Branson

by Tom Bower

Book Overview

'Bower's book is a devastating indictment' Sunday Times

'Explosive ... Bower reveals a remarkable and sinister picture of the man who likes to appear as the ever-smiling hero' Daily Mail

A sensational critical biography of the man and his business practices.

No British tycoon is better known, few claim to be richer and none has masterminded a more recognisable brand than Richard...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0007266766
• ISBN13: 9780007266760
• Release Date: August 2008
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.0" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Discover the real Brandson...

This book is for all the people out there who regard Sir Richard Brandson as a clever "can do" businessman... All based on facts, this book is as close as you will get to the real man, unless you start working for his empire...

A real eye opener....

I read this book back to back with "Losing My Virginity" which is Branson's autobiography - wow, to say they differ somewhat would be a slight understatement - The timelines match, and the 'events' match, but reading the reason Branson cites for a particular event or business move then reading Bower's interpretation is like comparing "The Bible" to an "Asterix and Obelix" comic book!In fact Bower's book makes Branson seem like such a criminal that one can't help feel he almost has a personal vendetta against him... it's just that bad!Definitely worth reading however, at least for the contrast. The truth, I'm sure, is somewhere in the middle of the two...

A real eye opener....

I read this book back to back with "Losing My Virginity" which is Branson's autobiography - wow, to say they differ somewhat would be a slight understatement - The timelines match, and the 'events' match, but reading the reason Branson cites for a particular event or business move then reading Bower's interpretation is like comparing "The Bible" to an "Asterix and Obelix" comic book!In fact Bower's book makes Branson seem like such a criminal that one can't help feel he almost has a personal vendetta against him... it's just that bad!Definitely worth reading however, at least for the contrast. The truth, I'm sure, is somewhere in the middle of the two...

A Smiling Assassin--Meticulously Researched

This is one of the most shocking books I have ever read. Shocking not only in its content, but also in absoutely trashing my formerly favorable opinion of Branson-not just once, but over and over, practically beating my mind to a pulp. I picked up this book on a recent trip to London. I'd always had a favorable impression of Richard Branson, so I decided to buy one of his biographies. I noticed several different ones for sale. I chose this one for two reasons. The other biographies were AUTHORIZED and VETTED by Branson. This one claims to be objective, but unauthorized, and explains why this is so, very thoroughly. The book is written by an investigative historian and journalist, and is METICULOULY researched, with pages of sources sited. The book has been gone through with a fine-toothed comb by the publisher's lawyers, who have already vetted the book. Every single thing reported in this book can be completely and thoroughly substantiated.So what does this shocking book say? Branson's high school teacher predicted he'd either end up very rich, or in jail. He very nearly did end up in jail in his early career. He basically takes advantage of everyone, hiding behind his supposedly altruistic motives, while his real motives are to rip off everyone he can, having built an empire equivalent to a house of cards. Before I read this book, I would have liked to meet him. Now I feel he's absolute poison, and he completely revolts me. He apparently jumps into bed with every possible girl, but doesn't even have the decency to pay their cab fair home. After enticing star-struck girls into bed, he apparently tells his friends that he wakes up in the morning and says, "Who the f*** is this in my bed?" (direct quote from the book). Just as former empires around the world were built on the back of slave labor, so he treats his employees. He gives the public image of "fun" while absolutely breaking his poor employees' backs-and he has gotten a lot worse with his employees' treatment as the years went on. Furthermore, his is an empire built on sand, that could continually collapse at any moment. He knows little about running business, and doesn't like detail. Most of his businesses lose money, but he has a couple that bring in the cash to keep the others afloat, with a team of accountants who continually shuffle the money around. Surprisingly, this book does admit that he has some strengths. These include hiring good people around him to take care of all the details and run his businesses (since he can't, and isn't interested). But in the end, because he doesn't pay these people well or treat them well, they leave him, and he can only attract mediocre talent-one cause of the Virgin brand not being of good quality. His real strengths are in deal-making and self-promotion. His balloon trips are all "stunts" to attract publicity to himself and the Virgin brand, in a way that is far less expensive than advertising would be (he basically do