Customer Reviews

Billionaire: The Life and Times of Sir James Goldsmith

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

 

 

Ivan Fallon has done a great job in tracing the life of the now late Sir James Goldsmith - from the Goldschmidt family's Jewish Frankfurt roots to their position amongst the ennobled members of the House of Lords. At one time James, the former 'enfant terrible' of the French business world was one of the wealthiest men in the world. Apart from his business interests Goldsmith's life was truly unique, spanning the effects of World War II, the dying embers of French and English aristocracy and his charge into the go-go eighties as an rambuntious takeover entrepreneur. Mr. Goldsmith will forever be remembered as the man of many eccentricities and conflicting personalities - the man who had multiple family arrangements, a debonaire who raided American companies, a tireless self-promoter who despised media while owning newspapers, and a conservative turned conservationist in his later life. Sir James exhibited undeniable charisma, purpose and self-belief in his life and this essence has been expressed well by Fallon. A great buy despite the price - as a quote on the inside sleave states, one can learn business not by studying textbooks but by reading business biographies, and this has to be one of the best.