Archive for Items Categorized 'Biography/ Autobiography', only excerpts shown, click title for full entry.

Heroes and Landmarks of British Aviation

by Richard Edwards and Peter Edwards

Higher, faster, further. This book traces the successes and failures of the men and women—and even the industry as a whole—that advanced aviation.

Negative Gravity:
 A Life of Beatrice Shilling


by Matthew Freudenberg

This aeronautical engineer solved a vexing problem in a famous WWII aero engine, raced motorcycles, had a long string of letters after her name, but resolutely marched to her own beat—which is why today few remember her!

Motor Sport Greats in Conversation

by Simon Taylor

Put a good meal and an even better drink in front of someone and chances are they’ll loosen right up. Twenty-four luminaries from the racing world let their guard down a bit and talk about this and that and the other.

Agriculture, Furniture & Marmalade: Southern African Motorsport Heroes

by Greg Mills

Name three South African race drivers. Can’t do it? Tsk, tsk. The title may be too funky for its own good but the subtitle is unambiguous. You’ll be surprised at the African Connection.

Chrysler: The Life and Times of an American Automotive Genius

by Vincent Curcio

From wiping down locomotives to running an automotive powerhouse, Walter P. in a quintessential American “be all that you can be” story did it all and did it well.

Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic: How Fixing Broken BMWs Helped Make Me Whole

by Rob Siegel

Want to buy, fix, drive cool cars? And live to talk about it? Siegel has and does, and he hasn’t lost his sense of humor. Or his wife. Clearly a man from whom to learn! Even if you don’t have a BMW.

Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot

by Starr Smith

Oscar-winning actor Stewart was a star and saw the stars: he was a competent pilot even before he entered the service, attained the rank of Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve, and even went Mach 2 in the back seat of a B-58 Hustler jet bomber.

Flying Fox – Otto Fuchs: A German Aviator’s Story, 1917–1918

by Adam M. Wait (editor)

Not your basic autobiography! As much a novel as a historical investigation this first-ever English edition adds many layers of commentary by the translator.

War on the Waters: The Union & Confederate Navies, 1861–1865

by James M. McPherson

Almost a David-and-Goliath scenario! Civil War-era naval engagements were relatively small and few but had a disproportionately large impact. This excellent book too is relatively small—and makes a large impact.

A Girl Aboard the Titanic: A Survivor’s Story

by Eva Hart

Written by one of the youngest Titanic survivors this biography deals with the life-altering effect such an event has, traumatic on the one hand but also with the potential for good.

The Diaries of Ronnie Tritton, War Office Publicity Officer 1940–45

by Fred McGlade

War needs PR? You bet, just take a look at the news! Tritton faced an uphill battle in his own department but really did succeed in changing how the public sees a side of life neither it nor the people engaged in its pursuit “enjoy” talking about.

Pure Luck, The Authorised Biography of Sir Thomas Sopwith

by Alan E. Branson

Camel, Pup, Hurricane, Typhoon, Tempest, Lancaster, Harrier. You know the names, now meet the man behind them and many other aviation, business, and sporting accomplishments.