Watching the Wheels: My Autobiography

by Damon Hill

Watching the Wheels

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Sports, Autobiography, Memoir, Racing, Biography Memoir

371 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1821

About the author

Damon Graham Devereux Hill is a British former racing driver. He is the son of Graham Hill, and is the only son of a Formula One world champion to win the title.

Reviews

[Jenny in Neverland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all know I’m a huge Formula 1 fan. Last year, I reviewed Mark Webber’s autobiography, ‘Aussie Grit’ and thoroughly enjoyed it and the personal insight into the Formula 1 world from the men in the spotlight: the drivers. It was all very insightful and eye-opening so I was super excited to read Damon Hill’s long-awaited book, Watching the Wheels (oh, and I also love the reasoning behind why it’s called what it is). I’d like to thank Katie from Pan Macmillan for sending me a gorgeous copy of this book to read and review. Published in 2016, Watching the Wheels marks the twentieth anniversary of Damon Hill’s World Championship year. It was time to put pen to paper and for Damon to finally share his story; from a little boy, growing up with one of the most famous and charismatic Formula 1 drivers as a father, to the trials and tribulations of getting into Formula 1, the championship year and everything in-between.

The book starts heavily on Damon’s father, Graham. And why not. We all know the man, the myth, the legend. The charismatic, funny and talented driver with the devilish moustache from ‘back in the day’ but Damon’s recount of actually growing up with such a legend was certainly eye-opening to say the least. As we go through the happy (and sometimes frustrating) childhood memories we come to the day that changed everything for Damon forever; the day of his father’s death. I think this is the point where Damon’s book really becomes ‘Damon’s book’. And he often ponders the impact his father’s death and legend had on his own life and career. It certainly was something to think about.

The book in itself was just exceptionally entertaining, interesting – a page-turner. If we’re going to be cliché about it. I applaud Damon for writing this book himself; not that because I think someone who can drive really fast can’t write as well but the amount of gruelling and emotional hours it must have taken to look back over your life, especially the tragedies that happened throughout well, let’s just say he must have been exhausted afterwards. This book is so very ‘Damon’. If you follow F1 and are aware of what Damon’s sense of humour and way of speaking is like, you will see and feel this ooze out of the pages. I also love the intensely simple cover. It almost tells you how real, open and honest this book is going to be before you even open it. And it was; all of those things.

Damon is like fine wine; he gets better with age. And I think (I hope, at least) this is the purest Damon we have ever seen. He really does lay all of his cards on the table in this book and reveals some of the painstakingly annoying things that happened ‘behind the scenes’ of his F1 career that we, as mere fans, don’t really know anything about. All I can say is, that if you’re a Formula 1 fan, you will love this book. The only downside is that the editing process needed a lot more work. Obviously this isn’t Damon’s fault but it’s a shame the editor wasn’t more thorough with this and made an already amazing book sparkle that little bit more.

One of the parts I loved most was Damon’s recount of what happened in May, 1994 at the infamous Imola. Every Formula 1 fan knows the story and has without a doubt, heard it, seen it and spoke about it multiple times over. But it never gets old, it never gets boring and it never gets any less devastating or shocking. Hearing it from yet another person’s point of view has only piqued my interest even more and the whole section was written beautifully, respectfully but also very true to Damon’s own feelings. It will make you see the incident in yet another, different light. As if we didn’t have enough.

He may be able to drive exceptionally quick but boy, the man can write, too. An outstanding autobiography from an outstandingly talented, funny and entertaining man. He lets you in to the dark and demanding world of Formula 1: past and present and doesn’t try to sugar coat the morbidity of it. It’s quite the read and I enjoyed every single second of it. Quite a feat, Mr Hill. Quite a feat.

Find all my reviews at: www.jennyinneverland.com

[John Gribbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best book ever written about relatively modern Formula 1, but also an intriguing insight into the man. No wonder he got a First in Literature from the OU!

[Gary Willmott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was always a Damon Hill fan and was pleased to see him make a return to our screens as an analyst for Sky F1 a few years back; like many F1 fans, I guess, I had wondered where he'd got to.

This autobiography answers that question and also gives us a brilliant insight into the machinations and politics operating in the bubble world of F1. It also gives a fantastic peek into the sporting and engineering side of motorsport.

What is most revealing and interesting to me is the story of how Hill dealt with the death of his father and made his own way - and a very singular way it was - to the pinnacle of the sport that he had always eschewed in favour of motorcycle racing. But in so doing there was a price to pay.

Hill has always been one of my sporting heroes, mainly for the way in which he overcame significant barriers to get to the top on his own terms. The way that he was pitched to team leader so early in his F1 career after the demise of Ayrton Senna and how he was never really given the kudos he deserved for taking the fight to the early but obvious talent of a nascent Schumacher were two things that made supporting him easy. Plus the fact that he was quintessentially English!

He tells his story with magnanimity and humour and has great knowledge of the history of F1 and its early pioneers, by dint of the fact that he was, from birth, pitched into the environment because of his father, Graham.

This is a really great book and one that I cannot recommend highly enough. It's not really about F1, more about life.

[Frédéric Gagnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damon Hill nous livre une excellente autobiographie introspective offrant un regard lucide sur les pressions psychologiques du sport de haut niveau.

La Formule 1 y est beaucoup présente, avec des moments forts comme la mort d’Ayrton Senna ou son titre mondial en 1996 mais elle sert surtout de toile de fond à une réflexion plus large sur la vie, la perte, et la résilience.

Un récit touchant et sincère, qui séduira autant les passionnés de sport automobile que les lecteurs en quête d’un témoignage authentique sur la condition humaine.

[Andrew Edward Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest to goodness, this is one of the finest autobiographical works I have ever encountered.

What should an autobiography be? Given that most of the contemporary celebrity bios are little more than anecdotal gibberish, you can be forgiven for wanting more. This book is more. A genuine earnest effort to explore, understand, and come to terms with the self. And it took Damon a long old time to do that. But it is very clear that the chap needed to get it done before putting pen to paper. This is not a cheap read. It isn't a coffee table book. It is a person's character, personality, and life, penned by his own hand. And for someone we all know as a racing driver, he has done a spectacular job. After his retirement from motorsport, he completed a degree in English at university. And it shows.

Like the vast majority of us, Damon Hill has lived a number of lives, by which I mean stages of life, experiencing twists and turns, some of it planned, most of it seemingly by chance. That carves the character we become, influencing how we behave in the next stage. Hill is greatly aware of this and lets us into the most personal aspects of how his life has crafted him. The first half or so of the book represents his knowledge of psychology and the psyche. It details his need to find out who he is. How his father's death (the former F1 multiple world champion Graham Hill) in 1975 affected him and his family.

There are, of course, many accounts of what happened and when. The latter half of the book concentrates a lot on his racedriving endeavours. What it was like, his world championship title, why he left Williams at the conclusion of the 1996 season, and the people involved all around him. But really, this is a very courageous attempt to communicate, especially to his fans, in a way that he never could during his racing days. Hill isn't fearless. He is just brave and thoughtful.

And yes, he really is a gentleman.

[Janine Connick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Nostalgic

I am not sure where to start with this book. There are sadly many mistakes. I congratulate Damon for writing it himself, however the proof reader should be sacked. I am an F1 fan and I was a huge supporter of Ayrton Senna and Damon Hill, as well as many others. So it was a lovely trip down memory lane, with much information that I never knew. Some parts were a bit boring, others very interesting but it is all worth it for the last chapter. Something seemed to happen to Damon in this chapter and the writing becomes brilliant. I commend this brave effort and wish Damon all the best for the future. Enjoy every day.

[Kaushik Haritha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for all F1 fans

One of my favourite drivers. Brings back some good f1 memories .. a really amazing insight into the mind of a champion driver. Awesome read!

[Jessica | JSxReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Dane Sørensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Formula 1 through the eyes of a mere mortal.

Spend some time reading this autobiography, and it becomes very clear the dominant event in the life of the 1996 World Champion was the death of his father, Graham, in 1975. He rarely goes more than a few pages without mentioning it, or at least without reflecting on the effect it had on his young and developing psyche, a psyche already nudged in a certain direction by his parentage and the fortunes of war. It's about what we expected from the famously dour racing driver, apparently the only one of the breed, and it did get a little bit on my nerves after a while. It must be said, however, there was a wonderful moment in the F1 chapters where he finally consulted with a life coach with experience in polishing the self-presentation of politicians and CEOs, who interrupted one of his usual deluges of negativity with the sharp response: "Hey! Save it for the book!"

Ooh, yes. I wish I'd received that advice earlier in life. So does he.

That's the thing about Damon's story - it's not your typical F1 driver's story. Racing drivers are very special people, blessed (or cursed) with an abundance of confidence and self-belief that sometimes borders on egomania. As such their biographies tend to involve skipping from success to success, championship to championship, in a landslide of achieving whatever it is they set out to do - Formula Ford, Formula 3, Formula 3000, Formula 1 testing and at last Formula 1 racing - and, if you've bought their biography, usually a World Championship or two as well. Impressive, but not very relatable.

Damon is different. His early home life, with a father who was home for a few days maybe every other week bringing a burst of emotion and colour into his childhood, felt very similar to my own. His young adulthood as a virtual loner, spent pursuing a dream (motorcycle racing) that never panned out, was likewise familiar. And his maturing into his early 30s as a stubborn, hardworking car racer, overlooked by absolutely everyone as not one of the special ones surrounded by that golden halo, but supported by a remarkable woman who loved him for no real reason he could fathom... oh yes, I felt I knew Damon by that stage. The final cherry on top was the revelation that, unknown to anyone (including himself), Damon had spent most of his life struggling under the dark cloud of depression. Slam and dunk. Damon is one of us.

His perspective on Formula 1, the most insanely competitive environment on earth, is unique for that, and therefore uniquely valuable. The book isn't perfect - as I said, the constant asides about Graham and the accident, and his own mental trauma and the therapy that allowed him to manage it, really should've been restricted each to a chapter of their own. And the book is extremely light on the career ladder stage of his racing life, although really, what was there to tell? He came, he saw, he really didn't conquer much. But beneath it all is a tough, tenacious, almost bitter core of indomitable strength, the thing that must've allowed him to come back from yet another drubbing by rivals like Michael Schumacher, or a boss as cold and indifferent as Frank Williams, and roll up his sleeves and try again.

Steel runs through Damon Hill, but it isn't the teflon armour plate of most F1 champions, something softer and more human - but equally strong. If your typical F1 driver is the Terminator, bullets just bouncing off, Damon is more like the T-1000, every wound showing but all of them eventually absorbed and digested. That's very appealing somehow. It makes him a mortal, flesh-and-blood human being, who just happened to beat the best at their own game for one shining year in 1996. As he wrote with some relish in an early chapter, on a good day where everything went right, even Senna, Schumacher and Häkkinen could be beaten, and the triumph in his tone was well-deserved and meant a hell of a lot more than it would from just another F1 superstar - we aren't likely to see another World Champion who can remember holding down a real job to get by, for example.

So in spite of all the negativity, I closed this book feeling more respect and warmth for Damon Hill than before I opened it. This is F1 as it would feel to you and me, and it's inspiring in its own burdened, hangdog way - are you suffering depression? Nothing special? Getting a bit long in the tooth? Keep at it anyway - remember on a good day, if everything goes right, they can be beaten.

[Megan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

2016 marks twenty years since Damon Hill was crowned Formula One World Champion. In this autobiography he charts his early life, the horror of losing his father, getting into racing late and his career in F1, competing against the greats and the turmoil that he has coped with during and since his career. 'Watching the Wheels' is a refreshingly honest, no holding back autobiography.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and Hill offers a fabulous insight into the career of a F1 driver. Of course Hill like many others had their fair share of death and accidents and it is clear that this has deeply affected Hill starting with the death of his father. What is refreshing is to see Hill admit his weaknesses and admit where he has struggled. Balanced with the incredibly dark times are the wonderful uplifting times and times spent with his family. Hill really has included a lot of material in this to make it a very thorough autobiography.
'Watching the Wheels' does start a bit disjointed, the first few chapters made for odd reading as Hill recounted various things but in no particular order. Eventually he tells his life story in an order and it was vastly improved, it is just a shame the first few chapters were a bit of a let down.
This is a very personal, unique insight into Hill's life that is perfect for any fan of F1, a remarkable read.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read and one that provides a fascinating insight into Damon’s character and motivation. A good deal of the start is devoted to growing up as the son of 1960s racing legend Graham Hill, a world cruelly torn apart by Graham’s plane crash in 1975 when Damon was only 15.

Damon then spends a good deal of time trying to prove he isn’t his father while eventually succumbing to the lure of a career in motor sport. The accounts of Damon’s racing career walk a fine line between holding the reader’s interest and not getting bogged down in detail which is generally successful.

On the down side events after Damon’s 1996 world championship win are taken at a bit of a canter, and there are too many mistakes that a good proof reader should have spotted. Those quibbles aside this is more than a book about motor racing, it’s a fascinating journey through Hill’s psyche.

[Justin Tuijl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book indeed. Clearly written by Damon himself and very honest. He's not afraid to say it how it is. If he had written this several years ago it wouldn't have been the same book. His wisdom and self-analysis shows. He's a thinking guy. This is not a boring sportsman's drivel. You get two profiles in one, a detailed look at his father and a detailed look at Damon. Comes over as a very nice chap with the stiff upper lip of his father still within. The only thing missing is a little more of his life after GP. However, he may feel it would bore us, or he has part 2 in mind! Still, don't be in doubt, this is really worth a read even if F1 isn't your thing.

[Mark Iliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last time I read an F1 autobiography I discovered that a hero of my youth was in fact a preening, egotistical bootlicker, so I approached this book with caution. I needn’t have worried, though, for Hill proves to be thoughtful and engaging.

By opening with life after retirement, and some of his mental health issues, Hill takes us into the story primed to notice details that might otherwise have slipped by. The tragedy of his father Graham’s early death, and the conflicting pressures to emulate him and to carve his own path, left me with a deeper appreciation of Damon’s achievements: he started motor racing late and learned fast. He is clearly hurt by the narrative that he only became world champion because he was in the best car, which overlooks the facts that his team-mate was in the same car, and that you have to be very good to be drive the best car in the first place.

There is plenty in here that isn’t about racing too, in particular his determination to be a good husband and father, and how that played out against the demands of racing at the top level.

Overall a fascinating read, with the author’s voice shining through loud and clear … a far cry from your standard ghost-written autobiog.

[Stephen Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her guise as 'Dear Amy', agony aunt for a local newspaper, Margot Lewis has dealt with all sorts of letters - but never one like this...

Dear Amy,

I've been kidnapped by a strange man.
I don't know where I am.

Please help me,
Bethan Avery

This must be a cruel hoax. Because Bethan Avery has been missing for nearly two decades.

But as the present-day search intensifies for another missing schoolgirl, Margot is unnerved enough to take the letter to the police, hoping they will dismiss it as a sick joke.

Instead, they let Margot in on a little secret. One that confirms her darkest fears and tangles her up in the search for the sender, which could save one young girl's life and cost Margot her own...

Damon Hill is one of my sporting heroes. I don't know why it's taken me so long to read this book but I'm glad I did.

It was really good to get an insight in what it takes to become an F1 World Champion.
I followed his racing career throughout his years in Formula One, so it was interesting to see what sacrifices and struggles he had to overcome to make it to the top.

It also deals with emotions he had to deal with during his time in the sport, not to mention the loss of his father when he was young.

Having read this, I admire him even more.
Well worth the 5 stars.

[William Hutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watching the Wheels is an excellent read for any motor racing fan who wants more than just lap times and race results. Damon Hill’s autobiography goes far deeper than a standard sporting memoir — it’s an honest, thoughtful look at the pressures, triumphs, and challenges of life both on and off the track.

Hill writes candidly about growing up as the son of Graham Hill, one of Britain’s most iconic racing drivers, and how that shaped his own journey to becoming a Formula 1 World Champion. He doesn’t shy away from the difficult moments either — the loss of his father, the fierce battles with rivals like Michael Schumacher, and the mental struggles that came with living in the public eye.

There’s still plenty here for die-hard racing fans: behind-the-scenes stories about the Williams team in the 90s, the politics of the paddock, and insights into some of F1’s most dramatic seasons. But what makes this book stand out is Hill’s openness and the depth with which he explores the human side of racing.

If you’re a fan of Formula 1 — especially the classic era of the 90s — Watching the Wheels is a must-read. It’s a well-written, honest account that gives you a fresh perspective on what it really takes to reach the top of the sport — and what happens when the helmet comes off.

[Andy Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a motorsport fan of the late-90s Damon Hill was one of the first Formula 1 drivers I can remember following, along with Jacques Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and of course Michael Schumacher.

Therefore the release of Hill’s autobiography was of great interest to me, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The 1996 world champion speaks in-depth about his childhood as the son of F1 legend Graham Hill, his somewhat haphazard route to F1 and his eventual departure from the sport after finally becoming the first son of a world champion to become world champion.

The autobiography also sheds light on Damon’s mental struggles after retiring from the sport, explaining his reason for walking away from F1 and wishing to remain absent from it for many years afterwards.

This is a must read for any motorsport fan, as Damon invites you into his life and his thoughts of what it’s like to be the son of a famous racing driver, make his own name in the sport and then deal with life after such a fast-paced life.

[Alan Commaille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very on brand for me at the moment, as I've been rewatching the 95 and 96 F1 seasons.

The first part of the book was not what I expected. Sports biographies are pretty predictable: parents, how I grew up, my early start in sport, and how I cracked the big time. Then an event-by-event recount of their career in the big time. But this looked like it was going to be something quite different, concentrating on a link between his youth and his depression which he unwittingly carried through his career. Then he was going to tell everyone where he disappeared to after his retirement in 1999.

The first part was interesting (partly because so unexpected) then once his racing career started it defaulted to an event-by-event analysis. A very brief chapter of post-career stuff at the end. This being my era of growing up with F1 it was really interesting to relive the memories. Perhaps he needs to let go of the Schumacher resentment, but I would say that. It's been a long time.

Good book, glad I read it.

[JJE · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a shame that the first half of this book drone on far to much about Graham Hill. So much so that I thought I was reading his dads autobiography which was really disappointing.

Totally understand he wanted to talk about how his Dads passing affected him and how he lived in the shadows of his over zealous Dad for the early part of his career but my god was it dragged out.

Once Damon actually started to talk about him, his family and his career the book was MUCH better. It was such a shame that it too so long to actually talk about Damon himself. The various episodes about his tough start in motor racing and how hard it was to get to F1 are brilliant and so much better than finding out how his dad used to organise parties etc.

The section of the boom on Prost and Senna was so interesting and this should have formed the bulk of the story. Damon has such an impressive story to tell and him becoming World Champ is an extraordinary feat which shamefully was not mentioned until the last third of the book.

Worth a read if you are into motor racing and like the historical aspects of delving into his Dads life but personally if I wanted that I would have picked up how Dads autobiography!

[Gordon Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best F1 books I have ever read ! . I know Damon wrote this himself, and to be honest there are a few mistakes in here, but I think it adds to the appeal ! You can tell this book is an honest account of Damon's struggle against a very difficult system and the sudden shock and horror of losing his famous father at such a young and vulnerable time in his life!. It is all here in black and white and some of those mentioned should be ashamed of themselves the way they treated him !.If you like Damon or just a F1 fan this book gives a great insight to just what it takes to become a world champion ....or just another F1 driver in fact !. A thoughrally Good read indeed !

[Gabriele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read. Damon's life has been really impressive, he went through a lot and he never gave up in order to achieve his dreams. This book shows you nothing is impossibile. It's always fascinating to see a driver's career from his point of view. There are lots of things you can't see from the outside: you can see the race and the drivers' performances, but you'll never find out what's inside them. I wish there were more books like this. Writing your own autobiography to explain to the fans your path is really underrated.
Similar to Mark Webber's book, I liked this one more.
It was good to read your story, Damon.

[Steve Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damon Hill was a hero of mine as a young Formula One fan (and still very much is!) so I was thrilled when he released this book, the defining account of his life up to, including and beyond his fleeting yet successful F1 campaign.

And it doesn't disappoint! Most interesting to me was his account of his time in F1 at Williams, and later at Arrows and Jordan, not to mention his dealings with Ron Dennis and the what-might-have-been's.

To read about his struggles in life after F1 was harrowing but I appreciate him revealing so much about what he went through and how he overcame his depression.

Thanks for writing this book Damon, it was quite a ride.

[Ibrar Malik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invaluable research for my upcoming book www.1994f1.com

Hill's book gives a good account of a his 1994 season. Whilst the book briefly touches on the cheating accusations they are purely told from Hill’s point of view, and therefore Damon gives a biased and limited account as a result. Moreover Hill stays firmly on the fence on the subject nor does he explain things like the political background, how the 1994 rules came about and how vague they were, or Schumacher’s driving technique etc. Things which are crucial when discussing the Benetton cheating allegations and which my upcoming book www.1994f1.com does.

Good read nonetheless.

[Dale Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was always going to love this book - Damon Hill being one of my biggest ever heroes.

It's a very emotional read, and it is very clear these are Damon's own words. His detailed recollections of his childhood and the tragedy that changed his family are deeply touching.

Damon recalls his early career, his success on bikes, his progression through the formulas and describes how tough it is for anyone to get to the top in Motorsport. As you would expect, there are in-depth accounts of the tragedies of Imola 1994, Adelaide and the subsequent battles with Schumacher, the championship year, Arrows and Jordan.

A deep book from a deep thinker.

[Steven Schmoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read, at least most of it. I found it quite dull up until Damon explains the death of his father and the resulting void in the Hill family. It is pretty quiet for a while after that but really shines when we finally hit the world of Formula 1. Hill’s recount of Senna’s death is utterly enthralling, and the narrative of the following seasons is stellar. His triumph in 1996 despite being dropped by Williams is a wonderful tale, and the honesty he brings to the story in the years after is inspiring and humble. There are quite a few typos and mistakes, though. A really great read that just isn’t quite polished.

[Igor · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are Formula 1 fan or specifically Williams then this is book that you'll find interesting.

Damon is explaining his personal life and how that influenced his Formula 1 career. How he got there,
what where the challenges and what he had to face with. There is a lot of things about his personal life and his family.

I have been Williams fan for more then 20 years and this was very interesting to read, to see how the things worked on the inside of the Formula 1 world, what was happening behind the curtain. Plus value is added to the book that is written personally from Damon Hill with help from Maurice Hamilton.

[Tom Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than I expected. As a long-time (if lapsed) F1 fan, I’m very familiar with the careers of both Graham and Damon Hill. The book tells a familiar story from a very personal perspective (obviously) and does so intelligently and very well.

There is a sense of gentle repetition in the book, in the manner of a serialised story that became a novel. I wonder whether that was due to the book being created from a number of sessions - of interviews and writing.

Overall, top bloke. Great read.

[Alex Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good auto-bio, and amazingly well written for a first time writer. Good mix of introspection and action, a look at famous father-son relationships, his own family and personal relationshiops etc. Seems to be a very honest attempt at explaining who he is to world - and I liked him and the book. Definitely more of a book for fans of racing, but much more that a publicity bio - he wrote this many years after finishing racing, partly in an attempt to give himself more perspective and clarity - and I think it has worked.

[Mario La Pergola · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the F1 books I enjoyed the most.
It goes well beyond F1: it’s the deepest autobiography I’ve read so far, and the sensation I got as a reader was to get very, very close to Damon and the fears, issues and joys he experienced throughout his life. Thanks Damon for taking the time to provide us with such a big window into your life (and Graham’s) and for the invaluable insider info and perspectives into some monumental events in the history of F1.

[J MACKAY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure Dead Brilliant

Damon has succeeded in writing much much more than a motor racing book. He has given a warts and all introspective account of his life and !also his account of his father's life. Mike Hailwood famously said " Money can't buy ability" .Damon made it with no money but ability and determination. For those of us without ability we can derive much pleasure from hearing from the inside what we've seen in TV. Well done Damon. A great read

[Kezra Bridger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Im entering a slump era because there was nothing wrong per se with this book but I just could not get into it. His story was really interesting and well written and this rating isn’t about his life because I don’t like rating autobiographies on that basis. I just personally struggled to get into it. However his discussion of what happened in his final season and the mental health problems he struggled with was really impactful and showed truly just how remarkable these drivers are.