The Malabari Who Loved His Ferrari by Dileep Heilbronn, Book Review

I have always appreciated books that promote positivity. Not only if they are positive, but also when these books are well-written and arguments move in a synchronised flow, one after another. Though self-help and non-fiction books, with many sub-genres, are scattered in the market, finding a good book may be challenging if you are not a habitual reader. Well, if you want to read something meaningful in non-fiction, let me bring a book to your attention. I recently finished reading it. The Malabari Who Loved His Ferrari by Dileep Heilbronn. Yes, I also thought of that spin-off related to the Ferrari automobile – someone who sold his Ferrari. This time, after building an empire in the Dubai real estate market, this business magnet from the streets of Kerala bought his Ferraris and Porsches and kept them… rather loved them. So, what is this story? What is the story of Heilbronn LLP? Read this review to understand everything.

Dileep Heilbronn’s The Malabari Who Loved His Ferrari (2025) is a striking contemporary memoir that blends entrepreneurial triumph, personal reinvention, and unyielding ambition—a narrative as much about the resilience of the human spirit as it is about the glittering ascent of a self-made man. At its core, this 289-page chronicle is an ode to perseverance, a testament to how vision, grit, and serendipity can transform a life of modest beginnings into one of extraordinary achievement. Yet to label it merely a rags-to-riches tale would be to overlook its deeper meditations on identity, gratitude, and the emotional costs of success. Heilbronn’s story, set against the backdrop of Dubai’s meteoric rise, is both a personal journey and a mirror to the immigrant dream, rendered with candour, warmth, and occasional flashes of poetic reflection.

The narrative’s power lies in its unvarnished portrayal of Heilbronn’s early years—a phase marked by stark contrasts. His recollection of riding to school in cycle rickshaws while wealthier classmates arrived in luxury cars is more than a memory; it’s the spark that ignites his lifelong fascination with automobiles and, symbolically, his drive to transcend circumstance. Dileep values ambition and aspiration. His recollections from his early years in Kerala exhibit the same. Eventually and naturally, this theme of aspiration versus reality echoes throughout the book, particularly in his depiction of founding Heilbronn Construction LLC in 2002. The venture’s birth—on the numerically auspicious 02-02-02—becomes a metaphor for self-determination, as he single-handedly assumes every role, from visionary to labourer. His description of those early days (“a one-man odyssey”) resonates with the universal struggle of the solitude of ambition, the weight of risk, and the quiet triumph of survival.

Heilbronn’s personal life is rendered with equal frankness. His account of a 13-year marriage ending in divorce avoids bitterness, instead framing the experience as a crucible for growth. The emotional pivot of the memoir arrives with his meeting MJ, his second wife, whose courtship he narrates with a tactile romanticism—shared travels, mutual discovery, and a bond forged in friendship before love. This section shines for its emotional authenticity, offering a counterpoint to the high-stakes world of business.

The book’s most vivid passages revolve around Heilbronn’s obsession with luxury cars, particularly his first Ferrari, the red F430. What could easily devolve into materialism is instead a poignant exploration of how objects become vessels for memory and milestones. His decision to drive a Kerala-registered Range Rover in Dubai—a deliberate nod to his Indian roots—speaks volumes about identity and belonging. These moments elevate the memoir beyond conventional success stories, revealing a man deeply attuned to the symbolism of his choices.

Dileep Heilbronn’s quirks are less expected but equally compelling: his collection of 170 pencils (each with a story, like the “dark, smooth” Japanese variants) and his artistic dabbling in painting and clay sculpting. These details humanise the tycoon, framing success not as a sterile metric but as a life enriched by curiosity and aesthetic joy. Even Dileep’s fascination with cars and the fast-paced beasts on four wheels may be seen as a humanised form of universal love for desires left unfulfilled in early childhood. The Instagram post that the author highlights in the book’s concluding pages expresses the same – a bond between the father and his son, with the steering wheel at the centre of the story.

The memoir doubles as a love letter to Dubai, a city whose transformation parallels Heilbronn’s own. His gratitude to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is more than protocol; it acknowledges the ecosystem that enabled his rise. His prose swells when describing the city’s skyline, a visual metaphor for limitless reinvention. However, his love for the land of business, or the Karma Bhumi, doesn’t deter his fascination and passion for the motherland, India, the land of Bharat! Dileep appreciates India now and then in the book, remembering every big and small detail from his hometown and other parts of the country. Photographs feature his hometown, family members, friends, schools, and colleges. Even though the book is mainly about Dubai, India is never far from the pages!

Heilbronn’s voice is engaging—conversational yet introspective—though at times the narrative leans heavily on inspirational platitudes (“Let’s not forget we are born champions”). Some readers may crave deeper critique of Dubai’s rapid growth or a more nuanced dissection of failure (his business lows are often glossed over). Yet these are minor quibbles in a work that prioritises hope over cynicism.

Final Assessment

The Malabari Who Loved His Ferrari is a compelling hybrid of memoir and motivational manifesto. Its greatest achievement lies in balancing the grandeur of success with intimate vulnerabilities—the boy in the rickshaw is never fully eclipsed by the man in the Ferrari. For entrepreneurs, it’s a case study in resilience; for dreamers, it’s proof of possibility; and for readers of all stripes, it’s a reminder that behind every self-made myth lies a tapestry of grit, grace, and unyielding hustle.

You can get a copy from the Amazon India website right now—click here to do so.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
A triumph of spirit over circumstance, best read with the engine of ambition humming in the background.

Review by Gunjan for The Last Critic