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Shunt: The Story of James Hunt
James Hunt is remembered more for his girlfriends and wild personal exploits than for his skills in a race car. In this account of his life, the author has examined every detail of the driver's life - from his very earliest days to the last hours of his existence - as well as the lives of those he left behind.
764 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2010
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214 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 24, 2023
A good homage to his life from start to his tragic death another of the greats gone
May 15, 2014
Tom Rubython needs to work a second editor into his creative process. This editor's job will be to climb a ladder with the latest version of Tom's manuscript and drop it on his head from a great height. Once it's light enough that this doesn't hurt anymore, they'll know it's ready to publish. The amount of padding present in this book makes it difficult to believe it came from a professional - it has a foreword, a prologue and a preface! - let alone crossed an editor's desk, especially when the extra bulk does not correspond to any more insight on the complex and fascinating man that was the 1976 World Champion. Hunt fans, you're going to be disappointed.
I pointed out in my review of The Life Of Senna that Rubython is a bloody terrible writer, and although he's improved somewhat for this outing, his prose still reads more like a performance review from middle management than the deft and flourish of a professional writer. The phrase "overindulged on pâté de fois gras" appears three times in as many chapters, as if written via Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V. There are times when you can tell exactly which previous books he's cribbed from (Gerald Donaldson's James Hunt: The Biography is especially obvious), with only careful rewording keeping it above outright plagiarism. And if he's ever heard the truism, "show, don't tell", he's dismissed it as something for lesser writers: an enormous amount of the padding is simply Tom telling you what certain people thought, then the quotes from them telling us exactly us the same thing. It's dull and repetitive, not to mention tedious and redundant, and also boring.
The effect is compounded by Tom's lack of self-awareness, if not outright arrogance. As with Senna, he feels free to offer his opinions as fact, right down to which women James truly loved (because obviously, it's easy to see into someone else's relationships). He also bestows such wisdom as, "It cannot be over-emphasised how much the advent of ground effects sucked the spirit out of Formula One" - which is true, if you ignore the GP79 mod for rFactor, which chose 1979 specifically because so many different drivers and teams won races, and was voted "Mod of the Year" two years running. Clearly the era was highly competitive and has a sizable fanbase, but Tom has spoken, so obviously their opinion doesn't count.
Worst of all is the seedy, lecherous tone he takes when recounting James' sex life. Obviously with James the topic has to come up eventually, but there's a right way and a wrong way to go about it, and Tom's way is deeply, deeply wrong. Don't tell us before the fateful Japanese Grand Prix that James was "having his penis sucked" - phrases like that just leave a bad taste in the brain. Keep reading and you'll find a whole chapter defending James' sex addiction, a condition largely invented by Tom, and containing more than a whiff of jealousy and protesting-too-much. The writer of Song of Songs knew when to close the curtains; so, ironically, did Alissa Morriën, whose notorious article on James' prowess as a lover is included word-for-word; Tom Rubython does not, leaving us with less a portrait of James than a passport photo. He makes the whole thing clinical, distasteful, then expects us to find it as exciting as him.
All that said, credit where it's due - once again Tom has done an impressive amount of research. There seems to be no avenue left unexplored and unresearched from James' remarkable life, and that's kind of the problem - having researched it all, Tom wants to share it all, and he isn't talented or intelligent enough to make that work. After two books with the same faults, I think that's the answer to the riddle of Tom Rubython - the man is an awful writer, but a highly competent archivist. If an archive is what you want, his books will have plenty to offer. If you want an actual book - concise, well-written and a pleasure to read - buy something from Gerald Donaldson instead.
I pointed out in my review of The Life Of Senna that Rubython is a bloody terrible writer, and although he's improved somewhat for this outing, his prose still reads more like a performance review from middle management than the deft and flourish of a professional writer. The phrase "overindulged on pâté de fois gras" appears three times in as many chapters, as if written via Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V. There are times when you can tell exactly which previous books he's cribbed from (Gerald Donaldson's James Hunt: The Biography is especially obvious), with only careful rewording keeping it above outright plagiarism. And if he's ever heard the truism, "show, don't tell", he's dismissed it as something for lesser writers: an enormous amount of the padding is simply Tom telling you what certain people thought, then the quotes from them telling us exactly us the same thing. It's dull and repetitive, not to mention tedious and redundant, and also boring.
The effect is compounded by Tom's lack of self-awareness, if not outright arrogance. As with Senna, he feels free to offer his opinions as fact, right down to which women James truly loved (because obviously, it's easy to see into someone else's relationships). He also bestows such wisdom as, "It cannot be over-emphasised how much the advent of ground effects sucked the spirit out of Formula One" - which is true, if you ignore the GP79 mod for rFactor, which chose 1979 specifically because so many different drivers and teams won races, and was voted "Mod of the Year" two years running. Clearly the era was highly competitive and has a sizable fanbase, but Tom has spoken, so obviously their opinion doesn't count.
Worst of all is the seedy, lecherous tone he takes when recounting James' sex life. Obviously with James the topic has to come up eventually, but there's a right way and a wrong way to go about it, and Tom's way is deeply, deeply wrong. Don't tell us before the fateful Japanese Grand Prix that James was "having his penis sucked" - phrases like that just leave a bad taste in the brain. Keep reading and you'll find a whole chapter defending James' sex addiction, a condition largely invented by Tom, and containing more than a whiff of jealousy and protesting-too-much. The writer of Song of Songs knew when to close the curtains; so, ironically, did Alissa Morriën, whose notorious article on James' prowess as a lover is included word-for-word; Tom Rubython does not, leaving us with less a portrait of James than a passport photo. He makes the whole thing clinical, distasteful, then expects us to find it as exciting as him.
All that said, credit where it's due - once again Tom has done an impressive amount of research. There seems to be no avenue left unexplored and unresearched from James' remarkable life, and that's kind of the problem - having researched it all, Tom wants to share it all, and he isn't talented or intelligent enough to make that work. After two books with the same faults, I think that's the answer to the riddle of Tom Rubython - the man is an awful writer, but a highly competent archivist. If an archive is what you want, his books will have plenty to offer. If you want an actual book - concise, well-written and a pleasure to read - buy something from Gerald Donaldson instead.
July 28, 2011
This wasn't a patch on Rubython's Senna biography.......I learnt a lot about James Hunt I'd not known, granted, but there were a LOT of dating and continuity errors and grammatical/spelling mistakes which I found off-putting. It all seemed very rushed and I don't recall it being advertised as much as the Senna one was either-I heard about it by accident !
It was nice to know a lot more about James and his background and I liked the whole of Murray Walker's eulogy at his memorial service was reprinted in full as that was lovely, although sad, of course. His second wife Sarah didn't come out of it very well, I have to say, whereas all James' other ladies all seemed to be lovely and not grasping or demanding. I know Sarah had his sons but she still pretty much bankrupted him and from what I read James would never have seen her or his boys go short anyway-there was no need for it.
All in all a good book for the fans but if you're a real Hunt afficionado then maybe not.........
It was nice to know a lot more about James and his background and I liked the whole of Murray Walker's eulogy at his memorial service was reprinted in full as that was lovely, although sad, of course. His second wife Sarah didn't come out of it very well, I have to say, whereas all James' other ladies all seemed to be lovely and not grasping or demanding. I know Sarah had his sons but she still pretty much bankrupted him and from what I read James would never have seen her or his boys go short anyway-there was no need for it.
All in all a good book for the fans but if you're a real Hunt afficionado then maybe not.........
November 24, 2022
If you're not a fan of motor sports (specifically Formula 1) then you're probably not going to enjoy this. That's fair as it is, after all a biography of someone who was a Formula 1 driver. I am a fan of Formula 1, although my interest started after James Hunt had long since retired from racing. In fact, my earliest memories of him are as a co-commentator of the races on BBC. This biography goes a pretty good job of telling us James Hunt's story. It's a bit sycophantic in places but, overall, the balance is right and I'd recommend it to all Formula 1 fans.
June 28, 2017
What a perfect book! I was so enthralled once I got through the initial statistics of his career, and more into the personal relational commentary, and was brought to tears at the end when his last girlfriend spoke of her aftermath. He was an exceptional man, and I can relate to his filterlessness!
I'd recommend this to everyone! Well done! What a life!
I'd recommend this to everyone! Well done! What a life!
August 10, 2015
The content was fascinating but if I ever read a book that was in need of a proof reader and a strong editor, this was it. If you can ignore the typos, grammatical errors, repetitiveness & wandering narrative, you'll get some sense of this unique character.
June 2, 2025
Does what it says on the tin, in exhaustive detail and with some repetition (Rubython used his own press to publish this, and it shows in the lack of critical editing). For a book of 701 pages plus appendices, however, it's a remarkably quick and entertaining read, and I certainly learnt a lot about Formula 1 and the characters who in the 1970s and 1980s made it the mass entertainment spectacle that it is today. I am possibly most amused, though, by the comment Hunt made when pressed to explain his lifelong interest in breeding budgerigars: "I like them because they're decorative and make a cheerful noise". He had 140 of them at that stage, all housed in an aviary in his back garden in Wimbledon. That's not a "cheerful noise", it's a deafening cacophony, speaking as a former budgie owner myself.
June 4, 2020
We already know James Hunt was a character. This book is well researched, and the public and private sides of Hunt's life are engrossing. That said, the writing and editing of this book are absolutely atrocious. Tons of typos, chapters that bounce back and forth and back again on the timeline, and the repetition (Rubython's favorite phrase? "The car was a dog"). Great story, horrible writing, average overall.
December 26, 2020
Viena iš nedaugelio knygų, kurią skaičiau telefono ekrane. Pradėjau prieš pandemiją, kai buvo galima skraidyti lėktuvais kiek nori ir kur nori, skaičiau tik skrydžiuose. Kai kovą lėktuvai nusileido, liko nebaigti per 200 puslapių šios stebėtinai storos biografijos. Must read F1 gerbėjams. Tokių žmonių, kaip Huntas, F1 nebėra ir nebus.
December 20, 2021
I cannot imagine how in the world Tom Rubython could have made this book less appealing than he did. I realize that James Hunt was not the most lovable person ever, but the poor writing, the repetition, the poor grammar just made it worse. There other books about James Hunt, none of which I have read, but read them, not this!
December 23, 2025
This book is self published and it shows! Needed a good editor and proofreader. And also maybe to not play armchair psychologist.
And remember not to “overindulge in pâté de foie gras!” (A phrase used numerous times throughout the book!)
And remember not to “overindulge in pâté de foie gras!” (A phrase used numerous times throughout the book!)
April 18, 2020
Not a perfect book, but still a good insight into Hunt.
February 10, 2021
Enjoyed the book as I’m a f1 fanatic however found it a bit long winded in places but not a bad read
December 10, 2023
Very good book, a great read, couldn't put it down
May 16, 2014
I gave this book a high rating based mostly on James' character, the content and the research done to make this book possible. It also happened to be very well written if you take all of the typos and grammatical errors out, that was the only off-putting thing about the whole book. It was the literary equivalent of framing a Picasso in the cheapest frame available at Ikea.
For those of you that found this book after watching Rush you are in for a pleasant surprise. As good a film as Rush was, it barely scratched the surface in terms of everything that went on during that fateful season. Reading this book will not only put the movie into better context but it will also leave you perplexed as to why so much vital information was omitted/glossed over. I initially watched Rush and loved it, I then read this book and loved the 1976 bit even more. Afterwards I re-watched Rush and wasn't very impressed with it the second time.
This is a great read and is the celebration of a truly remarkable individual's life. James was one of those larger than life characters and this book is perfect for getting to know him better.
For those of you that found this book after watching Rush you are in for a pleasant surprise. As good a film as Rush was, it barely scratched the surface in terms of everything that went on during that fateful season. Reading this book will not only put the movie into better context but it will also leave you perplexed as to why so much vital information was omitted/glossed over. I initially watched Rush and loved it, I then read this book and loved the 1976 bit even more. Afterwards I re-watched Rush and wasn't very impressed with it the second time.
This is a great read and is the celebration of a truly remarkable individual's life. James was one of those larger than life characters and this book is perfect for getting to know him better.
July 29, 2015
A throughly enjoyable book that captured my attention and forced me to complete the 600+ pages in just over five days whilst on holiday.
The book was very well laid out in chronological order on the career of James Hunt and provided good background info on the main players that affected James Hunt's life and career.
The book is long and takes a good amount of time and dedication to plough on thorough, but overall is very rewarding when complete that allows the reader to think back over a far-too-brief life of the formula one driver and commentator that was James Hunt.
A few niggles on the editing of the paperback, some misspelt words and paragraphs being added in mid-sentence (the editor should really pay a little more attention), but other then that a fine book.
The book was very well laid out in chronological order on the career of James Hunt and provided good background info on the main players that affected James Hunt's life and career.
The book is long and takes a good amount of time and dedication to plough on thorough, but overall is very rewarding when complete that allows the reader to think back over a far-too-brief life of the formula one driver and commentator that was James Hunt.
A few niggles on the editing of the paperback, some misspelt words and paragraphs being added in mid-sentence (the editor should really pay a little more attention), but other then that a fine book.
October 1, 2012
This is one of those books you need to be prepared to invest a substantial amount of your life into, and not just time but emotion too. You definitely leave this book with a greater sense of who James was as a driver and a man. When I turned the last page I felt the instananeous loss not only of the legend James Hunt but of this monster of a companion which had been with me for the last few months. It was impossible not to cry reading the printed words of Murray's eulogy to James. I have since bought this book for 2 other people but whether they have taken up the challenge yet I don't know. I only hope the film that's being made does the late, great, James justice.
January 15, 2013
A book about Formula 1's most notorious playboy...and world champion. Rubython's conversational tone perfectly matches the live free lifestyle of James Hunt, the last of the fun racers. The only reason I didn't give Shunt five stars is the flow of the book. Stories are told multiple times, events are gone over several times, and certain chapters are out of order. Nevertheless, this is a great biography for any racing fan.
October 23, 2012
First off, this is a great introduction to the flaws and brilliance of James Hunt. This book tells all, warts and highs. Your demystify James, but also have a lot of empathy. From an editing standpoint, this book was lacking. It jumps timelines, thinly veils copy and pastes of areas of the books and the cadence of the story was messy. So it has some flaws, but I still enjoyed it.
May 9, 2016
I enjoyed this book. I laughed out loud on several occasions and some parts of the book were very entertaining. However, I feel it could have been shorter. Some less interesting parts of his life were a bit of a labour to read and some sections would only appeal to the car racing maniac. However, I am glad I read the book. Jame Hunt was certainly a one off!
September 3, 2015
Poorly written with little real insight, and the author posits some views of Hunts character without ever really retuning to them -for example he talks early on about Hunts "lack of an embarrassment gene" and then never really returns to the idea. Not helped by poor editing and proofreading.
Want to read
November 5, 2010have put this book on my Christmas list....;o)
February 18, 2011
Highly enjoyable read. Hunt's life was entertaining and this book was well written.
August 24, 2013
You don't need to be a racing fan to enjoy this long book about the short life of James Hunt, whom I had never heard of before picking up this tome.
October 14, 2014
Loved it. Absolutely fascinating story well told.
Read
December 13, 2015ksm
January 7, 2011
Great story/life, writing spotty in places.
January 7, 2013
Great so far...
Good but very poor editing, repeats frequently
Good but very poor editing, repeats frequently
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews