Product Description

This biography traces his rags-to-riches story from his East End childhood boiling beetroots for the local greengrocer, to his knighthood and seat at the table of power. Leaving school at 16, the tough-talking youngsters sold car aerials and electrical products from the back of a van he had bought for just GBP100. Within five years he had formed Amstrad, which went public in 1980, setting him on the road to becoming a multi-millionaire, with a string of successful businesses. In the 1990s, Sir Alan became chairman of Tottenham Hotspurs, paying off millions of pounds of club debt. He is now an advisor to the Prime Minister. Sir Alan has also become famous for his generous nature, which has seen him support Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Jewish Care charity and become a key figure in the resurrection of the Hackney Empire theatre. He also participates in spin-off versions of The Apprentice for Comic Relief and Sport Relief. Shrewd businessman, inspirationsal figure and television star Sir Alan Sugar's story is gripping stuff and testimony to the power of hard work and self-belief.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8393 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 262 pages

About the Author
Charlie Burden is the author of Arise Sir Michael Parkinson. He is also a journalist, and his work regularly appears in a wide range of newspapers and magazines including Time Out, The Times and GQ.

Customer Reviews

Sour, Not Sweet
If you're looking for an in-depth insight into the life of Sir Alan Sugar, this is NOT the book for you. Charlie Burden's biography briefly glosses over major themes in Sir Alan's life, but frustratingly, he never digs in deep.

I finished the book learning nothing I didn't already know from newspaper articles and various television documentaries. In fact, Burden seems to have produced this biography piecing together interviews and articles from different sources. He even references material from the now out-of-print Alan Sugar: The Amstrad Story. When he did, I felt like reading THAT book!

A lot of the book has Burden going off on a tangent. When talking about The Apprentice, he mentions that Dragons' Den is also a popular business programme. He then starts talking about Dragons' Den! He does the same for The X Factor. Who cares, tell me about Sir Alan Sugar for God's sake! Completely unnecessary filler material.

Overall, very disappointing. I think the definitive story has to come from the man himself...

Sorry Charlie... You're Fired
Despite an eye-catching red and black cover, this biography is poorly written, shallow and far too short for a man as complex as Alan Sugar.

Sorry Charlie... you're fired.

Not useful
This book is written in a very intimidating tone and won't really give you any insight into Sugar's life. Not recommended. A better alternative to this book is Richard Branson's "Business Stripped Bare" if you are looking for an insight into a successful business person's life.