Richard Branson: The Authorised Biography (Mass Market Paperback)

~ Mick Brown (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The authorized biography of the dynamic British entrepreneur and adventurer. Through the huge successes of Virgin Music and his airline Virgin Atlantic, Richard Branson's name has become a byword for entrepreneurial flair. This new authorized biography examines Branson's ongoing battle with British Airways for supremacy of the skies as well as the expansion of the Virgin name into film, rail transport, and personal finance. It also looks at Branson's fight to run Britain's National Lottery and his much-publicized attempt to fly around the world in a hot-air balloon. A balanced assessment of the Branson phenomenon and an engaging portrait of a man of formidable energy and ambition. Mick Brown is a journalist and the author of American Heartbeat. 544 pp 4 1/2 x 7 16 pp b/w photos

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Headline Book Publishing; 4th edition (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0708818773
• ISBN-13: 978-0708818770
• ASIN: 0747232164
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #94,449 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, April 22, 2002

By	John G. Hilliard (Toronto Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

You need an ego to build a company as large and successfully as Sir Richard has put together and that ego are captured by the author. The author gives us a view into the career of Mr. Branson from the start - the standard biography structure. The author did try to sneak in one or two items that are a bit on the tabloid side, but overall it looked to be a fair and complete review. I was most interested in how he structured his companies and moved from one to the next - I assumed he continued to own them, but that is not the case. Overall and interesting book that is enjoyable. If you are interested in the man then this would be a good starting point.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cat of 9 lives and jack of many trades., August 17, 2001

By	Angela M. Hey (Portola Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book covers all kinds of Branson adventures - he's had more near death experiences than most people and lives life to the full.

Much is about the growth and transformation of Virgin - from music to airlines. There's also the relationships that propelled Branson from his family to his business colleagues.

If ever I'm shipwrecked I'll remember how Branson survived in Mexico by swimming behind an ex-wife for 2 miles when he had little experience. His persistence is a constant theme in this book.

It is unfortunate he was not the first man to circumnavigate the world in a balloon, but one cannot say he did not take the risks to try. The writer's description of his ballooning trials places you right in the scene and changes one's perception of the sport.

Mick Brown writes lucidly and energetically to create a really inspiring portrait of this extraordinarily talented entrepreneur.

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting person--Biography just so-so, November 1, 2009

By	J. Bandy "oldsawdustmaker" (southwest US) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

While Richard Branson is an interesting person, the biography I considered just so-so. My main disappointment was what I thought was a real "gloss over" of the period when Virgin was just starting its rise. It seemed to me that within a page or two, Branson's life jumped from being hounded by creditors to being a millionaire. There didn't seem to be sufficient focus on that crucial time.

There are some strong points--I found the balloon episode quite fascinating, and there are many other details about Virgin's later rise to financial success and power that seemed sufficiently detailed. It was just that "lapse" of detail of what was the threshold period in Banson's (and Virgin's) transition to success and prominence that I considered wanting.