Tycoon: How to Be REALLY Rich - Rated 
This is without doubt the worst book I have ever read. Many of my friends have also 'tried' to read it but non have finished it. It is poorly written, disjointed and difficult to follow. Peter Jones should stick to doing what he is good at.....writing books is not it.
Simply Written But That Might Be The Point - Rated 
Peter Jones (I disagree with the previous commenter on this point) is very likeable indeed. But I agree with his other points. Making a lot of money probably isn't that difficult, most of us fail because we are trained to believe it is difficult. Peter Jones does not have a gift for writing well - is prose is awkward in places, but that should give us all a clue, shouldn't it?
Very interesting read - Rated 
In this book Peter Jones, known from Dragons' Den and Tycoon, offers a wealth of useful business advice to people thinking of starting their own firm.
Although Jones is clearly a very successful businessman he wasn't always that way and is very open about the fact that he has lost money before, to the point of sleeping in a friend's flat because he had nowhere else to call home.
The book touches on many aspects of running a business, especially a startup business, and in many ways could be seen as trying to put people off the idea. That is probably no bad thing, it is very hard work getting started - no paid holiday, no paid sickness, and ultimately no pay if things go wrong. Most people who want to simply turn up at work, do what they are told and collect the same paycheque every month regardless are not Tycoon material. Unfortunately many of those people would rather gripe and grouse about how unfair the world is than actually look at their own expectations. I guess it's easier to gripe and moan than actually take action.
It is good to see specific points being raised and direct questions asked - Jones challenges the reader to ask whether they are prepared for the inevitable sacrifices that running a business will require and, if they are not, suggests that now is not the time to attempt it.
While I agree with the earlier reviewer who said they might not invite the author around for tea I must admit I find myself intrigued by what makes him tick - enough to join him for a glass of wine if not for dinner!
Actually good and worth buying - Rated 
It seems Rachel Bridge did help him at the start and a writer called Cheryl Rickman seems to have helped him write the book (see the acknowlegements at the front of the book). I guess that's why it's so well written and easy to digest, how on earth could he find the time to do it himself, alongside the TV show and running and investing in all these other businesses? Most of these books are written by ghostwriters.
Good review Peter Wade. Not sure I'd invite him to tea either, but the advice is easy to understand and I like the inclusion of his failures or 'feedbacks' as well as his successes.
Well written, good advice, worth buying.
I agree about the tycoon TV series. Contestants were lame. They should do a UK inventor show like American inventor if thats doing so well.
How to turn dreams into millions - Rated 
How to turn dreams into millions
I am a consumer of business books. Peter Jones claims not to read them If it is true he has some very good collaborators. He thanks Rachel Bridge who writes for the Sunday Times and has written a couple of excellent business books so I believe she might have helped out.
The book is a mix of business advice and anecdote. I favour the life story as a business example type of book. Duncan Bannatyne's book was excellent for instance as it described his life and how he made it.
This book was obviously to go along side Tycoon the television series. It unfortunately flopped because it did not have the tension of The Apprentice or the interest and total madness of Dragon's Den. Ultimately I did not care about the characters enough.
The winner did a very good job but you would have bet on him from the beginning.
1 He already sold gadgets on a market stall so he knew how to sell and knew his market.
2 He didn't invent anything
3 He didn't make anything. He bought in a very good product from China and sold it.
He made a lot of money in six weeks. It didn't really prove that Peter Jones could find someone with a good idea and turn them into a Tycoon.The only think Tycoon might have done for the winner was give him a tough timetableto work with and guidance as to how to do it.
He had the skills and the programme brought them out. He could have done it without Per Jones help but he didn't. The moaners always say. I could have done that or it wasn't an original idea. If so get on with it.....
Tycoon Tip Change your perception of failure.
He says don't acknowledge the existence of the word failure but calls it feedback instead. " In fact I believe that there are no failures in this world, only events that give you feedback.You can see what he means but most of us have as much feedback as we can stomach.
I am not a failure I am the victim of too much feedback.
In make a commitment he tells you that if you are your own boss you will "Not be paid when you go on holiday or are ill, at least no tin the formative years. " This is the biggest divider in society. The best way to cure illness is to be self employed. Unfortunately in a world where most people get paid whether they work of not it can be hard work to make money.
When people go into business they believe that they have to be the cheapest and best or otherwise they will not make it . he points out that people buy from people.
Most people in business fail because they keep it all in their head. If you are disorganised and not thinking clearly because you haven't documented anything then you will end up creating a company that acts in the same way, it will be disorganised and ineffective. I have met plenty of those companies. Alan Sugar boasts that he does not need administrators but salesmen and creative thinkers but without the humble administrator even he could not run a business. It is unsexy and boring and that is why so many people fail.
He sets out his many failures which is good but sometimes when you see him you feel that he thinks he knows all the answers. He says " No one has the Golden touch and anyone who thinks that whatever they do is inevitably going to turn into gold is foolishly mistaken.
Overall a pretty good book. The moaners don't like it because they are jealous that Peter Jones may lack charisma and likeability and comes across as pompous that somehow he is unworthy. His success shows us all up. The only reason we haven't made it is that we wallow in our failures( or feedback) and don't go out there and work hard enough at it.
He hasn't got the golden touch but he will point you in the right direction. His TV programme was flop but his US television idea American Inventor seemingly is doing very well indeed.
His ten Golden rules are
1 Have a vision
2 Use your influence
3 Build your confidence
4 Make a commitment
5 Take action
6 Aim for results
7 Get your timing right
8 Persevere
9 Be caring
10 Use your intuition
In a recent Sunday Times interview he is not coy about how much he earns or what he spends it on. That would upset a lot of people as the rich in Britain are supposed to be shy and retiring about their wealth.
I admire the bloke but I won't be inviting him round for tea.
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