Dylan’s Pick
1
of
1
How to Build a Car
The Autobiography of the World’s Greatest Formula 1 Designer
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 13,104 ratings, 1,011 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still
learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Summary
Read More
Format: Hardback
$4400
$4999
Elsewhere:
Unit price
/
Unavailable
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY
Found a better price? Request a price match
How to Build a Car
$4400
$4999
Elsewhere:
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Latest News
New Releases to add to your TBR this week (29th September)
From celebrity memoirs to a brand new follow up to The Whale Rider, here is...
New: Out of Print Book Merchandise has arrived!
We are so excited to share that we now have a selection in-stock of the...
Bookish Board Games Amelia & Lizzy Have Been Playing
Amelia and Lizzy have been playing two of our newest bookish board games! Find out...
Self-Help Advice I Actually Use
My partner Alex says I read too many self-help books, and he’s probably right. To...
It’s Grand Final week in the world of the NRL!
It’s Grand Final week in the world of the NRL! And although the mighty NZ...
See more
'Adrian has a unique gift for understanding drivers and racing cars. He is ultra competitive but never forgets to have fun. An immensely likeable man.' Damon Hill
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
How to Build a Car offers a spellbinding journey through the mind of Adrian Newey, one of the most ingenious engineers in the history of Formula One racing. This powerful memoir details his pioneering 35-year career, beginning with his formative years and leading up to his unparalleled success in the sport. Filled with insightful anecdotes, technical revelations and personal reflections, the book serves as both an autobiography and a masterclass in automotive design.
From a young age, Adrian exhibited an extraordinary aptitude for engineering. At only 12 years old, he was already sketching his own car designs and later took a welding course during his school summer holidays. This early passion and dedication laid the groundwork for an incomparable career in motorsport. Readers are taken through Adrian's beginnings in IndyCar racing to his numerous triumphs and challenges in Formula One.
Throughout the book, Adrian shares his experiences of working with prestigious teams and legendary drivers. His designs have contributed to the success of icons such as Mario Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Mika Häkkinen, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. Each chapter explores the intricacies of automotive design, providing a detailed and engaging look at how a car is engineered to achieve maximum speed and efficiency.
However, the book does not shy away from the darker moments of his career. Adrian thoughtfully recounts the tragedies he has witnessed, most notably the heart-wrenching loss of Ayrton Senna during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix while driving for the Williams team. These poignant reflections add depth and humanity to his story, illustrating the often perilous nature of the sport.
Adorned with beautifully illustrated, never-before-seen drawings, How to Build a Car is an enlightening read for anyone interested in the combination of art and science behind a race car. Adrian's narrative captures the thrill and complexity of Formula One, celebrating the harmonious blend of human intellect and mechanical precision.
More than just a memoir, How to Build a Car serves as a testament to what makes Formula One so captivating: the delicate balance of style, speed and engineering brilliance. Through Adrian Newey's remarkable life story, readers get an intimate look at the passion and creativity that drive the world of motorsport.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
How to Build a Car by Adrian Newey receives high praise for blending autobiography with technical insight. Reviewers commend its detailed account of Formula 1 car evolution, Newey's design genius, and his candid storytelling. Considered a must-read for motorsport enthusiasts, it offers both entertainment and deep understanding of F1 engineering.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780008196806
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 02 November 2017
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: HarperCollins
Illustration: (20 illustrations)
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 38.0mm
Width: 191.0mm
Height: 240.0mm
Weight: 1200g
Pages: 400
About the Author
Adrian Newey OBE is arguably the greatest car designer in the history of Formula One. Newey has worked in both Formula One and IndyCar racing as an immensely successful race engineer, aerodynamicist, designer and technical director. After designing championship-winning Formula One cars for Williams F1 and McLaren, Newey moved to Red Bull Racing in 2007, where he is currently Red Bull Racing's Chief Technical Officer. He has won 10 Formula One Constructors' titles (more than any other designer), helping some of the world's most famous drivers to Drivers' championship wins, including over 150 Grands Prix.
More from Formula One
-
Monopoly Formula 1
Experience the high-speed world of racing with the Monopoly: Formula 1 Edition. This specialized version swaps Atlantic City streets for the world's most famous Grand Prix circuits, allowing fans to build their own racing empire.2–6 players$6399Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
UNO: Formula 1
Fans of UNO and Formula 1 racing will love this deck featuring legendary F1 drivers bringing the speed, precision and high-octane excitement of the track right into players' hands. Gameplay mirrors classic UNO where players race to match colours and numbers, but watch out for the special "Overtake" rule. This rule requires a higher-value card to stay ahead, or risk...$1299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseWorld Formula One Records 2027
This fantastic collection of F1 facts, stats and stories is back for a great new edition! World Formula One Records 2027 offers lively, fun and fascinating facts, stats, stories and trivia from the high-octane world of F1. Featuring the best teams, star drivers and most famous circuits, the book also presents all-time records, from 1950 onwards. This new edition includes...Hardback$4999Elsewhere:$6000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
UNO: Elite Formula 1 Booster Set
Add the cards from the UNO Elite Formula 1 2025 Core Edition Booster Set to an UNO Elite Formula 1 card game to get the race going! Each set includes three Game Booster Packs, each with 10 Elite Action Cards for a total of 30. Which ones will you get? Each Elite Action Card comes with its own special power...$1199Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Hot Wheels: Formula 1 Sprint Race Circuit
Emulate the thrilling excitement of a Formula 1® race with the Hot Wheels Racing Formula 1® Sprint Race Circuit Track Set. It includes three 1:64 scale die-cast Formula 1® cars with decos matching fan-favourite teams such as McLaren Formula 1 Team, BWT Alpine F1® Team and Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team, and two ways to play. For race...4 years or older$8499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
5% offHot Wheels: Formula 1 Grid Start
Bring the thrilling excitement of F1 racing home with side-by-side tracks and realistic details modeled on real-life Grand Prix races! Load two officially licensed F1 cars into the launcher, push up the lever on the start tower, and focus on the countdown. Hit the launch button and race to the end where a checkered flag declares a winner. The set...3 years or older$5700Usually:$5999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Hot Wheels: Formula 1 Grand Prix Circuit
Recreate the thrilling racing excitement of the Formula 1® Grand Prix Circuit with this track set from Hot Wheels. In race mode, the lap counter tracks the cars as they whip through the three-lane booster and speed around dynamic turns and elevation changes, just like on real city streets. Kids can engage the interactive DRS diverter that allows vehicles to...5 years or older$13499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Formula One: The Controversies
Formula One: The Controversies dives deep into the most dramatic and polarizing moments in F1 history, exploring the rivalries, scandals, and high-stakes decisions that have defined the sport. From controversial rule changes and shocking crashes to team politics and driver rivalries, this book uncovers the backstories behind F1's most heated moments. It reveals how power struggles, technology wars, and ethical...Hardback$8500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Formula One The Circuits: Then and Now
Formula One: The Circuits Then & Now is a unique and compelling history and guide to some of the classic Grand Prix tracks. By pairing vintage images with the same viewpoint today, readers can see how dramatically Formula One has changed over the years, from the cavalier attitude to danger of the past, to the sophisticated modern sport we see...Hardback$6999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Formula One 2026
The world's bestselling Grand Prix handbook is back for the new season. This is the definitive guide to Formula One 2026 — a complete examination of all the teams, drivers, and tracks featured in the packed Grand Prix calendar. Also including a full review of the 2025 season and a breakdown of the new rules and regulations for 2026, this...Paperback$3800Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Formula One: The World's most brutal Sport
Get behind the scenes of the world's most gruelling and thrilling sport with an expert who has covered Formula One for more than 20 years – plus a Foreword from F1 legend Guenther Steiner. Formula One is the world's most brutal sport. For the drivers, it's the millions of dollars spent for a shot at making it to the top,...Paperback$3300Elsewhere:$4000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Formula One Quiz Book
The Formula One Quiz Book celebrates 75 years of the world's greatest motor sporting series. In May 2025, it will be 75 years since cars assembled at Silverstone for Formula 1's first official event, the Grand Prix d'Europe. Seventy-five years later, the 2025 season will be one of F1's greatest, with Lando Norris and McLaren challenging Red Bull's domination, a...Paperback$3699Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
More from Biography & Memoir
View all-
New ReleaseSwan Song
Beautiful. Beloved. Hunted. The extraordinary life and death of Diana, as told by her brother, Charles – available to pre-order now. ‘When asked, ‘What was it like, growing up with Diana?’, my first thought is always, But I don’t know what it was like not to grow up with her…’ In September 1997, Charles Spencer stood in Westminster Abbey before...Hardback$5499Elsewhere:$6500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseFictional Selves
From the beloved actor and star of Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet and Sex and the City comes a candid and deeply personal memoir. In this highly anticipated memoir, the beloved actor and star of Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, Sex and the City and more shares his utterly original account of his offbeat journey in Hollywood, his battles with fear and...Hardback$4799Elsewhere:$6000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseThe Steps
The long-awaited memoir from a true Hollywood icon. We know Sylvester Stallone as one of the most revered actors, writers, and directors of all time, yet his life story is every bit as dramatic, intense, and inspiring as his greatest creations on screen. Bringing together a no-holds-barred account of a fascinating life with messages of hope, positivity, and resilience, in...Paperback$3299Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Home Again
Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoir Home Again.This is more than a rock story. Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it. From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Dogs, Boys and Other Things I've Cried About
From the social media superstar behind @SimonSits, Isabel Klee--known for her heartwarming tales of dog rescue--comes an utterly winning memoir about a twentysomething woman's search for true love in New York City and the dogs who helped her find it. A Jersey girl by birth, Isabel Klee had always wanted to live in New York City. At age 20, she...Paperback$3299Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Famesick
Chronicling the tumultuous decade between the premiere of Girls to her 2021 shotgun wedding (minus the baby, because she has no uterus), Lena Dunham takes us through her journey with her trademark mix of humor, unsparing honesty, and keen eye for detail. We peek behind the scenes - of her work, her family, her relationships, and her battle to reclaim her body...Paperback$3299Elsewhere:$3500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
This Angry Pen of Mine
This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...Hardback$7299Elsewhere:$8999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Signed Copy
Stakes
Read our interview with author Noelle McCarthy! A darkly funny, sparkling follow-up to the author’s bestselling memoir Grand. You have to invite him in. You have to want the vampire’s badness in the house with you. Growing up in Catholic Ireland, Noelle McCarthy is captivated by Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The vampire is a risk-free fantasy, a suave alternative to the fraught realities...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$4000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Built for This
Raised among strong women, butcher's benches, and hard ideas about what men are meant to be, Brad Poulter grows up knowing he's different long before he has the words for it. But in late '90s small-town New Zealand, 'different' isn't discussed, it's managed. Joining the Royal New Zealand Navy offers escape, certainty, and belonging. The rules are clear, the uniform...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Even the Good Girls Will Cry
Thanks to a thrown beer bottle and a fan letter to a P.O. box, Melissa Auf der Maur's first band scored an opening slot for the Smashing Pumpkins in her bohemian home town, Montreal. Sensing Melissa's talent, Billy Corgan recommended her to Courtney Love. Whisked from her local scene, Melissa joined Hole just after the deaths of Kurt Cobain and...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
An Ocean and a Day
An utterly riveting, moving and poignant memoir of grief and loss that will speak to anyone who's ever lost someone they love. An Ocean and a Day is Hannah Richell's personal account of losing her husband, Matt, in a surfing accident on Tamarama beach in 2014. It is the story of the grief journey she travelled over the first two...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
A Place to Stand
A Place to Stand by Clare Ward is a profound memoir that delves into the life of a country doctor living and working in the Hokianga Harbour area in the far north of Aotearoa New Zealand. This region is sparsely populated and poses numerous health challenges. This thoughtful account details Clare’s thirty-year career, highlighting the people she works with and...Hardback$3199Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
Biography & Memoir lists from the team
Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listBiography & Memoir
Memorable Memoirs of Kiwi Women
Looking for an amazing local memoir of one of the many amazing women here in Aotearoa? Here's a great list, featuring some...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![Lucky You're Tough]()
Lizzy's listBiography & Memoir
Memorable Memoirs of Kiwi Men
Looking for an amazing local memoir of one of the many amazing men here in Aotearoa? Here's a great list, featuring some...View the list
