Branson: Amazon.co.uk: Tom Bower: Books

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Product Description

Review
'Fortified by impeccable research, Bower deflates Branson's self-spun reputation...revealing a darker side' --Evening Standard

Review
'Way more spicy than the usual corporate arse-lick'

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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

Average Customer Review

3.3 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Would the real Richard Branson please stand up..., 22 Aug 2001

By A Customer

This is an excellent book to read if you want an alternative profile of RB rather than accepting the one portrayed in the popular media. Amazing detail of conversations and Virgin businesses.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a different perspective, 14 April 2007

By	k (england) - See all my reviews

I have read pretty much most books on this great man, but i feel that a lot of what the author has wrote is probably closer to the truth in more ways than one. No body gets to the position that branson has, financially or in terms of publicity, if he was totally innocent of some claims made in this book. It doesnt detract in anyway the inspiration he instills in normal everyday folk to better themselves but you do have a nagging thought at the back of your head , on whether he really did get all this by smiling and being mr nice guy to everyone around him ???
Also the fact that he is uk`s best known and respected businessman, most of his wealth is stored overseas, in essence, depriving the uk tax system from the bulk of his wealth, `rich - leterally, coming from someone who loves to wave the british flag in an effort to drum up more business.

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20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Factual and damning at the same time, 6 Nov 2003

By	Darren Simons (Middlesex, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

When I ordered this book I didn't realise it wasn't the official biography and within a few pages I'd decided this book was just an indictment of one of Britain's best loved businessmen by an author in essence jealous of Branson's success, feeling that he'd cheated to get to the top. My conclusion when I'd finished the book was that this book could have been so much better had the author stuck to fact and not opinion.

There's no doubt this book is well researched - I'm tempted to suggest that since I haven't heard of much in the way of legal action by Branson following its publication, its content is probably highly accurate (it's even got a very negative comment on the book by Branson himself on the back cover). In fact, from a content point of view I found it a very interesting book and a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read. In particular, I was fascinated by the way Branson juggled his different ventures throughout this history of the Virgin brand.

What I was not so keen on however was the way in which the author used every opportunity he could in the book to draw conclusions that each event showed another reason why Branson was a cheat, a sulk, a bully, and a hypocrite. I found this rather sad as I felt it showed that strange British phenomenon of trying to knock down success stories of people who have made it. The world of business is not a nice place, to believe that any successful business is whiter than white is churlish - in some ways, the book provides a great introduction to how important brand marketing is, and that is something even the author acknowledges Branson is superb at.

Would I recommend this book? definitely, but be warned, there is a lot of opinion there which I don't really feel is warranted.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars journalist on a mission!
Bower is described in the preface as 'a distinguished jounalist.' Perhaps he is but there is little evidence of it in his biography 'Branson. Read more

Published 1 day ago by M. Donovan

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a Brilliant Insight into Virgin and Branson, and All True....Otherwise He'd Sue
To get the best out of this book you will have needed to have read "Losing My Virginity" first. Branson's account in his book is the stuff of dreams, and he makes it all look a... Read more

Published 4 months ago by G. Perry

4.0 out of 5 stars Screw them, lets do it: Richards adventures in Blunderland
Entertaining expose of Richard Bransons business career. The book isnt particularly well written but highlights the hypocrisy of the ubiquitous Richard Branson frequently voted... Read more

Published 7 months ago by S Wood

1.0 out of 5 stars Truely Awful
This book was truly atrocious with opinion written as fact throughout the entire thing. Tom Bower has incredibly poor literary skills and his jealousy of Branson's success is... Read more

Published 8 months ago by Myki Gasson

4.0 out of 5 stars A new view
This is a book that gives a different point of view on Branson since it is an unathourised biography. Funny how people can bring out books on people without their consent! Read more

Published 9 months ago by Ponums

5.0 out of 5 stars Branson should be pleased, not disgusted
The author has done a good job of making Branson look like an evil ruthless go-getter, which makes it a good book for readers and even Branson's own image. Read more

Published on 11 Nov 2006 by Scott Waterhouse

1.0 out of 5 stars Jealousy
Its rather obvious that this book was written in the motive of jealousy and envy rather than on the basis of fact. Read more

Published on 16 Dec 2005 by danny_prout

3.0 out of 5 stars interesting & worrying
i found this book very interesting & very shocking. i didn't know much about branson other than the usual hype but i certainly didn't expect this cutting biography. Read more

Published on 25 Feb 2004 by DMZ92

3.0 out of 5 stars Truth about RB
This book shows the real character that RB is. No nice, charitable businessman anymore, this guy wants more and more money... Good book but quite boring. Read more

Published on 1 Dec 2003 by Jean-Loup ALLEMANN

1.0 out of 5 stars Gives You A Different Perspective Of Branson
A damning portrayal of Britain’s favourite businessman. It gives you an insight into Branson’s darker side. Read more

Published on 13 Jul 2003

› See all 15 customer reviews...

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