Our best Porsche biography and history books reveal an embarrassment of riches in Porsche’s deep biographical and historical body of knowledge
Feel free to bypass the immediate narrative below
by clicking on any of the books listed above
So how did we arrive at these best Porsche biography and history books?
Our shortlisted books and those on our other Best Lists rank high in the ratings on various recognized and trusted review and rating platforms, search engines and websites, as well as on high-volume retailer stores across the Internet.
The list is updated on a regular basis to reflect prevailing trends, as well as to include hot newcomers on the usual suspects’ retail and review & rating websites.
As is the case with all of our shortlisted books and other merch, entries appear based not only on superior quality and value, but also on availability (see “Availability” FAQ below).
For example, any given book may be of outstanding 5-star quality, but if it is next to impossible to obtain for a relatively reasonable market price, then there’s no way it can find its way onto our best-of shortlists.
Subgenres of Our Best Porsche History Books
We categorize our books by subgenre for your better informed reference and easier selection:
- Milestones — chronicles particular turning points in the history of Porsche
- Model-Specific — concentrates on illustrating the unique traits and features of a particular Porsche model
- Origins — unearths the beginnings of the marque
- Rennsport / Racing — chronicles the marque’s racing heritage
- Span Across History — documents the chronological record of the marque’s history
Best Porsche Biography and History Books
September 17, 2024
These are our best Porsche biography and history books for this month.
FYI, a further in-depth analysis of each listed book can be accessed simply by clicking on The StuttgartDNA Report and Review in the For Further Study info box at the end of each book entry. This is a great way to take a deeper dive into the subject book.
Missing For Further Study info boxes under some items indicate that an in-depth analysis is pending completion by our StuttgartDNA team for that item.
Also at the bottom of the shortlist, you’ll find FAQ and further information about these books.
Here are this month’s latest and greatest…
Porsche 911: 50 Years
Model-Specific
In Porsche 911: 50 Years, best-selling author Randy Leffingwell celebrates a half-century of one of the world’s premiere sports cars, focusing on the major themes that have defined Porsche’s rear-engined wonder.
Porsche 911: 50 Years tells the whole story — design and development, racing, engineering and technology, style and culture.
Beyond telling the story of the cars, Porsche 911: 50 years also spotlights the people behind them.
Together, all of these facets make Porsche 911: 50 Years the most essential book in any Porsche owner or fan’s library.
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Porsche: Excellence Was Expected, 4-Volume Set, 2019 Edition
Span Across History
Porsche: Excellence Was Expected, Karl Ludvigsen’s masterwork, is the unrivaled history of the Porsche company, its cars, and its motor racing heritage.
Now in four volumes, 2,836 pages and with nearly 3,000 photos and illustrations, each page of this all new updated edition has been revised and redesigned.
Mr. Ludvigsen’s magnum opus on the marque of Porsche is a must-have for your library. It makes an awesome gift for that special Porsche enthusiast in your life, too.
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Porsche: Origin of the Species
Origins
Porsche: Origin of the Species, in hardcover here, is another great Porsche heritage book by the eminent automotive historian and author Karl Ludvigsen.
The book is an in-depth exploration by Mr. Ludvigsen into the specific influences and circumstances that brought forth the first sports cars to sport Porsche badging.
Porsche: Origin of the Species is a must-have acquisition for your Porsche literary collection. It makes a great gift, too, as a long-to-be coveted addition to any Porschephile’s cocktail table.
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Porsche 75th Anniversary: Expect the Unexpected
Span Across History
In Porsche 75th Anniversary: Expect the Unexpected, the full story of Germany’s fabled marque is revealed through a richly illustrated account of Porsche’s most surprising moves and successes.
Author Randy Leffingwell’s recounting of Porsche’s history is accompanied by rare images from the Porsche Archive, punctuated with observations from key personnel.
In essence, the book is a fascinating gaze back at the world’s premier car maker from the vantage point of its stellar 75th anniversary.
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Porsche 550 Spyder
Model-Specific
Porsche 550 Spyder is a stylish hardcover coffee-table book and fine collector’s edition, created in close collaboration with the Porsche Archive of the Stuttgart sports-car maker.
Stefan Bogner with Glen Smale brilliantly stage the different models and years of the 550 Spyder here.
This beautiful, slip-cased Porsche 550 Spyder book is an ideal purchase or gift for all Porsche enthusiasts, as well as other race-car enthusiasts in general.
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How Are the Best Porsche Biography and History Books Chosen?
The shortlisted books here and on our other Best Lists rank high in the ratings on various recognized and trusted review and rating platforms, search engines and websites, as well as on high-volume retailer stores across the Internet.
The list is updated on a regular basis to reflect prevailing trends, as well as to include hot newcomers on the usual suspects’ retail and review & rating websites.
StuttgartDNA is supported by viewers like you to keep access to our content entirely free. This means we may earn a modest commission as you purchase through links on this or any other page — but at no additional expense nor risk to you.
How Does Availability Impact Book Ratings?
Availability plays some role in whether or not a book appears on any of our Best shortlists.
For example, any given book may be of outstanding 5-star quality, but if it is next to impossible to obtain for a relatively reasonable market price, then there’s no way it can find its way onto our Best shortlists.
But if you do happen upon an attractive pre-owned book or any other used product through our website, then buyer assumes all risk and shall hold StuttgartDNA harmless from any liability that may arise from the actual condition of said purchased item.
What are the main subcategories of Porsche biography books?
Typically, biographical books are not broken down by genre. Rather, there are two basic subcategories of Porsche biographical books that we cover:
- Autobiography and Memoir
- Biography
Autobiography and Memoir
Memoirs and autobiographies are written about real-life stories by individuals with connections to Porsche or other companies or entities strongly affiliated with the Porsche marque or brand. They are written by the authors themselves, of course.
While there are excellent examples that have been written, most of them are out of print. This is one of the reasons that such copies may or may not appear on are list here at any given time.
Nevertheless, there are always second-hand copies that can be found in the marketplace on the Internet. But they could be quite expensive. Sight-unseen condition issues are also a factor. (Please note our “hold harmless” disclaimer above.)
Biography
Biographies are written by authors to tell the story of someone else’s life in relation to their affiliation and experiences with the marque of Porsche or the Porsche brand.
As is the case with memoirs and autobiographies, there are excellent examples that have been written, most of them are out of print, and therefore may or may not appear on our shortlist here.
The same goes for second-hand copies.
Why You Can Trust Our Ratings and Reviews
Our Star Ratings and Reviews are a blended consensus of star ratings as well as positive researcher and end-user reviews posted on various recognized and trusted rating and review platforms, search engines and retail websites published across the Internet.
Our Ratings and Reviews are rigorously uncompromised, unbiased and independent because we never solicit nor take funds from any of the businesses producing our surveyed, evaluated and endorsed Porsche merch products and gear.
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