Customer Reviews

Big Score: Robert Friedland, Inco, and the Voisey's Bay Hustle

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was lucky enough to work on the Voisey's Bay discovery. Jacquie interviewed almost all of the players; she did did an excellent job of catching the excitement we all felt in Labrador during 1994-1995. Her book tends to confirm many "rumors" too.

Simply captivating and better written than a Canadian mining story has any right to be.

About how a gang of off-beat penny stock mining promoters (led by "Toxic Bob" Friedland, ex-hippie, convicted LSD dealer, alleged environmental disaster perpetrator and one time school chum of Steve Jobs) took some of the world's largest mining companies on a dizzying auction for some desolate caribou pasture that just happened to contain some of the richest ore deposits ever discovered.

Bob Friedland is the loadstar of the story: a vain and loathsome character but brilliant as an auctioneer of fear and greed as he escalates the bidding into the stratosphere.

This book contains some valuable lessons for executives and the stock buying public. For executives: have your temperature checked regularly for "deal fever": walk away when the bidding gets too intense, you're probably overpaying. For the public: Beware of Toxic Bob's inside tips that to prop up an overvalued stock you need a dynamic impressario with a "good story" and some theatrical "props". Brings to mind certain Silicon Valley impressarios....

Although it starts out a bit slow, it is a well written and , for the most part, accurate. I worked at INCO and was involved in the early stages of the acquisition and can say that the description of events and personalities was very accurate.

The real story that reads better than fiction. The book gives a great background for the current activity that is starting again in one of the largest mineral discoveries in Canada.

Tremendous read for anybody who has an interest in this sector, or for that matter good business books. Good insights on the tactics used in making a deal for a world class deposit (at least in a seller's market). I started yesterday morning and couldn't put it down all day. My wife did make me walk the dog, and I took a few trips to frig, but was so engrossed I finished it all yesterday. That's saying something because I usually only finish about a fourth of the books I start.

A fabulously well written story about Robert Friedland and his involvement with the Voisey Bay discovery. Ms McNish does a beautiful job with character development and analogies. I simply couldn't put it down.

Fascinating book. I knew nothing about Newfouldland/Labrador or penny stocks but the characters, the land and all the business dealings fascinated me. I couldn't believe this was non-fiction. A must read.

And a very good business story to boot. Highly recommend it. This book shows another toxic side to the "Toxic Bob" character of VSE lore.

Robert Friedland is the Steve Jobs of junior mining companies. As it turns out, they know each other.

Anyone who does high level business negotiations in any industry would be well served to read this book.

Succinctly: Jacquie McNish can tell a story.

In counterpoint to "A. Reader" (a glowing review but the only 4-star review so far) I want to say that the book did not start out slow to my eye.

Author Jackquie McNish did a masterful job of research and reporting, then wrapped the whole thing into an amazingly difficult to put down book.

You owe it to yourself to read this one.

one of the most interesting non ficition books i have ever read. couldn't put it down. must read for anyone interested in this subject has it pertains to the province newfoundland/labrador