the ashes style stories then this is definitely a book for you.
December 30, 2016
Even if you are not interested in motorsport, this book might be one thing you may want to read next year. Despite all the physical pain Johnny suffered following his accident at Brands hatch, he kept fighting and pursed his dream of entering Formula One. What he achieved during his career is nothing short of remarkable.
January 11, 2018
A very entertaining and interesting read with the right amount of details and behind-the-scenes stories.
I would have preferred the narrative to be more “international English” and probably the editor could have cleaned it up a bit more - nonetheless it’s a book I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to anybody with a passion for Formula 1.
I would have preferred the narrative to be more “international English” and probably the editor could have cleaned it up a bit more - nonetheless it’s a book I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to anybody with a passion for Formula 1.
February 3, 2019
An interesting read
Unlike other books that seem to start at birth, in this one your chucked straight into the racing mix. It has its happy and sad moments throughout the book. It is a Frank and open story of the life of the great Johnny Herbert. If you like motor racing its well worth aread
Unlike other books that seem to start at birth, in this one your chucked straight into the racing mix. It has its happy and sad moments throughout the book. It is a Frank and open story of the life of the great Johnny Herbert. If you like motor racing its well worth aread
July 14, 2023
I never really knew much of Johnny Herbert or his story bar the accident (a big part of his story) and I found it very interesting to read about the promise before the accident and the struggles after to get a drive or be able to drive altogether. I always enjoy reading about the inner workings of teams and how if you’re not number 1 the odds can really be stacked against you. Great read.
January 25, 2020
A good read
An enjoyable book by a man who does not take himself too seriously but at the same time enjoyed some decent success at the top-level of motor racing
An enjoyable book by a man who does not take himself too seriously but at the same time enjoyed some decent success at the top-level of motor racing
May 5, 2020
Brilliant
Fast flowing, nostalgic, funny and an insight to what went on behind the scenes ... Every F1 fan should read this book!
Fast flowing, nostalgic, funny and an insight to what went on behind the scenes ... Every F1 fan should read this book!
February 15, 2025
Good, funny read. I became an F1 fan in 1997 so this took my back to the "Glory days".
September 12, 2020
This book by Johnny is well written and exciting to read a great biography. A great guy who is honest truthful and such a riveting read. Johnny should of been a world champion but it did not happen because of his accident. Believe me if your a motorsport fan you will not be disappointed. Great read.
November 6, 2019
A good story well told, with Johnny's trademark good humour always present. As he explains in the book his ever present jocularity hid the depths of despair of being Michael Schumacher's team mate - a role which saw him sidelined in testing and restricted him from racing his team mate, although this wasn't made public , so he just appeared slow and less capable - what should've been a dream role, was actually a nightmare that affected Johnny's confidence and standing in the sport.
Obviously from the highs of being on the brink of a top drive, four of the top teams including Ferrari where chasing his signature, Frank Williams was waiting to speak to speak to Johnny after the race where he had "that accident", to the lows of a career seemingly over before he had his real chance, possible amputation, the painful slow recovery, the false dawn of his Grand Prix debut and his eventual redemption, it's all here. Johnny's career was a career I had followed from Formula Ford to his eventual retirement from Formula One and it's good to get an insight Into what I watched from the television and racetrack side, in reality it wasn't all it seemed, perceptions can be so different! A real case of what may have been, anyone who only knows Johnny's career after his F1 debut, would maybe not understand the real buzz that surrounded Johnny at the time, he really was the next big hope!
Obviously from the highs of being on the brink of a top drive, four of the top teams including Ferrari where chasing his signature, Frank Williams was waiting to speak to speak to Johnny after the race where he had "that accident", to the lows of a career seemingly over before he had his real chance, possible amputation, the painful slow recovery, the false dawn of his Grand Prix debut and his eventual redemption, it's all here. Johnny's career was a career I had followed from Formula Ford to his eventual retirement from Formula One and it's good to get an insight Into what I watched from the television and racetrack side, in reality it wasn't all it seemed, perceptions can be so different! A real case of what may have been, anyone who only knows Johnny's career after his F1 debut, would maybe not understand the real buzz that surrounded Johnny at the time, he really was the next big hope!
December 7, 2016
Johnny Herbert charts his unconventional entry to the world of motor racing and his ensuing career in this autobiography. A man lucky to be alive, as the title suggests, Herbert details his ups and downs with the sport he loves leading to his eventual role in punditry with honesty and class.
This has come out a few months after Damon Hill's autobiography and I have loved them both. Herbert concentrates firmly on his career and there is little regarding his personal life but what a career he had! Accidents are described in detail, including of course his big crash which nearly ended his career. It was great to read about Herbert's thoughts regarding F1 and the goings on and to read his opinions on people in F1 and events that took place. This is a great read for any fan of F1 or motor racing in general.
This has come out a few months after Damon Hill's autobiography and I have loved them both. Herbert concentrates firmly on his career and there is little regarding his personal life but what a career he had! Accidents are described in detail, including of course his big crash which nearly ended his career. It was great to read about Herbert's thoughts regarding F1 and the goings on and to read his opinions on people in F1 and events that took place. This is a great read for any fan of F1 or motor racing in general.
January 7, 2017
Being a motorsport fan - and particularly of the 'short arse' I couldn't wait to read this book and it didn't disappoint - from hearing about his accidental beginnings in motorsport through all the formulas and 'that' crash! To the race winning triumphs - along with a few surprises on the way and some very open and honest comments about both himself and others in the sport - I would highly recommend this book to other fans of the 4 wheeled sport!
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