Product Description

Sir Richard Branson's amazing memoir is now updated to include the effect on the Virgin Group of 11 September, his views on the war in Iraq, the rise of Virgin Blue and flotation of Virgin Mobile. Discover how Virgin is moving into the US domestic flight market and why he set up the charitable body Virgin Unite. As ever his thirst for challenge is unquenched: Sir Richard reveals the thrills of the world record attempt with the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer and taking Virgin to the final frontier as Virgin Galactic are poised for a new era commercial space travel.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #42726 in Books
• Published on: 2005-06-09
• Original language: English
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 614 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Love him or loathe him, you've got to admit it, Richard Branson has drive. And guts. And enough ambition to sink a battleship--or perhaps that should be a jumbo jet--or even a whole company of jumbos if the Virgin Atlantic/British Airways debacle (which takes up a huge chunk of this already huge tome) is anything to go by.

Branson's autobiography makes immensely fascinating reading. Whatever you think of Britain's most famous entrepreneur, the odds are that you will enjoy reading his autobiography. You may snort at descriptions of his "poor" childhood--spent eating bread and dripping while living in a house the majority of us visit on Bank Holidays and attending a "minor" public school. You may groan at memories of early initiative tests: how about being ejected from the family car and told by his mother to find his way home--at the age of four? You may flinch at accounts of his early business days as an unwashed, unshod, hippy magazine publisher living en famille with his staff in the crypt of a West London church. But, all in all, you'll get to understand where the guy's coming from--man.

And, like the man himself, there's no holds barred here. Richard bares his soul, from childhood, school days (cheating at exams), loves and losses (lost one wife when a spot of wife-swapping went drastically wrong--for him), death-defying adventures (yes, the balloons are all there), to the rise and rise of the Virgin empire. His interviews for Student magazine and the early days of Virgin Music read like a chronicle of popular music and culture in the late 20th century. Famous names bounce off every page. Prepare to be enthralled by the life and times of a walking publicity machine. --Carey Green

Review
"'Candid and humorous' The Times; 'Branson has a list of achievements unmatched by any other UK businessman. For anyone burning with entrepreneurial zeal, his reminiscences are akin to a sacred text' Mail On Sunday; 'A remarkable story of business success against the financial odds against all precepts of conventional management. Having defied everyone who has ever predicted his downfall and having created one of the world's most admired brand names, Branson is entitled to tell it all.' Evening Standard; 'Richard Branson is an incredible man, and this is an incredible autobiography, a great read - sex, balloons, intrigue and money' Sunday Business; 'Branson bares his soul - and everything else - in a non-fiction blockbuster, a must read' Business Age"

The Mail on Sunday
'Branson has a list of achievements unmatched by any other U.K businessman. For anyone burning with entrepreneurial zeal, his reminiscences are akin to a sacred text'

Customer Reviews

Best book I've read in a while
I bought this book whilst I was traveling in Asia and found mysef unable to put in down. The book goes right from his boarding school days right through to him setting up the world elders. Although the book leaves out no detail I thought that there would be more on his actual thoughs and feelings. However I would recomed this book to anyone it's full of adventure both in bussiness and Bransons record attemts. U cant read this book without loving his attitude and making u feel like there's something we all can do to change the world. A truly well written and unlifting book.

Very Exciting!
I got this book at an airport (seem to buy a lot of books in airports!) It was a brilliant read. I could not wait to pick the book up in between holiday stuff!
The only thing I found a little irritating was the fact that Richard Branson seems to write with a real self indulgance. It would be nice to read about his life in a bit more of an unbiased way. But hey who am I to critise a man who has made millions!!

Excellent
I loved this book. Branson is so honest throughout. He's an amzing person. I could not put the book down from start to finish!