Alan Sugar - What You See Is What You Get 640 pages £4.31
From a Hackney council estate to the House of Lords, this is the extraordinary story of one of our greatest entrepreneurs. Alan Sugar was born in 1947 and brought up on a council estate in Clapton, in Hackney. As a kid he watched his dad struggle to support the family, never knowing from one week to the next if he'd have a job. It had a huge impact on him, fuelling a drive to succeed that was to earn him a sizeable personal fortune. Now he describes his amazing journey, from schoolboy enterprises like making and selling his own ginger beer to setting up his own company at nineteen; from Amstrad's groundbreaking ventures in hi-fi and computers, which made him the darling of the stock exchange, to the dark days when he nearly lost it all.
James Dyson – Against The Odds 296 pages Used - about £5.30
This intriguing, fascinating and compelling story should be an inspiration to all would-be inventors and entrepreneurs. With humility and candor, James Dyson injects his own unique brand of passion, tenacity and enthusiasm, offering a wealth of interesting technical facts and even a little homespun Dyson philosophy into this beguiling autobiography.
The Eddie Stobart Story (by Hunter Davies) 379 pages £8.39
This book is the story of Edward Stobart, whose father used to hire himself and his horse and cart to Cumberland Council for 27 shillings and sixpence a day, and is now probably the best know haulier in the world. A working class lad who suffered with a speech impediment and a less than average school record decided he loved the haulage business and with his combination of vision, risk taking and hard work made himself into a successful businessman. I found this biography, of such a decent, honest man, an inspiring read.
Duncan Bannatyne – Anyone Can Do It 336 pages £4.72
At 30, Duncan Bannatyne had no money and was enjoying life on the beaches of Jersey. He saw a story of someone who had made himself a millionaire, and decided to do the same. Five years later he had done it, and now he is worth 168 million. In this remarkable book, Bannatyne relives his colourful path to riches, from ice cream salesman to multi-millionaire.
Pete Waterman – I Wish I Was Me 308 pages Used - about £2.81
This is the best biography I have ever read. As someone who began teenage years with the start of the 80's this is a must read. It is an enthralling read, very honest and just shows you with a lot of enthusiasm and a little bit of neck you can do anything you want in this world. For anyone remotely interested in the pop/rock industry at any level, this is a must read. Don’t let the Stock, Aitkin and Waterman thing put you off, go out and buy it now.