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Ari: The Life and Times of Aristotle Onassis
Based on months of conversations with Onassis and interviews with those who knew him, this biography reveals the complex personality of the man whose business dealings manipulated history and shook governments
367 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 7, 2018
If there`s man who inspired me to live my life as my life`s last day, that was Ari Onassis.
"...behold, I`m not a Greek god but I am not wasting my lime complaining against it.."
I idendify with his life...really he was charismatic and hardworking guy that could sell ice to skimo.
One morning his mates repeated him " sorry Ari, you can try it again next year" (because the young Onassis did not pass the final exams of his school). "Stupids...you`re so small, even this city is too litle to me...one day I`ll prove it..." he replied to them.
He`d great friends like sir W. Churchull...
When I`m bearish about my next step I like to read this wonderful book on the life of a wonderful man.
"...behold, I`m not a Greek god but I am not wasting my lime complaining against it.."
I idendify with his life...really he was charismatic and hardworking guy that could sell ice to skimo.
One morning his mates repeated him " sorry Ari, you can try it again next year" (because the young Onassis did not pass the final exams of his school). "Stupids...you`re so small, even this city is too litle to me...one day I`ll prove it..." he replied to them.
He`d great friends like sir W. Churchull...
When I`m bearish about my next step I like to read this wonderful book on the life of a wonderful man.
July 28, 2018
Το μόνο θετικό που βρίσκω σε αυτό το βιβλίο, είναι ότι τελείωσε επί τέλους!
Το ύφος του συγγραφέα και γενικότερα η γραφή του, ταιριάζει πιο πολύ σε κοσμικό περιοδικό παρά σε βιογραφία. Άπειρες αναλύσεις και σελίδες επί σελίδων για φορέματα και στυλιστικές παρατηρήσεις. Γενικά πολύ κουραστικό βιβλίο που σε συνδυασμό με τις πολλές ανιστόρητες παρατηρήσεις του συγγραφέα (π.χ. οι Κύπριοι της ΕΟΚΑ ήταν τρομοκράτες που μάχονταν την νόμιμη αγγλική κυβέρνηση στην Κύπρο) το έκαναν ακόμη χειρότερο.
Και σαν μην έφταναν όλα αυτά, το αποτελείωσε η κακή μετάφραση με τα άπειρα μεταφραστικά λάθη και η κακή επιμέλεια κειμένου!
Στα 10 χειρότερα βιβλία που έχω διαβάσει και σίγουρα στις 3 χειρότερες βιογραφίες!
Το ύφος του συγγραφέα και γενικότερα η γραφή του, ταιριάζει πιο πολύ σε κοσμικό περιοδικό παρά σε βιογραφία. Άπειρες αναλύσεις και σελίδες επί σελίδων για φορέματα και στυλιστικές παρατηρήσεις. Γενικά πολύ κουραστικό βιβλίο που σε συνδυασμό με τις πολλές ανιστόρητες παρατηρήσεις του συγγραφέα (π.χ. οι Κύπριοι της ΕΟΚΑ ήταν τρομοκράτες που μάχονταν την νόμιμη αγγλική κυβέρνηση στην Κύπρο) το έκαναν ακόμη χειρότερο.
Και σαν μην έφταναν όλα αυτά, το αποτελείωσε η κακή μετάφραση με τα άπειρα μεταφραστικά λάθη και η κακή επιμέλεια κειμένου!
Στα 10 χειρότερα βιβλία που έχω διαβάσει και σίγουρα στις 3 χειρότερες βιογραφίες!
November 5, 2023
A well written book, and well told narrative. Mr Onassis gave me my first job on an inspiration over late (very) night cocktails with my father at Annabels. It was a summer job on one of his ships, preceded by lunch at La Grenouille with Mr Gratsos, the unsung hero who made Olympic Maritime the success it was. Mr G was serious and drove a hard bargain in business, but was always gentlemanly; he was a paterfamilias to his staff; he took great care of Christina Onassis, but no one was able to help her over her abiding depression. What emerges in the book is how many people were made unhappy by Mr O's single-minded ambition, and that makes this story less pleasant. Would that he had made his children happier.
August 21, 2023
"Έχω τη γνώμη ότι πρέπει να διαβάζεται σαν μυθιστόρημα...Μπορει όμως να γίνει κι ένα καταραμένο θρίλερ." είχε πει ο Ωνάσης για τη βιογραφία του.
Πραγματικά καθηλωτικη εξιστόρηση της ζωής του μεγιστάνα.
Από τη ζωή στην Σμύρνη, την προσπάθεια επιβίωσης μετά τη μικρασιατική καταστροφή, το ταξίδι στην Αργεντινή, η προσπάθεια να απελευθερωσει τον φυλακισμένο πατέρα του και να αναδειχτεί ως ο προστάτης της οικογένειας Ωνάση, καθώς και τα πρώτα του επιχειρηματικα βήματα έως την δημιουργία της αυτοκρατορίας του, η βιογραφία του Πίτερ Έβανς ρίχνει φως σε άγνωστες και γνωστές πτυχές της ζωής και της ιδιοσυγκρασιας του Ωνάση.
Πραγματικά καθηλωτικη εξιστόρηση της ζωής του μεγιστάνα.
Από τη ζωή στην Σμύρνη, την προσπάθεια επιβίωσης μετά τη μικρασιατική καταστροφή, το ταξίδι στην Αργεντινή, η προσπάθεια να απελευθερωσει τον φυλακισμένο πατέρα του και να αναδειχτεί ως ο προστάτης της οικογένειας Ωνάση, καθώς και τα πρώτα του επιχειρηματικα βήματα έως την δημιουργία της αυτοκρατορίας του, η βιογραφία του Πίτερ Έβανς ρίχνει φως σε άγνωστες και γνωστές πτυχές της ζωής και της ιδιοσυγκρασιας του Ωνάση.
November 28, 2021
That was a great, interesting, educative and entertaining book. Since it was my first biography, I enjoyed it very much. I know that there are plenty of stories and quotes (from Aristotle Onassis) missing from the book, however it still was a nice read. It becomes a little complicated, with the reference of so many names and situations and you need to re-read it to understand it.
January 21, 2019
Read the French version.
Didn't enjoy it as much as Nemesis, but this one talks more about the intricacies of his business, which was nice.
Didn't enjoy it as much as Nemesis, but this one talks more about the intricacies of his business, which was nice.
February 7, 2020
Fun book, with drama and big business and also sadness in the end.
March 18, 2021
wow the life of rich peoples.
Money cannot get you happiness.
Money cannot get you happiness.
April 25, 2023
Εxtremely chatty. Too many useless details about his love life.
September 15, 2017
I find this book much better than the second one, Nemesis, which is more about who fucked whom how many times and some far-reaching claims about killing Bobby Kennedy, and was obviously written to be as scandalous as possible long after all of the actors were dead and could not deny anything. (An interesting reading, nevertheless.)
This one concentrates on business methods and life philosophy of Ari, as well as provides complete timeline of his life. So, although it's a very sad life story, I would categorize it as a business book, and one of the most "plausible" I've read so far.
This one concentrates on business methods and life philosophy of Ari, as well as provides complete timeline of his life. So, although it's a very sad life story, I would categorize it as a business book, and one of the most "plausible" I've read so far.
June 13, 2014
Few sons, indeed, are like their fathers. Generally, they are worse; but just a few are better....Homer, Odyssey
Peter Evans is the master of biographies. He did not disappoint with Ari.
I found this book to be fascinating, filled with history and details of what really happens in the world of shipping tycoons. This was more about deals & steals than women & wine. Of course that was mentioned because it was a part of Ari's life. He was a genius and a true Greek.
The story was of Ari and as expected there were pages devoted to his children, but Mr. Evans did not go into huge detail about Alexander or Christina. He told just enough to keep the story alive.
I know a book is great when I continue to think about it days after I finished it.
Peter Evans is the master of biographies. He did not disappoint with Ari.
I found this book to be fascinating, filled with history and details of what really happens in the world of shipping tycoons. This was more about deals & steals than women & wine. Of course that was mentioned because it was a part of Ari's life. He was a genius and a true Greek.
The story was of Ari and as expected there were pages devoted to his children, but Mr. Evans did not go into huge detail about Alexander or Christina. He told just enough to keep the story alive.
I know a book is great when I continue to think about it days after I finished it.
June 30, 2014
I can't say the biographer's writing was bad, the writing was quite good. It's the subject matter. I made it a little over half way, (page 215 out of 329)and I just couldn't stand Onassis. The man seemed to wander through life screwing up women's lives by constantly wanting to have an affair with someone who in reality was perfectly happy.
The book brushed over the details of the shipping business and his ascension into the ranks of the truly wealthy and concentrated on his affairs, the way he threw money around to get what he wanted, the neglect of his own children, his drinking and petty rivalries. A despicable man who really doesn't deserve a book written about him.
The book brushed over the details of the shipping business and his ascension into the ranks of the truly wealthy and concentrated on his affairs, the way he threw money around to get what he wanted, the neglect of his own children, his drinking and petty rivalries. A despicable man who really doesn't deserve a book written about him.
July 6, 2012
I'm not big on biographies, but I enjoyed this one - great book! He led an interesting life for sure!
November 23, 2012
This book was insightful in so far as being exacting in the definition of Onassis as a MAN!
May 15, 2022
The extraordinary journey of a lifetime!
October 23, 2017
Ok but nemesis, his later book reveals inaccuracies in this book.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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