- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: John Blake Publishing Ltd; First Editon edition (2 Feb 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1844547027
- ISBN-13: 978-1844547029
- Product Dimensions: 23.8 x 15.8 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 1.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 240,985 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Sir Alan Sugar - The Biography
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Product Description
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.
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.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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...
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...
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I wish id done my homework and read reviews before buying this book. Save yourself some pennies google "Alan Sugar" and read, that's what it appears the biographer has done, which would be a sin in itself, but to offer completely irrelevant musings on x factor and dragons den, I'm not interested. Also step by step account of the Apprentice series by series, I watched it, I know who won, no insights there. Poor content badly written, my seven year old could have done better, and he's a cat. Shame on you Charlie.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There is no question that Alan Sugar is an outstanding entrepreneur and a unique person but this book fails his story in any depth. It's more of a paean rather than a biography, a work of homage rather than an objective assessment of his career and achievements. Sugar objects to being called a barrow boy and prefers to regard himself as a salesman - and there's no question he can sell. He also has the entrepreneur's nose for market opportunities and no time for those who fail to work as hard or as methodically as he does himself.
It says much for the irrelevance of Burden's coverage that he spends time on the superb quality of Sugar's Rolls Royce but less on the ruthlessness of Sugar's selling of Amstrad dishes for Sky sports' coverage. Sugar's lack of judgement, teaming up with the discredited Terry Venables and the far from successful Gordon Brown, are never explored in full. It's also hard to believe that Sugar who could be in the House of Lords performing a "non political"(sic) role is a naive as Burden paints him.
I have no doubt Sugar has brilliant qualities, deserves the success he has achieved, is probably warm hearted and good to his family but whoever he really is has not been explored in this very disappointing book.
It says much for the irrelevance of Burden's coverage that he spends time on the superb quality of Sugar's Rolls Royce but less on the ruthlessness of Sugar's selling of Amstrad dishes for Sky sports' coverage. Sugar's lack of judgement, teaming up with the discredited Terry Venables and the far from successful Gordon Brown, are never explored in full. It's also hard to believe that Sugar who could be in the House of Lords performing a "non political"(sic) role is a naive as Burden paints him.
I have no doubt Sugar has brilliant qualities, deserves the success he has achieved, is probably warm hearted and good to his family but whoever he really is has not been explored in this very disappointing book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not a good biography
This is a very poor biography. It lacks any real substance and gives the feeling that it was written with little research. Read more
Published 8 months ago by johnclapison
A real disappointment
Really poor, just simply don't waste your time and read Alan Sugars autobiography instead. I started reading this authors other book on Lord Sugar and didn't get passed the first... Read more
Published 10 months ago by RichieO
RUBBISH!
This just a collection of facts(?) that the author has gleaned from the newspapers over the years. Hence there's nothing new or revealing in it. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Sophie Spital
Shallow and glossed over
Bought the wrong book - this is not the real autobiography. Offers no real in-depth analysis and misses key points.
Published 18 months ago by jon
A copy and paste job.
Possibly the worst biography of anyone I've ever read. Practically everything is copied and pasted from previous books or newspaper articles. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Theodore Tugboat
Try Before You Buy
Bought this as a 'beach read' at the airport and expected more for my money having read Branson, Walsh, Bannatyne and Paphitis et al. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Cymro De Santos
Alan Sugar Bigraphy
Absolute garbage, this is not a biography, constantly going off on tangents and totally bereft of any details about Alan Sugar. Don't buy this book!!!
Published 21 months ago by Mr. Peter Ambrose
What a shame
Excellent subject, but sadly the book doesn't even scratch the surface. The book is written in an immature style, lacks any analysis and didn't do justice to the topic. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Julian
Rushed and Jumbled
Expected great things from this book as Alan Sugar's journey is very interesting but this book is a rushed, jumbled mess. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2010 by Lee Wilson
Sir Alun, no Lord Suga says it all
I enjoyed this book - good read with a few insights into The Man himself - Good background for all Apprentice fans
Published on 19 Aug 2009 by Iain Robertsoin
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