thomasfrench's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
villyidol's review against another edition
5.0
When I finished this book it had been 28 years to the day since I saw my childhood hero die.
Viviane Senna da Silva Lalli, speaking at the funeral of her younger brother, was mainly talking about Brazilians. Ayrton Senna was a national hero, the pride of a whole nation. This sounds like a lot for an athlete. But you have to consider that Brazil is a very poor nation plagued by many problems. Senna, a man from a Third World Country who went to Europe and became the best in the world at what he was doing, at times was the only thing to be proud of for many Brazilians. He also gave back a lot, because he loved his home and his people.
In a global sense he divided opinion. Not in terms of his ability as a racing driver, I don't think anyone would doubt that Ayrton Senna was a generational talent at the very least, but in regard to his methods. Senna was a contradictory character. He was charismatic, eloquent, highly intelligent, generous. He was also ruthless and occasionally dishonest. He would read the bible on his way to races, talk about his belief in God in press conferences and then go and drive another car off the track.
Senna was known for his aggressive driving style and going over the limit on occasion. The driver that most reminds me of him today is Max Verstappen. Funnily enough, I often think Verstappen is going too far, while I always unconditionally supported Senna. Such was the pull of his personality. Being a little older and wiser now I can see why not everyone agreed. Senna though was convinced that he was in the right.The thing is, there are always two sides to it when two drivers clash.
Most books I've read about Senna mention the darker side of his character briefly. And then go on telling how extraordinary he was in any other sense. The thing is, he was. As a driver and as a person he was just different - special. But most writers seem to get so absorbed by the fact that their books become hero worshipping. Well, Senna was worshipped a lot, not least by myself, and I enjoyed all the books I read about him. But for years now almost nothing I've read or seen was new to me any longer.
Richard Williams brings a new perspective, much more critical of Senna's missteps while trying to explain (not justify) how it came to them. He also is able to actually span a convincing narrative instead of just giving a year-by-year recount of Senna's considerable achievements in motor racing. His book spends more time on the accident and the funeral than most others I've read thus far. But its title is still a little misleading. It's not only about the death of Ayrton Senna and the impact it had on the sport and on millions of people around the world, including little Dennis, who was crying for months. He gives a good, albeit not comprehensive, overview of his career too.
As an introduction to Senna this is a good book. However, people who start here might later be surprised by how overwhelmingly positive Senna is depicted in the movie which bears his name and in most books that were written about him. And how badly his main rival Prost (another all-time great driver) comes off in most of these. I don't agree with everything Williams says, but I only found one thing that he got objectively wrong (except for a few dates and stuff like that). Sometimes with Formula 1 the truth comes down to what you want to believe.
I believe that Senna was the greatest ever. But you could mention four, maybe five other names to me and I wouldn't call you silly. This is a book for both, those who believe that Senna was the greatest and those who think he was just reckless.
What still fascinates me is his immense will and commitment, his ability to find new limits, to not only what a racing car could do, but his body and mind as well.
"He was an even greater man outside the car than he was in it.”
- Sir Frank Williams
“With Senna the sun has fallen from the sky.”
- Gerhard Berger
„I want to live fully, very intensely. Because I am an intense person. I would never want to live partially, suffering from illness or injury. If I ever happen to have an accident that eventually costs my life, I hope it happens in one instant.“
- Ayrton Senna
He got his wish.
Obrigado, Ayrton. Senna sempre!
My brother had a mission, and our family is in deep emotion today because we didn't realize it had made him so greatly loved. I saw how the ordinary people showed their feelings. Some of them were shoeless; others were dressed in silk. He united them, even through his death.
Viviane Senna da Silva Lalli, speaking at the funeral of her younger brother, was mainly talking about Brazilians. Ayrton Senna was a national hero, the pride of a whole nation. This sounds like a lot for an athlete. But you have to consider that Brazil is a very poor nation plagued by many problems. Senna, a man from a Third World Country who went to Europe and became the best in the world at what he was doing, at times was the only thing to be proud of for many Brazilians. He also gave back a lot, because he loved his home and his people.
In a global sense he divided opinion. Not in terms of his ability as a racing driver, I don't think anyone would doubt that Ayrton Senna was a generational talent at the very least, but in regard to his methods. Senna was a contradictory character. He was charismatic, eloquent, highly intelligent, generous. He was also ruthless and occasionally dishonest. He would read the bible on his way to races, talk about his belief in God in press conferences and then go and drive another car off the track.
Senna was known for his aggressive driving style and going over the limit on occasion. The driver that most reminds me of him today is Max Verstappen. Funnily enough, I often think Verstappen is going too far, while I always unconditionally supported Senna. Such was the pull of his personality. Being a little older and wiser now I can see why not everyone agreed. Senna though was convinced that he was in the right.
Spoiler
Yes, he drove Prost off the track in the 1990 title decider, I’m still shocked that he got away with it, but there was past history: Prost steering his car into Senna while the latter was attempting to overtake him in the 1989 title decider, the FIA disqualifying Senna (who kept going after the accident and won the race) for ridiculous reasons and then a year later putting pole position on the wrong side of the track (again favoring Prost as Senna of course had qualified on pole).Most books I've read about Senna mention the darker side of his character briefly. And then go on telling how extraordinary he was in any other sense. The thing is, he was. As a driver and as a person he was just different - special. But most writers seem to get so absorbed by the fact that their books become hero worshipping. Well, Senna was worshipped a lot, not least by myself, and I enjoyed all the books I read about him. But for years now almost nothing I've read or seen was new to me any longer.
Richard Williams brings a new perspective, much more critical of Senna's missteps while trying to explain (not justify) how it came to them. He also is able to actually span a convincing narrative instead of just giving a year-by-year recount of Senna's considerable achievements in motor racing. His book spends more time on the accident and the funeral than most others I've read thus far. But its title is still a little misleading. It's not only about the death of Ayrton Senna and the impact it had on the sport and on millions of people around the world, including little Dennis, who was crying for months. He gives a good, albeit not comprehensive, overview of his career too.
As an introduction to Senna this is a good book. However, people who start here might later be surprised by how overwhelmingly positive Senna is depicted in the movie which bears his name and in most books that were written about him. And how badly his main rival Prost (another all-time great driver) comes off in most of these. I don't agree with everything Williams says, but I only found one thing that he got objectively wrong (except for a few dates and stuff like that). Sometimes with Formula 1 the truth comes down to what you want to believe.
I believe that Senna was the greatest ever. But you could mention four, maybe five other names to me and I wouldn't call you silly. This is a book for both, those who believe that Senna was the greatest and those who think he was just reckless.
What still fascinates me is his immense will and commitment, his ability to find new limits, to not only what a racing car could do, but his body and mind as well.
Spoiler
Spoiler
"He was an even greater man outside the car than he was in it.”
- Sir Frank Williams
“With Senna the sun has fallen from the sky.”
- Gerhard Berger
„I want to live fully, very intensely. Because I am an intense person. I would never want to live partially, suffering from illness or injury. If I ever happen to have an accident that eventually costs my life, I hope it happens in one instant.“
- Ayrton Senna
He got his wish.
Obrigado, Ayrton. Senna sempre!
esperata's review
4.0
The first chapter is emotionally hard-hitting. What follows is a run through of Senna's career, pausing only on key events and highlighting the controversies and rivalries that he is best remembered for.
The author considers the accident objectively and looks also at how that affected the sport afterwards. Not simply in the big picture sense but looking at specific examples from the remainder of the 1994 season.
While Senna is often referred to in reverential tones (as he perhaps deserves) this is not hero-worshipping. His flaws are admitted with equal candour. I'd recommend this book for anyone new to Ayrton Senna, as an introduction to his legacy and tragedy.
The author considers the accident objectively and looks also at how that affected the sport afterwards. Not simply in the big picture sense but looking at specific examples from the remainder of the 1994 season.
While Senna is often referred to in reverential tones (as he perhaps deserves) this is not hero-worshipping. His flaws are admitted with equal candour. I'd recommend this book for anyone new to Ayrton Senna, as an introduction to his legacy and tragedy.
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