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Possibly the best autobiography I've ever read.
One of the best autobiographies I've ever read!Liked it so much that I actually used it as a source in my book, Thrive: 30 Inspirational Rags-to-Riches Stories.
I learned two major things from this book: the power of branding, and the fact that Richard Branson has balls of solid steel. Branson is one of the great entrepreneurs of our era, and it was truly inspiring to hear his story in his own words. A kid who skipped college and dove straight into business, and time and time again proved he can succeed with a lot of will, determination, and his maverick ability to take big bets and win. Bransons' success is nothing short of inspirational. I had no idea...
"I am yet to read an autobiography of an entrepreneur, which has been written so magnetically. It feels like that I was very much a part of Sir Richard Branson's journey from his boyhood to being one of century's most successful and chic business man, who happens to be having his feet firmly entrenched on the ground. Richard's humble beginning and the numerous sticky situations that he got into during the initial period of his entrepreneurial endeavors, did not deter him from reaching the awesom...
I was disappointed by this book, probably because my expectations about it heavily differed from the actual delivery that was intentional, by design. This book is about personal journey through life, reminiscences about author's businesses, partners and major victories/battles. A significant part of the book is comprised of author's dangerous grand travels on sea and in the air; the last third of the book is devoted solely to personal travel diary. Disappointingly for me, this book is NOT about
I hv long admired branson, so in 2000, when i saw this book at a footpath wala in CP in Delhi, i immediately latched on to it!The book is an immensely enjoyable, almost no holds barred autobiography of Branson's mercurial rise from a school drop out to the owner of Virgin Atlantic and many other companies, n how he kept building n rebuilding his businesses despite all odds.Branson has spared nobody, including himself, nor has he let go of any chance to remember those who stood by him!However, i
How a dyslexic boy who did not perform well in school went onto become one of the most successful businessmen ever?In his autobiography, Branson takes us through his adventurous, flamboyant life and shows us nothing is impossible. Even with over 600 pages, it never felt boring or slow. Definitely one of the most interesting autobiographies to read. It is full of exciting events, adventures and fun written in a very exciting manner.
WOW. Richard Branson rocked my world with this book. I've learned so much about entrepreneurship, branding, risk and what it takes to succeed just from reading this book. Its amazing to read a story of a drop out who went on to change the world. This is a must read.
Loosing My VirginityExcellent autobiography. Mr. Branson has a lot in common with Sam Walton and Ray Crock, except Mr. Branson has a more magnetic personality that he's used to his advantage in the age of mass media. Like all great men, he is a man of his time, and used his adventurous rebellious persona to promote himself and his brand.His story is insightful, motivational, and more importantly - useful.Like Walton and Crock, Branson's growth always was happening with bankers in the background
What struck me most in the book is 'Virgin is not a big group - it's a big brand made up of lots of small companies. Our priorities are the opposite of our large competitors'. Convention dictates that a company should look after its shareholders first, its customers next, and last of all worry about its employees. Virgin does the opposite. For us, our employees matter most. It just seems common sense to me that, if you start off with a happy, well-motivated workforce, you are much more likely to...
When I reviewed this in 2011, I was young and naive, still believing the capitalist myth that becoming ridiculously wealthy was just a case of "trying your best". I'm quite embarrassed by this now, but here's my original review:I thought this book was good. Although he's probably sensationalising quite a lot of it, there's no doubt the book left me feeling inspired - feeling like anything was possible, whatever your background. Definitely a motivational book: great if you're slightly doubting yo...
Surprisingly a very interesting and informative biography of Branson. This was the audio book and Richard narrated it thank god.The battle between BA and Virgin Atlantic is very juicy and his life in general was non-stop interesting.
Just too boring to waste my time reading. I kept waiting for something inspirational - lost me around page 75. There are just so many other books out there from which I can actually learn something.
Imagine offering 150k$ for an island to which asking price was 3million$ and getting that offer accepted at 175k$. You might say, well he got lucky, but who even has the gall to make that offer. Well, that's what sets Richard Branson apart from the rest of the crowd.This is the first autobiography I have ever read. Very gripping, fast paced. Somewhere at 3/4th of the book, I got tired of the new ventures virgin was taking up š š . I enjoyed reading the early days of student magazine, virgin record...
More of a narrative of his life than anything useful for other people. What worked for Richard Branson probably ONLY works for Richard Branson. Entertaining.
āMy mother was determined to make us independent. When I was four years old, she stopped the car a few miles from our house, and made me find my own way home across the fields. P.15I was trouble - and always in trouble. Aged eight I still couldnāt read. In fact, I was dyslexic and short-sighted. Despite sitting in front of the class, I couldnāt read the blackboard.My dyslexia was a problem throughout my school life. Now, although my spelling is still sometimes poor, I have managed to overcome th...
The lasting thought with me as I finish this book is of all the fuel tanks and balloon parts dumped in the ocean and scattered over the Atlas mountains following one of Bransonās air balloon challenges. š„²šThe early part of the book tracking the opening business ventures was very interesting.
Nobody is perfect. Raced through this. Quite a bit of the story I was aware of but I was super interested to find out more about him. The life story to the date this version was published,spanning the the years 1950 to 2007 covers a time of immense technological change. From riding his brike to Brighton as a child to space travel as a grown up ! he straddles it all.The early parts of the story were of most interest where he describes starting his first businesses and in particular the record ind...
What type of person would you imagine Richard Branson to be? That's exactly how he came across in his auto-biography. Cheeky and sensationalist.It was interesting to read how his businesses developed and how he sought to take on the big dogs, namely British Airways and GTech lottery. The hot air balloon adventures were also fascinating.Branson is dyslexic, which gives insight into his business success. His brain had to develop ways to 'get around the system' to function properly in life and scho...
Review: Entertaining and interesting read where Branson shares his and Virgins story to stardom as well as sharing how he survived everything from drowning, freezing and falling to his death during his many grand adventures around the world. I admire what Branson has accomplished through hard work, wit, and vision, yet his formula for success might not be one to live by since chances are that you simply won't live very long following it. Joking aside, the world could do well having more business...