Business & Finance Books > L Business & Finance Books > 5 GBP to 9 GBP

Advantages: A wide array of businesses from many fields covered.
Disadvantages: Doesn't feature businesses which have not been so successful.

...something which interests me; hence how I wanted to discover more. I had trawled through the shelves in my local bookstore, find numerous titles on the top tips to being successful and so forth, but this simply didn't interest me at the time. Business is something which has inspired me, with my mind constantly churning up new ideas of the 'Next Big Thing'. I have heard of the challenging demands of starting these ideas in reality, but my ambition ...
...years, analysing their struggles and how they were overcome. It is a true inspiration to see how, despite their struggles, individuals can achieve their dreams. If you're considering starting a business, or merely running the idea through your mind, this book is a must-read. This book can cement your dream and give you the desire to follow it; or just as easily make you realise that the harsh world of business is not for you. Without it, you may ... Read review

Advantages: Well written insight into the mind of a billionaire
Disadvantages: none

...Lewis sets out to find the worlds most important technology entrepreneur, the man who embodies the spirit of the coming age. He finds him in Jim Clark, who is about to create his third billion dollar company, Healtheon. After already successfully navigating his two other companies to entrepreneurial stardom, Silicon Graphics and Netscape, he sets out to create a shake up in the American health care system. Although One would think, that Jim Clark ...
...the planet. His near obsession with his yacht, Hyperion has him in trouble more than a few times as his willingness to spend hours on creating computer programs to run this vessel leads him to entrust the running and the building of the concept which is Healtheon. This story is basically the building of Healtheon and is seen through the eyes of Michael Lewis who was Jim Clarks sidekick for months in order to track Clarks every move. Lewis writes ... Read review

Advantages: Some eye-opening statistics; good material for supermarket opponents
Disadvantages: Very one-sided; poorly put together

I was rather amused and surprised to see that Andrew Simm's "Tescopoly: How one shop came out on top and why it matters" can be bought through the Tesco website; the book is a well-researched account of how Tesco has been able to gain such a dominant position in the UK retail sector and the effect that the growth in power of a few retailers combined with a system that allows then to go virtually unchecked has had on our local communities. Early ...
...guilty of some of the accusations he levels against the company though it quickly becomes apparent that Simms finds Tesco particularly abhorrent. It's important to know, however, that Andrew Simms works for a left-wing think tank and is a tireless campaigner on subjects such as global poverty, environmentalism and globalisation. Simms's basic premise is that the increasing dominance of a few companies is bad for both our local communities and the ... Read review

Advantages: Easy read, hard to put down, alternative view from the usual
Disadvantages: Points could summarised better in certain areas

Egotistical, arrogant and ruthless are three words which spring to mind after reading the manner in which Dennis approaches business. The declaration that employees are only useful for two years due to a diminishing rate of productivity shows the hard line approach in which Dennis governs his business. Pride and stubborness are also two unfavourable characteristics which Dennis oozes of throughout the narrration of his life to date. Yet, despite ...
...across as a very astute, intelligent and, at times, likeable character. As the book takes its path the reader becomes drawn into a feeling of sympathy for a man's shallow pursuit of money, irresponsible substance addiction and wasted time in failing to appreciate the more subtle qualities in life. A fascinating read for anyone who wishes to see that sometimes life with vast sums of money is not always a recipe for happiness. ... Read review

Advantages: beauitfully construced in argument and research
Disadvantages: nil

I have worked in the British Mental Health Service for 15 years and I have read many sources on what leads to happiness, what impacts on happiness and ultimately how we can chemically affect happiness, and this is is out there on its own!! Layard and his sources create a book that not only informs the reader on a tangible and readable level, but also offers some sort of hope for policy within a country that is rapidly mimicking the USA's downward ...
...theory and the constant evidence to support this, that we appear to ignore on a daily basis. Layard takes very significant and comprehensive research and presents it in a way that everybody can understand. Every outcome of his points reflect the literature he reviews. No presumtpions are made without substantive evidence. While this could sound overly scientific to the casual reader, it is not. The books strength is, it is VERY READABLE on this, ... Read review