How did a maverick English inventor manage to design, market and make money from his own invention, toppling market leaders in the process? This inspirational autobiography tells the remarkable story behind James Dyson and his most successful invention to date the Dual Cyclone. This revolutionary (bagless) vacuum cleaner has taken the market by storm, but not without years of personal struggle and crises for its inventor. Faced with little or no support at every turn, Dyson's extraordinary story shows how his unswerving optimism and self-belief has brought him spectacular success.
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
"extended and re-issued, Dyson's autobiography is an engaging piece of work... His career is recounted in an infectious, hands-on style..." -- The Times, 10 February, 2001
A frank and engaging account of one man's journey from rags to riches, all because of a very good idea. -- Creative Review, February, 2001
An excellent read about a rather excellent product, its history, development and inventor. -- M2 Communications, November 14, 2001
Dyson sheds light on the 'invention process' in this autobiography, which humorously traces his growth... -- Scotland On Sunday, January 28, 2001
Dyson's autobiography, describes his achievements in refreshingly honest terms. -- The Times, February 24, 2001
James Dyson's autobiography is an engaging piece of work. -- Sunday Times, February 11, 2001
James Dyson's story is an object lesson in how companies who overlook the value of design do so at their peril. -- Terence Conran
The book shows just how great an inventor Dyson is, with inspriation greater than Brunel and Edison. -- Docklands News, February, 2001
This autobiography caught me by surprise. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought a book about a vacuum cleaner could be so entertaining. -- Australian Financial Review
This is a book against the traditional way of doing business. -- Daily Telegraph
This is a truly inspirational British success story about a hero of technology for the modern age. -- Blackpool Gazette, January 6, 2001
A frank and engaging account of one man's journey from rags to riches, all because of a very good idea. -- Creative Review, February, 2001
An excellent read about a rather excellent product, its history, development and inventor. -- M2 Communications, November 14, 2001
Dyson sheds light on the 'invention process' in this autobiography, which humorously traces his growth... -- Scotland On Sunday, January 28, 2001
Dyson's autobiography, describes his achievements in refreshingly honest terms. -- The Times, February 24, 2001
James Dyson's autobiography is an engaging piece of work. -- Sunday Times, February 11, 2001
James Dyson's story is an object lesson in how companies who overlook the value of design do so at their peril. -- Terence Conran
The book shows just how great an inventor Dyson is, with inspriation greater than Brunel and Edison. -- Docklands News, February, 2001
This autobiography caught me by surprise. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought a book about a vacuum cleaner could be so entertaining. -- Australian Financial Review
This is a book against the traditional way of doing business. -- Daily Telegraph
This is a truly inspirational British success story about a hero of technology for the modern age. -- Blackpool Gazette, January 6, 2001
From the Author
It must have been some time in 1979 that I first heard the words, "But, James, if there were a better kind of vacuum cleaner, Hoover or Electrolux would have invented it." That was when I left the first company I had set up - gave up security, income and respectability - and persuaded an old friend to come in with me on a project I was developing in the pigsties behind my home. After hundreds of prototypes, thousands of modifications, and millions of tests, I was in terrible debt, but in love with the Dual Cyclone. By 1997 I had a company turning over #100 million in the UK, and had generated sales of more than #1 billion worldwide. This is the story of how I did it. (JAMES DYSON, from the Preface)
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
Rural idyll. Death of my father. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Rural idyll. Death of my father. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The book is the story of James Dyson. It covers his upbringing and describes why he believes he has the mindset that he does. It covers his education and training and the lucky breaks he received along the way. It details his first forays into design and marketing on other people's behalf. It explains his moment of realisation when he made the quantum mental leap from a machine in his workshop to a vacuum cleaner design. It then covers the more than 10 years he struggled to make it a mainstream product and delves into the nasty things big multinationals will do to slow you down.
It describes the huge lengths he went to during this period to get to the point where he was making vacuum cleaners. How much personal debt he accumulated. How much he spent on legal battles with multinational companies trying to cheat him. How it affected his personal life. It is easy to sympathise with him while reading the book and in similar situations it is hard to imagine many people would have continued.
The book is written in a friendly style and broken up into chapters covering chronological sections of the story. It would be good reading for anyone entering the design or manufacturing business.
I don't agree with all of the opinions he includes in the book, but they are certainly food for thought.
I really enjoyed reading this book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This is a glorious story and like all great stories it is both true and unlikely. It chronicles deeds of deering do that overcame seemingly overwhelming vested interests in the UK, America and Japan to create a world beating British product. When was the last time a Brit did that! How can there be anything heroic about a vacuum cleaner? Imagine all the world using a machine that is fundamentally flawed, and all the world saying it can not be improved. Imagine building a better machine with your own hands, having manufacturers snigger, while filching ideas. Imagine debt rising, the seemingly endless days of struggle...Imagine winning, because your machine is better, imagine seeing the mockers mouths fall silent. The story begins, as all stories should, at the beginning with Dyson's early years. He zigzags through the educational process avoiding the stereotype labels of artist, or engineer yet encompassing both and much more as his life unfolds. In business he has success with a flat boat, is dumped with nothing from the company that he founded to build his ball-barrow and then begins the great double cyclone odyssey. A trek that sees him many times in huge debt, fighting simultaneous battles through the courts and somehow emerging to glorious triumph for not only are his Dyson's best sellers but he makes them in his own factory to his own controlled standards. He has many revolutionary ideas not least being that any machines that eventually fail will be collected free of charge and completely re-cycled. His experience has bred a philosophy of business that looks back to one his great heroes, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and to times when Britain made things. It is book with attitude, the attitude of a winner.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's rare these days that I take the time to read new autobiographies as, if we're being honest, they're almost always written by sports 'personalities' who have just overcome some social trauma, or music artists desperately trying to revive their failed career. Why waste your time trawling through this garbage?
James Dyson's effort stands firmly as the efforts of a truly inspirational character - one who does not require the reader to treat his many wounds, or even accept any sort of sympathy for the hurdles that were inescapable. This was one man's quest to acknowledge right from wrong and, in the process, to put himself, his family and his financial security on the line.
How did he persevere in creating so many great products? The answer is in the question; he never stopped solving problems. Although famed for his cyclone 'bag-less' vacuum cleaners, Dyson worked his way up to that position through persevering with many other projects, some worked and some failed miserably.
The thing to take away from all this however is that he was just as naive as you or me. His success wasn't born from any kind of talent other than his ability to see opportunities where others had failed. As an aspiring entrepreneur myself, this book was a thoroughly enjoyable set of accounts that provide motivation, belief and above all a gauge to which standards should be met in product design. But as Dyson himself says, the former values have largely been lost in what is a nation that expects failure as a standard.
James Dyson's effort stands firmly as the efforts of a truly inspirational character - one who does not require the reader to treat his many wounds, or even accept any sort of sympathy for the hurdles that were inescapable. This was one man's quest to acknowledge right from wrong and, in the process, to put himself, his family and his financial security on the line.
How did he persevere in creating so many great products? The answer is in the question; he never stopped solving problems. Although famed for his cyclone 'bag-less' vacuum cleaners, Dyson worked his way up to that position through persevering with many other projects, some worked and some failed miserably.
The thing to take away from all this however is that he was just as naive as you or me. His success wasn't born from any kind of talent other than his ability to see opportunities where others had failed. As an aspiring entrepreneur myself, this book was a thoroughly enjoyable set of accounts that provide motivation, belief and above all a gauge to which standards should be met in product design. But as Dyson himself says, the former values have largely been lost in what is a nation that expects failure as a standard.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 19 reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
No loss of .... interest.
This was a really enjoyable read.
Sir James Dyson's magnificent story of persistence, perseverance and endurance.
The man's a Genius !
Sir James Dyson's magnificent story of persistence, perseverance and endurance.
The man's a Genius !
Published 26 days ago by Kalwinder
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sucking great
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a fascinating look at the sometimes murky world of innovative business and is quite an eye-opener. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr Gordon Davidson
5.0 out of 5 stars
AMAZING
I paid for a used book got a new one. if it was old i could not tell the difference
Published 2 months ago by Ibrahim
5.0 out of 5 stars
inspiring....
truly inspiring. the book is an autobiography about james dysons life - from child, to student at RCA and then onto life as an indiustrial designer. why does it deserve 5 stars? Read more
Published 20 months ago by Gcrikey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply incredible
This is essential reading for any entrepreneur. The story of James Dyson's struggles against narrow-minded prejudices of this world are simply incredible. Read more
Published on 4 April 2011 by Nuno Bento
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Excellent book, with some great nuggets of advice. Really drives home how important hard work & determination are to bring a product to market.
Published on 22 July 2010 by Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational page turner!
A fantastic and inspiring book. I would recommend this to anyone interested in being creative, entrepreneurial or looking to take on a big challenge. Read more
Published on 7 April 2010 by R. Wilkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book
This book will be a great benifit to any one who as any intrest in creating or sell new products or ideas.
Published on 17 Mar 2010 by Mr. Andrew Marchant
5.0 out of 5 stars
Should be on the reading list of every business course
This is a highly informative, educational, entertaining and inspiring book, and has to be one of the best business books ever written. Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2010 by Jill
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you have a dream of making this world better, read it
How do you prepare a delicious crab feast? First, you walk down the beach (provided you are near one.) You take with you a bucket and start picking them up and throwing them in. Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2009 by J. Casinos Molina
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
