Q & A: A Sort of Autobiography (Harpercollins Illustrated) [Hardcover]

Terence Conran (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002 | Series: Harpercollins Illustrated

Terence Conran's life has been extraordinarily full and varied, with several consistent interwoven strands established when he was a very young man. He helped design several projects for the 1951 Festival of Britain, worked as a plongeur in a Paris restaurant, and opened his first shop, Habitat, in 1964. There are now Conran Shops in Britain, France, Germany, Japan and the USA. Conran restaurants are also to be found in far-flung places. Conran & Partners, his architecture and design practice, has an international reputation. This illustrated autobiography of one of the world's most best-known designers and entrepreneurs includes insights into his successes (and occasional failures), and questions contributed by members of Conran's family, friends and peers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"I enjoy... offering [people] a slice of my life," declares Conran (Terence Conran's Easy Living), and he has done precisely that for more than 40 years as a designer, restaurateur and founder of the legendary furniture stores Habitat and the Conran Shop. The autobiography of this British entrepreneur is as original as his home design concepts: Conran enlisted friends, family and co-workers, and a few celebrities (including New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gucci's Tom Ford), to ask him dozens of questions about his life and work, which he has published, along with the answers, in q&a format. Conran's chatty and forthright responses yield an engaging portrait of a man who sums himself up as a "hard-working hedonist." The day-to-day minutiae of Conran's life are here (his wardrobe is dominated by a collection of 42 identical deep-blue shirts), as well as candid reflections on his four marriages, five children (most are involved in the family business) and eight grandchildren. Conran talks about his influences (Parisian brasseries and Evelyn Waugh's Vile Bodies), his biggest disappointment (that he no longer runs Habitat, which was sold to IKEA's founder, Ingvar Kamprad) and his fundamental aim of making beautiful, useful everyday objects affordable. In telling of his past, he offers valuable insights into starting a new business (e.g., he attributes his successes to a strong and dedicated team of employees). Asked to name one useful vice, Conran replies, "Envy." The designer's varied and influential career, his lavish homes and his boisterous family life will probably inspire just this emotion in more than a few readers. (Feb. 15)Forecast: Q&A's audience extends far beyond design gurus lovers of home style, creative businesspersons and Anglophiles alike will enjoy it. Its bold, attractive design will propel buyers to pick it up; the fun approach will engage them to read it.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

As the founder of Habitat, and later the Conran Shop, British entrepreneur Terence Conran brought good, affordable, modern design to the general public, transforming our homes; as a restaurateur, with establishments like Bibendum and Bluebird, he revolutionized dining out in London. But Terence Conran’s passions are by no means limited to his businesses. He is a passionate Londoner, with projects like the Michelin Building and Butlers Wharf to his credit, as well as the Design Museum. As one might expect from the title, this is an autobiography with a difference. It is abundantly illustrated, as befits someone whose work has had such an impact on our surroundings. More unusually, the text is structured as a series of questions and answers, with Conran candidly responding to queries contributed by friends, family, and peers. A fascinating insight into one of the world’s most influential designers.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007115296
• ISBN-13: 978-0007115297
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,787,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Expert Advice > Terence Conran

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