No Angel: The Secret Life of Bernie Ecclestone – Bower Tom (2012)

“I’m no angel.” Bernie Ecclestone was born into poverty and made himself a billionaire by developing the world’s second most popular sport, Formula One racing. Private, mysterious and, according to some, sinister, the eighty-year-old travels the globe in his private jet, mixing with celebrities, statesmen and sporting heroes. His success lies not only in creating a multibillion-pound global business but also in resisting repeated attempts to take the glittering prize from his control. Ecclestone has never before revealed how he rose from selling second-hand cars on London’s notorious Warren Street to become the major player he is today. He finally decides to disclose his secrets: the deals, marriages, disasters and successes in Formula One racing, Downing Street, casinos, on yachts and in the air. He gives Tom Bower, whom he calls “The Undertaker”, access to his inner circle, friends and enemies alike, telling them to reveal the truth, good or bad. No Angel is a classic rags-to-riches story, a unique portrait of a unique man and an intriguing insight into Formula One racing, business and the human spirit. Tom Bower is the author of nineteen books, including biographies of Robert Maxwell, Mohamed Fayed, Gordon Brown, Richard Branson, Conrad Black and Simon Cowell.