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37th out of 196 books
—
136 voters
Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way
"Oh, screw it, let's do it."
That's the philosophy that has allowed Richard Branson, in slightly more than twenty-five years, to spawn so many successful ventures. From the airline business (Virgin Atlantic Airways), to music (Virgin Records and V2), to cola (Virgin Cola), to retail (Virgin Megastores), and nearly a hundred others, ranging from financial services to bridal...more
That's the philosophy that has allowed Richard Branson, in slightly more than twenty-five years, to spawn so many successful ventures. From the airline business (Virgin Atlantic Airways), to music (Virgin Records and V2), to cola (Virgin Cola), to retail (Virgin Megastores), and nearly a hundred others, ranging from financial services to bridal...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
October 19th 1999
by Crown Business
(first published October 6th 1998)
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Ричард Брэнсон – великий и ужасный бизнесмен, британский миллионер, основатель и рулевой брэнда Virgin. «Теряя невинность» - это откровение миллионера. В книге нет ни грамма пафоса и пижонства, нет гимна собственной изворотливости. Брэнсон поразительно открыт и чист, не таясь, он делится переживаниями, повествует о просчетах, предлагает разделить радость успеха. Жизнь Брэнсона достойна экранизации, его задор заслуживает уважения, упрямство и целеустремленность – зависти. Основная мысль книги «Те...more
Loosing My Virginity
Excellent autobiography. Mr. Branson has a lot in common with Sam Walton and Ray Crock, except Mr. Branson has a more magnetic personality that he's used to his advantage in the age of mass media. Like all great men, he is a man of his time, and used his adventurous rebellious persona to promote himself and his brand.
His story is insightful, motivational, and more importantly - useful.
Like Walton and Crock, Branson's growth always was happening with bankers in the background...more
Excellent autobiography. Mr. Branson has a lot in common with Sam Walton and Ray Crock, except Mr. Branson has a more magnetic personality that he's used to his advantage in the age of mass media. Like all great men, he is a man of his time, and used his adventurous rebellious persona to promote himself and his brand.
His story is insightful, motivational, and more importantly - useful.
Like Walton and Crock, Branson's growth always was happening with bankers in the background...more
Ričards Brensons ir britu miljardieris, viens no pasaules veiksmīgākajiem uzņēmējiem. Savā autobiogrāfijā viņš apraksta savas skolas gaitas, pirmos soļus biznesā un sava uzņēmuma „Virgin” dibināšanu. Šajā grāmatā nav rakstīts kā ātri un daudz nopelnīt naudu, bet gan, ko cilvēks ar savu entuziasmu un smagu darbu var paveikt visas pasaules labā.
Reti kurš nezinās šo cilvēku. Viņa vārds ir zināms viņa gaisa balonu lidojumu dēļ, kosmosa tūrisma un „Virgin” impērijas dēļ.
Bieži nenākas lasīt tik aizrau...more
Reti kurš nezinās šo cilvēku. Viņa vārds ir zināms viņa gaisa balonu lidojumu dēļ, kosmosa tūrisma un „Virgin” impērijas dēļ.
Bieži nenākas lasīt tik aizrau...more
"I am yet to read an autobiography of an entrepreneur, which has been written so magnetically. It feels like that I was very much a part of Sir Richard Branson's journey from his boyhood to being one of century's most successful and chic business man, who happens to be having his feet firmly entrenched on the ground. Richard's humble beginning and the numerous sticky situations that he got into during the initial period of his entrepreneurial endeavors, did not deter him from reaching the awesom...more
Entertaining to read, however I would have preferred some more detail in terms of how he started the huge number of businesses he has started. The book tends to gloss over the actual day-to-day events, and mentions many of the Virgin companies only in passing.
Also, I would love to read a biography of Branson written by someone else, as I have the nagging suspicion that Branson's care-free and child-like public image is covering a cunning, ruthless, opportunistic and manipulative arbiter undernea...more
Also, I would love to read a biography of Branson written by someone else, as I have the nagging suspicion that Branson's care-free and child-like public image is covering a cunning, ruthless, opportunistic and manipulative arbiter undernea...more
Richard Branson - the name itself invokes a vivid figure of liveliness, merriment and live life like king size attitude. His autobiography takes you through his entrepreneurial student life, his heady cash strapped days of Virgin Music expansion, his love life, his decision making process, his cross roads in life, his struggles, his failures, his mega successes, his battles and much more. The book presents Richard'��s candor, anecdotes and his attitude on platter to relish. I was surprised to kn...more
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Great read. Branson is another great entrepreneur.
There are some parallels between Branson (choosing artists) and Buffet (choosing companies).
Eventually Branson branched out and started funding a variety of companies, probably because he also noticed the parallels.
It's an interesting read, but there is not much from Branson's case that can be applied to other entrepreneurial endeavors, outside of his overall FEARLESS attitude.
Less relevant than classics like:
Made In America or Grinding It Out:...more
There are some parallels between Branson (choosing artists) and Buffet (choosing companies).
Eventually Branson branched out and started funding a variety of companies, probably because he also noticed the parallels.
It's an interesting read, but there is not much from Branson's case that can be applied to other entrepreneurial endeavors, outside of his overall FEARLESS attitude.
Less relevant than classics like:
Made In America or Grinding It Out:...more
Вчера вечерта привърших автобиографичната книга на Ричард Брансън – Как изгубих наивността си. В нея той разказва неговите премеждия, преживявания и успехи от началото на съзнателният му живот до 2007 год. Роден по времето на хипарството, класическият рок и “свободната любов“, той придава този дух на конгломерата „Virgin Group“, който създава и управлява вече над 40 години.
Първото му бизнес начинание е студентското и ученическо списание „Student“, като 2 години работят в едно тъмно мазе на един...more
Първото му бизнес начинание е студентското и ученическо списание „Student“, като 2 години работят в едно тъмно мазе на един...more
My first autobiography perhaps,
The book provides a really enjoyable account of Richard Branson's journey from a wonderfully talented albeit rebellious kid to being the driving force behind a multi-billion dollar conglomerate.
Synonymous with his reputation, the book is filled with stories of his daredevil exploits not only in the upper reaches of the atmosphere as a hot-air ballooning enthusiast but also on the business front where Branson defies conventional wisdom to emerge on top.
Though one ma...more
The book provides a really enjoyable account of Richard Branson's journey from a wonderfully talented albeit rebellious kid to being the driving force behind a multi-billion dollar conglomerate.
Synonymous with his reputation, the book is filled with stories of his daredevil exploits not only in the upper reaches of the atmosphere as a hot-air ballooning enthusiast but also on the business front where Branson defies conventional wisdom to emerge on top.
Though one ma...more
A thoroughly enjoyable, intimate, and inspiring account of one of the world's greatest entrepreneurs. An excellent mix of business, adventure, and personal anecdote keep the book fresh and engaging. However, despite offering a detailed view of his business philosophy and practices, the scale of his achievements, and the persistence and confidence with which they are executed are still beyond understanding. In fact, the highly personalised delivery masks the reality that his endeavours are suppor...more
(personal notes, wouldn't fit in private notes section)
Sir Richard Branson's autobiography. Very surprised at how amicable a person Branson is - I mistook him to be a cocky, entrepreneurial jerk, but I was absolutely wrong about that. He clearly enjoys sleeping around, but that aside, he is a very pleasant and great person with incredible accomplishments.
He never raises his voice even in the face of adversity such as libelous newspapers and lawsuits.
As anyone in my office knows when I've lost it...more
Sir Richard Branson's autobiography. Very surprised at how amicable a person Branson is - I mistook him to be a cocky, entrepreneurial jerk, but I was absolutely wrong about that. He clearly enjoys sleeping around, but that aside, he is a very pleasant and great person with incredible accomplishments.
He never raises his voice even in the face of adversity such as libelous newspapers and lawsuits.
As anyone in my office knows when I've lost it...more
I have to say that this is one of the best autobiographies I have ever read. I've read a lot, and a lot of them have been 'celebrity' ones, some by people that probably don't have much of a story to tell when they are so young. And also all of Katie Price's memoirs but this book is an actual life story and deserves to be titled an autobiography. It's a mammoth read and I actually started reading it in paperback well over a year ago but only finished it this week on Kindle. But it was easy to pic...more
I stayed enthralled and read the entire book in almost two days.Richard Branson,founder of the Virgin business empire, is a father of risk taker,a paragon of entrepreneurship, and a genius who has inspired English culture and lifestyles.
This book includes the birth of Virgin records, Virgin Atlantic Airways,Virgin Music and many more such astounding ventures.
He's life filled with challenges, interesting adventures, dreadful crises and stupendous money.
The splendid lessons I conned from this bo...more
This book includes the birth of Virgin records, Virgin Atlantic Airways,Virgin Music and many more such astounding ventures.
He's life filled with challenges, interesting adventures, dreadful crises and stupendous money.
The splendid lessons I conned from this bo...more
1 like · like · see review
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Dec 16, 2010
Bistra Ivanova
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nonfiction,
biography
Донякъде интересна, защото все пак е голяма работа да се изгради _империя_ като Върджин от нулата само за 20-30 години, но от друга страна съвсем незадоволителна откъм детайли как точно става всичко. В един момент той се опитва да вземе заем от някъде от 300 хил паунда, а в следващия - от 60 млн паунда. И въобще - подробности по самото разрастване липсват, както и това, което стои зад големите решения, освен да му бъде "забавно" на господин предприемача.
Твърде много място бе отделено на конкрет...more
Твърде много място бе отделено на конкрет...more
I have recently completed reading Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs and it was an interesting counterpoint to Richard Branson’s biography. Both were extremely successful entrepreneurs, but how different they are/were.
Steve Jobs (according to Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers) was the right person, in the right place at the right time. This allowed him to build products better than anyone else because he saw the “forest” where everyone else just saw the trees. His view of the world was very bla...more
Steve Jobs (according to Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers) was the right person, in the right place at the right time. This allowed him to build products better than anyone else because he saw the “forest” where everyone else just saw the trees. His view of the world was very bla...more
Read a passel of bios this year. Isaacson's Steve Jobs was just before this and didn't enjoy nearly as much as this book. Even though I am an Apple uber fan boi.
I enjoyed this tale of Virgin business. Richard Branson is a good story teller. I think his life has been worthy of telling. Most Americans are not that familiar with Mr. B and his Virgin Company's. I had heard of his dyslexia, but the telling of his early life in boarding school was mind blowing to me. Not to mention the fishing trip t...more
I enjoyed this tale of Virgin business. Richard Branson is a good story teller. I think his life has been worthy of telling. Most Americans are not that familiar with Mr. B and his Virgin Company's. I had heard of his dyslexia, but the telling of his early life in boarding school was mind blowing to me. Not to mention the fishing trip t...more
A lot of CEOs have written, or had written for them, biographies extolling their extraordinary lives, their struggles to reach the top, the secrets of their incredible business acumen. Very few of them ever made as much money as Richard Branson, and none of them ever had so much fun with it.
Branson is the most amazing character, highly focussed but with a vast range of interests, a James Bond in a jumper. But what really makes him unique among the captains of stratospheric enterprise is that he...more
Branson is the most amazing character, highly focussed but with a vast range of interests, a James Bond in a jumper. But what really makes him unique among the captains of stratospheric enterprise is that he...more
Certainly, Richard Branson has led the kind of life that autobiographies were made for. The amount of near-death experiences alone make this infinitely more than the usual business-building paperback recounting. What I particularly like about this, though, is that it sounds extremely autobiographical, by which I mean that the voice is utterly authentic throughout. There are things that perhaps ought not to be in this book, there are sections that are confusing, that drag, there are scenes here a...more
What a tight, gripping, exciting and fun autobiography of maybe the only hippie billionaire in history. After having read the thorough and almost academic biographies of John D. Rockefeller and Steve Jobs, this is a completely different beast altogether. The difference? Its fun! The book has humour, adventure, excitement, tragedy. It even has a villain (Lord King, the CEO of British Airways). What else could one wish for?
It is clear, that unlike the deadpan serious Rockefeller or the charismatic...more
It is clear, that unlike the deadpan serious Rockefeller or the charismatic...more
I had always been curious about Branson. After all he's basically a self-made millionaire, adventurer and basically the closest thing we really have to Batman in the real world :-P . In this very sincere book Sir Richard opens up and tells the story of his life from teenage years to about 1994 including personal life, adventuring and business. The start of his empire and how he grew it from nothing to an major empire while always having fun and trying to do the right thing. He's even sincere abo...more
Fantastic account of Richard Branson's excitement-filled life and boundless business accomplishments. It's incredible to read how many times he came so close to loosing it all! His is definitely a non-traditional business style, and yet, he shares the same advice as so many other successful people: do what you love and what is fun, rather than just chasing the money, because that will come in time. While I was amazed by his constant desire to beat world records with adrenaline-pumping feats, I a...more
I hv long admired branson, so in 2000, when i saw this book at a footpath wala in CP in Delhi, i immediately latched on to it!
The book is an immensely enjoyable, almost no holds barred autobiography of Branson's mercurial rise from a school drop out to the owner of Virgin Atlantic and many other companies, n how he kept building n rebuilding his businesses despite all odds.
Branson has spared nobody, including himself, nor has he let go of any chance to remember those who stood by him!
However, i...more
The book is an immensely enjoyable, almost no holds barred autobiography of Branson's mercurial rise from a school drop out to the owner of Virgin Atlantic and many other companies, n how he kept building n rebuilding his businesses despite all odds.
Branson has spared nobody, including himself, nor has he let go of any chance to remember those who stood by him!
However, i...more
3 likes · like · see review
c2002. I picked this up at a fete as I had seen it on sale in bargain baskets, charity shops etc etc. It seems that this was one of those books that people seem to buy for other people as a present (albeit clearly unwanted). I knew some things about the birth of Virgin and some of the problems with the business but it was interesting to get some more of the detail. I am not sure whether it was because I am somewhat cynical about Branson and the growth of Virgin but around the half way mark I sta...more
This book was absolutely phenomenal. If you ever want to live your life vicariously through a book, this would be the one to do it with. This might be my favorite book ever. It is so incredibly inspirational as well as fascinating and captivating. I was ensnared from the prologue. I lost sleep, read on the subway, I even read walking the streets of Times Square! It was amazing! It was written very well, and tells a great story. This autobiography goes through all of his life, generally chronolog...more
What a fun and crazy guy. I could only wish to be as adventurous and entrepeneurial as Richard. You learn the importance of chasing your passion and taking calculated risks. You won't want to put it down although you will because it's long, but worth it. I'll read this again.
What I learned:
-he makes a list everyday of who to call or follow up with on a sheet of paper
-maverick
-just by asking yourself a question, you give yourself an answer
-he has no rigid vision...just expansive
-leverages his mo...more
What I learned:
-he makes a list everyday of who to call or follow up with on a sheet of paper
-maverick
-just by asking yourself a question, you give yourself an answer
-he has no rigid vision...just expansive
-leverages his mo...more
Must-read to fully realize how far one can push the limits. Some of Richard's feats are so unbelievable, half the book reads like a fiction.
Aug 02, 2009
Leonardo Etcheto
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
MBA students
Recommended to Leonardo by:
Daniel Etcheto
Very interesing book for me mainly for two reasons:
1. His keen insight followed by hardwork style is refreshingly different from the super strategy and analysis focus from the MBA courses. A happy medium is my preference.
2. His story of the battle with British Airways resonated with me as being very similar as the one my own family firm is engaged in. Better and cheaper product stymied by the system. Ditto for the experience with Bankers - when you need them they hang you out to dry, when you do...more
1. His keen insight followed by hardwork style is refreshingly different from the super strategy and analysis focus from the MBA courses. A happy medium is my preference.
2. His story of the battle with British Airways resonated with me as being very similar as the one my own family firm is engaged in. Better and cheaper product stymied by the system. Ditto for the experience with Bankers - when you need them they hang you out to dry, when you do...more
Surely a fun filled reading. The book vividly gives the account of all the adventures and ups and downs of the famous entrepreneur of Great Britain. The book covers Richards success in music industry, the first virgin store where he made his identity with, also the way he signed up the star musicians for virgin records, to the time he believes in investing in diversified portfolio. The most interesting part is when he describes his adventures on the way to promoting virgin airlines, by doing cra...more
truly inspiring and fun to read. building an empire from scratch and kicking the bullies on the way to the top.
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Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin brand of over 360 companies. Branson's first successful business venture was at age 16, when he published a magazine called Student. He then set up a record mail-order business in 1970. In 1972, he opened a chain of record stores, Virgin Records, later known as Virgin Megastores and rebranded as zavvi in...more
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“Most "necessary evils" are far more evil than necessary.”
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“In the same way that I tend to make up my mind about people within thirty seconds of meeting them, I also make up my mind about whether a business proposal excites me within about thirty seconds of looking at it. I rely far more on gut instinct than researching huge amounts of statistics.”
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