MHJ
Literature reviews, by category
Richard Branson:
Losing My Virginity.

Rating: * * * * *

The red cover endowed with the large white "V"-logo is just what you’d expect from one of the most interesting entrepreneurs of our time. Richard Branson of Virgin enterprises is generally either loved or hated – and this book made me a fan.
In the book, Branson takes us with him through his childhood, schoolyears and the first business initiatives that later grow into the Virgin enterprises. The story is compelling, but it is not merely a story of one hero’s journey to success. Branson describes in detail the people who worked with him and helped him on his way - giving them the credit they deserve, I suppose. Contrary to the arrogant image often painted of Branson, the book gives an impression of a very people-oriented leader who’s main concern has not been personal success but the success of his environment and social circles. I could imagine that Richard Branson’s defition of a happy life would be very strongly based on social and communal things.
An the story is not boring. From the first magazines to the record store, the music label and the Virgin Airlines, "the Richard" lives with his businesses and his people to the fullest. Even as one could imagine that he could easily reach fill his needs for personal accomplishment in his business life, Branson also lives a full life outside immediate business circles. His ballooning trips give extra spice to the story and also add to the personal perspective. Not only is the survival of his businesses threatened more than once, but his life is also at great risk at least two times. I have to conclude that mr. Branson must have the biggest lust for life possible for a human - otherwise he would have collapsed a dozen times.
Losing My Virginity is an engaging read, and I recommend it strongly to entrepreneurs or just normal folk looking for and inspirng life story - provided that you don’t have negative feeligns about the Richard in the first place.

[b a c k]