The Real Deal: My Story from Brick Lane to "Dragons' Den"
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Product Description
Book Description
JAMES CAAN'S INCREDIBLE BEST-SELLING STORY NOW IN PAPERBACK
Product Description
After dropping out of school at just sixteen, James Caan started his business life in a broom cupboard with no qualifications and two pieces of fatherly wisdom: 'observe the masses and do the opposite' and 'always look for opportunities where both parties benefit'. Armed with this advice, natural charm and the Yellow Pages, he built a market-leading business with a turnover of £130 million and swiftly became one of Britain's most successful entrepreneurs.
From Caan's childhood as a Pakistani immigrant to the phenomenal success of his first company and beyond, The Real Deal traces both his financial and personal achievements. It offers a frank account of what success at thirty really signifies and brings us right up to the present, including his impact on Dragons' Den and what his charity work, from saving a hospital in London to building a school in Lahore, means to him. Ultimately, it is a story of learning what money is really worth, told by one the country's most insightful businessmen.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is absolutely brilliant. James' life and story is an inspiration for anyone who wishes to be successful in business and life. Its a very inspiring read that left me charged up at the end! Whoever reads this should also read Duncan Bannantyne's book.
46 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a non-entrepreneurial woman, but not of the `certain age' who, James tells us with rather touching surprise started writing to him when he began appearing on Dragon's Den - approaches from women of all ages were, I would have thought, an occupational hazard for multi-millionaires - I found this book a terrific read.
From the moment he left school, and walked out of his shocked Muslim family's home at 16, without waiting to take his O'Levels, until he took a late `gap year' at the age of 42, James never stopped working. He was driven by a desperate desire to prove to his dearly loved, but shocked, disappointed and briefly estranged father, that his decision had been the right one. He writes: `I had to prove to dad that I could make it without him. That was the only thing that would make sense of what I had done. I had to prove him wrong.' He made his point, but it was a tough road, and not one for the weak. Sometimes he lived on cornflakes for several days at a time, and after being a cosseted Muslim son, even fending for himself was a shock to his system.
What came across most strongly for me when reading about his progress was that although he was clearly bright, his main assets were that people liked him, he was amazingly quick to learn from just watching other people at work, and he always followed his father's teaching that "successful business is not about good transactions, it's about good relationships."
His love for his wife and two daughters shines like a beacon through this fascinating book, which tells of a life that now encompasses such contrasting events as dining with princes and stumbling through Kashmir after the devastating earthquake, seeing scenes that he says `no one should have to see.' The interesting point here is that he didn't `have' to see it, he chose to go there and see it, to try and find ways in which he could help the situation.
The inside look at the making of Dragon's Den is fascinating, but not as fascinating as the amazing journey that enabled James Caan to take his seat there. Don't miss this book.
From the moment he left school, and walked out of his shocked Muslim family's home at 16, without waiting to take his O'Levels, until he took a late `gap year' at the age of 42, James never stopped working. He was driven by a desperate desire to prove to his dearly loved, but shocked, disappointed and briefly estranged father, that his decision had been the right one. He writes: `I had to prove to dad that I could make it without him. That was the only thing that would make sense of what I had done. I had to prove him wrong.' He made his point, but it was a tough road, and not one for the weak. Sometimes he lived on cornflakes for several days at a time, and after being a cosseted Muslim son, even fending for himself was a shock to his system.
What came across most strongly for me when reading about his progress was that although he was clearly bright, his main assets were that people liked him, he was amazingly quick to learn from just watching other people at work, and he always followed his father's teaching that "successful business is not about good transactions, it's about good relationships."
His love for his wife and two daughters shines like a beacon through this fascinating book, which tells of a life that now encompasses such contrasting events as dining with princes and stumbling through Kashmir after the devastating earthquake, seeing scenes that he says `no one should have to see.' The interesting point here is that he didn't `have' to see it, he chose to go there and see it, to try and find ways in which he could help the situation.
The inside look at the making of Dragon's Den is fascinating, but not as fascinating as the amazing journey that enabled James Caan to take his seat there. Don't miss this book.
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I read a lot of business biographies and this has to be up there as one of the best. It includes real insight into how and why James has made the decisions he has throughout his career, and doesn't flinch from explaining the (very few) mistakes and failures along the way. His enthusiasm and drive come through strongly. This is a great starting point for any would-be entrepreneur as well as a good booster for those of us already out there. Woven through the book is a moving human story revolving around James's relationship with his father. In all a very compelling read as well as an excellent source of business advice from someone who really knows his stuff.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
good read...
an inspiring book about how james caan rose, fell and then rose again. why did i give it 4 stars - well, he didn't actually start out in the rag trade, his father ran a rag trade... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Gcrikey
A great read.
I always read other reviews before I buy ebooks and have not yet been dissapointed by other peoples recommendations. Read more
Published 10 months ago by JBS
James Caan
An excellent book, very readable, particularly interesting as my son is a recruitment consultantThe Real Deal: My Story from Brick Lane to Dragons' Den
Published 14 months ago by bookworm
Love it
I just love the way wealth has made it possible for James to be able to help others. Anyone seeing him on TV and doing his acts of charity will know what I mean here. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr. S. Cartier
Entertaining & Informative
Like most people, I learnt James Caan because of the BBC show Dragons' Den. Frankly, I wasn't convinced by the originality and idea of this program in the very beginning. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Bystander2010
Loved it!
The real deal by James Caan is a great Business Book. It really inspired me. I've read all the dragons books and I was expecting James to be the least beneficial. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Carl Silverstone
Starts off nicely, but very annoying end
The story of James Caan and his very successful business ventures is very interesting in the beginning. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Max
A top read. Very engaging. James gives us a lot of himself.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and thank James for such an intimate journey.
I bought this book on the strength of the reviews and that I'd read Duncan's... Read more
I bought this book on the strength of the reviews and that I'd read Duncan's... Read more
Published 17 months ago by stephen Luff
A shining example of best of both cultures
I read this book with delight and touched by James's affection and respect to his farther, who came to the UK as an (to use a much kicked around and tarnished term) Economic... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Thiru Vikki
Truely Inspirational book
Fantastic book. Very well written. I read it during my lunch breaks at work, everytime I come back in, I always felt more motivated and inspired. Great book.
Published 19 months ago by Scott
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