Self Publishing Titans
How to Build a Car
by Adrian Newey
Published
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Pages
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Language
English
Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Available Formats & Prices
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$12.49
Hardcover
$44.86
Audiobook
$22.86
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About This Book
The world's foremost designer in Formula One, Adrian Newey OBE is arguably one of Britain's greatest engineers and this is his fascinating, powerful memoir. How to Build a Car explores the story of Adrian's unrivalled 35-year career in Formula One through the prism of the cars he has designed, the drivers he has worked alongside and the races in which he's been involved. A true engineering genius, even in adolescence Adrian's thoughts naturally emerged in shape and form - he began sketching his own car designs at the age of 12 and took a welding course in his school summer holidays.
From his early career in IndyCar racing and on to his unparalleled success in Formula One, we learn in comprehensive, engaging and highly entertaining detail how a car actually works. Adrian has designed for the likes of Mario Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, always with a shark-like purity of purpose: to make the car go faster. And while his career has been marked by unbelievable triumphs, there have also been deep tragedies: most notably Ayrton Senna's death during his time at Williams in 1994.
How to Build a Car encapsulates, through Adrian's remarkable life story, precisely what makes Formula One so thrilling - its potential for the total synchronicity of man and machine, the perfect combination of style, efficiency and speed.
Introduction
In the compelling world of motorsports engineering, few figures stand as prominently as Adrian Newey. His book, How to Build a Car, delves beyond the blueprints and race tracks, offering a personal journey through the realms of innovation, creativity, and precision. Newey encapsulates decades of expertise in a narrative that merges the technical with the human, inviting readers to discover not only how cars are built but why their creation is a symphony of passion and precision.
Key Takeaways
Adrian Newey shares insider knowledge from a lifetime in the motorsport industry sparking creativity. Innovative engineering techniques explored enhancing readers' understanding of car design principles effectively. Personal narratives and expert insights intertwine vividly offering depth to automotive enthusiasts and novices.
Detailed Description
How to Build a Car operates on multiple levels, offering both a technical guide and a personal chronicle from one of Formula One's most respected designers. Adrian Newey's distinctive voice brings clarity to complex principles, making the intricate world of car design accessible to a broad audience. His experiences working with top racing teams unfold as compelling stories intertwined with his reflections on successes, failures, and the relentless pursuit of perfection that defines his career.
Readers are treated to anecdotes that illustrate not only the highs of motorsport triumphs but also the challenges faced along the way. Adrian Newey's candid approach demystifies the engineering challenges behind race car construction, while his personal narrative infuses the technical discourse with warmth and humor. Each chapter offers insights into building not just cars but a resilient mindset to tackle obstacles.
As the lines between machine and art blur, How to Build a Car emerges as more than a design manual. It is an invitation to explore the intersection of innovation and emotion, showcasing how passion fuels the race to create machines that push human limits.
Standout Features
Unique blend of technical expertise and personal storytelling delivers depth and engagement beyond traditional engineering books Adrian Newey's esteemed career in motorsport engineering offers rare insider knowledge and firsthand experiences that captivate readers Drawing from decades of practice Newey's vivid anecdotes humanize the engineering process making complex concepts relatable to all.
Book Details
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Based on 7457 ratings
Customer Reviews
Fun and interesting to read.
I am new to race car engineering and and management, so this book was an eye-opener for me. As an engineer in buildings design, the depth of technical detail was right for me and should be for readers with technical or mechanical interest. Overall, the book was fun and moved along well, the most fun being the discussions of the drivers, their races, and their relations with their cars.
A technical book wrapped in personality.
Super readable. To my pleasant surprise, Adrian's anecdotes about his life, work ethic, and the politics of F1 are as interesting as his technical insights. A quick and charming read, there's a world where this book came out very dry. Instead, it's bubbling with Adrian's goofy personality. The only things I would have wanted beyond what's on offer: an update for 2018-2021, and the current generation of cars, which for obvious reasons probably won't happen until 2026, if at all. A little more depth and explanation on the technical discussion/drawings. Adrian and his ghost writer do a pretty admirable job here, and I know there's probably a slew of valid reasons they didn't do this. Still, I think it might have been cool to have an appendix where, for example, they fleshed out the math used in figuring out a new gear box, or to elucidate some of the discrepancies between CFD, the wind tunnel, and the track that pop up at various times. Maybe that would be boring. Still, even though I loved the book I've wasted most of my review talking about it, so I guess nobody wins.
A great book for drivers and geeks
I love F1 and I love the nuts and bolts behind it. And the details of the people behind it as well.
Wonderful technical detail
The book, organised around a sequence of F1 car designs, is nicely structured. A leavening of anecdotes and personal history, yes, and all that is interesting: but for the F1 devotee, the challenges and thought processes involved in crafting a competitive car are the focus, and Newey and his "ghost writer" Andrew Holmes do a first rate job of rendering that drama clearly, and with sufficient technical detail that I felt I really understood the sport better having read it. And I took down my Exoto FW14b and studied it with a new appreciation for its detailing. When I heard Steve Matchett talking about the "all singing, all dancing" Williams car with active suspension, I knew in theory what he was referencing. But Newey has given substance to that episode in a way I found utterly gripping. Similarly, the remarkable rise of Red Bull is followed with a frank acknowledgement of wrong turns and a well-armed pleasure in the successes. It is also pleasing to find my intuitive assessment of various F1 characters was not far off the mark. I won't name names (Ron...) here, but Newey is fairly straightforward about who's who, and what. Anyway, this was a book I couldn't wait to return to whenever I had time. For anyone already interested, I'd say it is essential reading.
Super interesting read
There's a couple of pages for how to build a winning car in there, and the rest of the book was very enjoyable too, loved it.
Red Bull Origin Story
Super accessible, very personable. Might have benefited from a more aggressive editor. It is practically essential reading for newer fans of F1 (me) to understand how we got into the situation where a single car is so much better than everything else on the grid.
one for the F1 geek
It’s an excellent book - not too technical but detailed enough to satisfy most F1 enthusiasts who want to dive deeper into how the cars work, particularly the importance of aerodynamics - and of course understand the genius of Newey.
Great if you are a formula 1 fan
The history of Adrian's accomplishments in formula 1 were very interesting. A well written book that I could not put down
