Howard Hughes: The Secret Life, written by Charles Higham, published by St. Martins Griffin, 2004

Charles Higham has written a riveting biography of the "secret life" of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes. The research is so intense that, at first glance, the reader might be tempted to question the authenticity of some startling vignettes. Seriously, did that really happen? But as the story moves along, drilling deeper and deeper into the peculiar persona of Howard Hughes, it becomes evident that the writer knows his subject all too well. Which is something when you consider the scope of Howard's obsessions which included aviation, films, movie stars, oil, politics, Las Vegas, the CIA, radioactive contamination, and germs—just to name a few. It's easy to understand why Higham's sensational biography became the basis for the movie The Aviator, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

And what about all the money? Did Howard Hughes really build all that? Well, no. Hughes Tool Company was built by Howard's father, "Bo" Hughes, a pioneer wildcatter who invented a revolutionary oil bit modeled after a conventional kitchen egg-beater. The Hughes tool bit led to the fortune that allowed Howard to pursue and buy whatever he wanted. Captivated by the movie Wings, Howard became interested in aviation which, in 1929, led him to produce his own aviation movie titled Hell's Angels. It cost him $4 million dollars.

When he wasn't pursing movie stars, Howard fixated on aviation. He broke the continental air speed record at 353 miles per hour in his personally designed Hughes Racer, dubbed the H-1. (Interestingly, Amelia Earhart was one of the judges.) Howard then began work on re-modeling an L-14 Lockheed which he planned to use for a flight around the world. The flight began at 7:19 p.m. on July 10, 1938 at Floyd Bennett Field, and concluded with a triumphant return landing at the same location exactly three days, nineteen hours, and eight minutes later, setting a new world record. Howard Hughes was now a world-renowned hero.

During the war years, Hughes concentrated on running TWA, promoting contracts for the Hughes Aircraft Company, and building a giant flying boat named Hercules—later to be nicknamed the Spruce Goose. However, it wasn't until November 1, 1947 that the Spruce Goose, with Howard at the controls, lifted off and flew for only one mile—the eight engines weren't enough to keep the airplane in the air. After that, it was maintained in a hanger for years at a cost of $1 million dollars a year.

In May 19, 1953, the government set off a nuclear explosion at Yucca Flat, Nevada. This event precipitated the possibility of additional nuclear tests in Nevada. Years later, Hughes was living in Las Vegas to minimize his taxes. Secluded in his ninth floor casino penthouse, Hughes became obsessively fearful that he would become afflicted with cancer as a result of further testing. He was desperate to stop the tests. This was what motivated his "Watergate Era" political contributions to Donald Nixon, and others. Dissatisfied with the results, Hughes began exploring tax-shelter opportunities in other locations including Nicaragua, Nassau, and Mexico. He moved around to avoid permanent resident status. His health began to dramatically deteriorate but his mental acuity remained intact. While living in a darkened penthouse at the Princess Hotel in Acapulco, Hughes became comatose and his doctors decided he should be transported to an American hospital as soon as possible. He died on April 5, 1975, aboard a Learjet flying to Houston, Texas. Following an autopsy, he was buried next to his parents at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.