Customer Reviews

Ferdinand Porsche - Genesis of Genius: Road, Racing and Aviation Innovation 1900 to 1933

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Electric cars may be on everyone's mind nowadays, but already around 1900 they were a then 24-years-young Porsche's main preoccupation. Says Ludvigsen, "For too long these early years of Porsche have been shrouded in ignorance compounded by myth." Porsche's eldest grandchild, Ernst Piëch, who wrote the Foreword, not only agrees but was the instigator behind this effort. For two decades and more Piëch has moved heaven and earth to find, collect, and restore some of his grandfather's most important Austro-Daimler cars. In chronological order and divided into themes it covers the Lohner-Porsche, Austro-Daimler work, the Sascha racecar, and Porsche's role in the Wanderer and Auto Union cars, trucks/military vehicles, and aero engines.

While the text makes frequent and detailed reference to family matters and inter/personal aspects this is the biography of an engineer and thus there is, as there must be, quite a bit of technical minutiae although not to the extent that it would frustrate the general-interest reader. The photo captions are very detailed and various sidebars further expand upon the text in the form of newspaper/magazine excerpts and extraneous bits such as Porsche's horoscope. (Readers who take stock in astrology will note with satisfaction that Porsche, a Virgo, was the walking embodiment of his chart.)

Photographically, too, the book is a treasure trove, with many new images of young Porsche's life and circumstances. All are in b/w, many of them full-page or even bigger. There are also several technical drawings and facsimiles of correspondence, patents, ads, and newspaper clippings. A special feature of the book are seven color 3D fold-out cutaway airbrush drawings of cars (plus one engine) by Swiss technical artist Wolfgang Franke.

Full review at <speedreaders.info>. Copyright 2010.

One of the best produced, highest quality books i have seen - BUT you must be a Porsche buff - or it will just sit on your coffee table.

This the best book ever written about Ferdinand Porsche. Author Karl Ludvigsen is at his absolute best with this book. The Speed Reader review herein says it all with regard to the content of this book, so I will not try to repeat what is in that excellent review. If you are a Porsche fan, you really should buy this book while it is still in print. This is the sort of book that will go way up in value when the press run is sold out.