The Way I See it: Rants, Revelations and Rules for Life

by Alan Sugar

Everyone knows that Lord Sugar has strong opinions and is not afraid to voice them - no matter how controversial they may be. His bestselling autobiography revealed his incredible rags to riches story; his new book takes us into the world of Alan Sugar: entrepreneur, Twitter addict, television star, peer of the realm, keen cyclist and bemused grandfather. You'll learn what he thinks of over-priced poncy restaurants and discover his latest weight-loss regime, the Tiny Fork Diet. He explains why would-be entrepreneurs should stop moaning, reveals the secrets of his own success and explains why today's health and safety culture is stifling business, as well as being an insult to our intelligence. He also insists we should stop spouting jargon and speak plain English, tells us what's wrong with teenagers and why he respects Katie Price more than most celebrities. Crammed full of brilliant stories, amusing rants and sound advice, this is the last word on life, the universe and everything from the nation's favourite straight-talking businessman.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Biography, Autobiography, Unfinished, Biography Memoir

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a memoir or autobiography really, but a book where the now Lord Sugar (fancy) opines on a variety of subjects including football, politics, health & fitness, & private aeroplanes to name a few.

Not sure why this was in my TBR pile, must have picked it up at a charity book sale. The sections on football are quite funny & for the most part, right on the money, but others such as politics are definitely dated now (this was published in 2011). A lot of the other stuff basically boils down to 'If I was in charge I'd do this...I'd do that'. There's also no circumstances where it's ok to refer to someone as a hag. Interesting enough for a quick read through but wouldn't read it more than once.

[Kwadwo · Rating 3 out of 5]

WRITING STYLE: 3.5/5

SUBJECT: 4/5

CANDIDNESS: 4.5/5

RELEVANCE: 3.5/5

ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3.5/5

[Theo Kokonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading a few business books of late, so I thought it might prove interesting to to others out there to hear my take on some of them. Normally I’d put my review on amazon.co.uk but their penchant for avoiding taxes is leading me to posting my review here instead. Regardless of the fact that my audience is around 0.1% of theirs! This instalment is Alan Sugar’s “The Way I See It”. An easy book to read, albeit difficult to put down once you get going. 29976204_300x300_1 The writing is fairly easy to follow (I’ve tested this in the field – my early morning commutes greatly reduce my attention span) and has a great layout to follow. You could say it’s a book of curmudgeonly rants, but they’re entertaining nonetheless. It follows various trains of Sugar’s thought but they all seem to follow a logical track. I have absolutely no interest in football, yet his commentary of his time as chairman of Tottenham Hotspur was both enlightening and entertaining. For a change I can now get into a conversation with Jo Blogs about why football clubs are bankrupt yet football player salaries are getting more and more outrageous over time. I love how Sugar’s curmudgeonly approach leads him to say it like it is, with very little sugar coating – excuse the horrific pun! My top-3 include:

Addressing the House of Lords, and taking the mick out of Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, who’s never been in business!
His annoyance at being pitched to by business people on acronym overload. I particularly found it amusing because the advertising industry is rife with this.
His annoyance at business people that complain about the banks not lending to them. His point was that banks would more likely lend to a business where an owner has a stake in the company i.e. has lent some of their own money rather than borrowing everything from the bank.

[Mark Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting more 'ranting' from this... but most of it turned out to be common sense! An enjoyable read with some good tips for life and business.

[NH_Caffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must for a lot of people today, especially the youths (even though I'm not much older than most of them). Love how Alan just tells us about the lost common sense.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a bore! This guy talks about how good he is and how useless everybody else is, and how people claim to have connections to him and they don't . Up himself to say the least .?

[James Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was running out of reading material and found this. Its not the sort of thing that I would buy but my wife occasionally buys books (but never reads them) and this was one of those which was gathering dust. I had a mild dislike of Alan Sugar before reading this and that was not improved as a consequence of consuming this. No, it wasn't his opinions which he is very entitled to have and to voice. In many cases, I'd have to say that I didn't disagree with him. The topics for discussion were also of general interest in most cases. However, the continuous reference to "I," "me," "myself" does begin to wear your patience after a while. It must be terrible to work with someone who never gives credit for the contribution of others. However, perhaps given the title of the book and my prior knowledge of the author, I could have predicted what I was going to find. Not a terrible book but I did look forward to completing it so that I could read something where I would glean a greater deal of enjoyment. Sugar claims that you should stick to what you are good at. Fair point. He should stick to business and stop writing books.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

I loved this! Alan Sugar is controversial and so up front.

I have to admit I skipped a few pages but he expected people to use the book as a tool for propping up a wonky table anyway.

Football just doesn't interest me at all and I grew bored of the airplane chapter too, which again he said people probably would do.

I felt like he was having a conversation with me, it was that much of an easy read.

[Ryan Barretto · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much - why?

There's lots of straight talk, and wisdom available. In fact, I'd say buy this book just because of the chapter on entrepreneurship. The author talks about building a business, entering politics, starting a TV reality show, the media circus that there is, owning a football club and aeroplanes, among other things.

All said and done, the writing was also entertaining.

[M G FAZAL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make it into a film or tv series to benefit the next generation

It's got no BS; straight from the horses mouth.
I think it's important for young people to read him and read Richard Branson - unfortunately in today's climate one needs to see the book as film or tv episodes so that new entrepreneurs ride for the next generation

[Bagingi Agibobo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got to the bit where Alan admits to having an eating disorder without outright saying it and realised he doesn't even know it.

He's smart with business but in a lot of other ways he's pretty retarded "Make it so if people don't pay for the BBC they can't watch it, they'll all come crawling back very soon" might be the funniest thing he's ever said/written

[Joe Stephenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alan Sugar is an opinionated man and has no time for fools, lefties, snowflakes, the wokes, the general public, loonies, numpties etc. This book is a fun and sometimes worrying read, a lot of his opinions are not very politically correct!

Nonetheless, a good toilet read. 3/5

[Gillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly about football and what he watches on TV...:(

[Alfa Solon · Rating 2 out of 5]

20% entrepreneurial lessons, 80% narcissism.

[Matt Cordas · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredible insight into how is life created what he has. No messing attitude and persona

[Leroy Bheki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. I didn't know about Alan Sugar up until I read this book. Forthright and compelling writing that will give you a few chuckles here and there.

[Peter Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read,full of forthright common sense and rants but lots of useful info for those who want to be successful.Of course you need luck too.

[Margaret Enger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and easy to read.

[Solange Hando · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Way I See It by Alan Sugar
Some say the Apprentice is staged but I do watch it (hoping the motivation might rub on) and I do like the man.
So I was given the book for Christmas, a strange choice maybe, as it's all about rants on current issues from footballers' behaviour to the compensation culture or how the government spends our money.
There's plenty of criticism but there are some positive points as well and since each chapter deals with a different issue, you can read them in any order you like and take time to ponder and decide where you stand.
It's written in a no-nonsense style, with a fair dose of humour, and although I don't agree with absolutely everything, it's all food for thought and entertaining.

[Michy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it interesting , sometimes cruel and sometimes funny. Reading this book is quite clear that the writer is an intelligent man, good manager of himself and of the person who lives around him, in term of work and privacy. Sir Sugar is a modern "dandy", cultured, sharp, sometimes gruff and with refined tastes. Nice reading but I don't suggest this book like a Bible: none can be like Sir Sugar, to be like him is something genes-related, 1 book or 100 books like these won't be enough for acting like him.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. I reminded me in some respect of the Jeremy Clarkson books where the authopr is basically telling you what he thinks about lots of different things and eseentially that's what this is, Lord Sugar's take on the world. I enjoyed it but I would imagine some people would think he was a pompous ass who was preaching. I didn't think so and found myself agreeing with his work ethic - be careful work shy dole bludgers, he takes a pop at you lot more than once! Brilliant, cutting and an interesting insight into the mind of one of the biggest entrepreneur's of our generation.

[David Driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Driscoll
It's hard to like Alan sugar I disagree. It's not Alan Sugar people don't like it's his success. What he knows no one else does. So whether your talking about Eva Peron, Madonna, Gloria Hunniford, Maggy Thatcher, Zoe Ball, Tess Daly, Kelly Holmes, Virginia Wade, Donald Trump, Warren Buffett., Richard Branson, They all knew something different. Lord Sugar sold wooden flooring as a youngster to keep people warm and to make money. Entrepreneurs are good at that. Not a bad start for a Tottenham fan. Good for business professionals.

[Lesley Rollins]

Nothing phases Sir Alan. I enjoyed his candid, intelligent perceptions. Particularly those of restaurants and nouvelle cuisine. He takes in holy cows with the diplomacy of a bull frog. But you didn't expect anything less. He never sugar coats anything. That is what I admire about him as a business man - he makes me laugh with his directness. Kudus to him to do a junior version of the apprentice. I think being fired at 10 would scar me for life!!

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, some of the chapters, especially the apprentice ones were very interesting. I love nothing more than a good rant and was pleased with the way he presented his ranting- lots of reasoning. Some chapters were a little dull, the ones about football bored me a little but it still was pretty good.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read with some interesting insight, especially the chapters on football and tv companies. Best bits though are the stories about his businesses and how he got started, not enough of them but I guess he covered that in his autobiography. Might have to read that too.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a book that you read here and there. I do like Lord Sugar but this book just reminded me of a grumpy old man that hates this and hates that.

I think it's more relevant to those that are interested in starting their own business.

[Peter · Rating 1 out of 5]

It does what it says on the tin (or the cover), it's a rant and I found it just about unreadable. What sugar says sometimes makes a lot of sense but the whole books was poorly presented and written. I don't suppose he cares one jot what I think!

[Raisa Aida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord Sugar unique character is from far away well established in this book and I enjoyed every page . He knows how to speak straight and funny at the same time so If you learned not to take someone's opinions personally every single time you will enjoy this book.

[Louise Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think you have to respect the judgement of anybody who is so often right, so I took the time to rethink a couple of my ideas because Alan Sugar was so adamant that X was Y, or whatever.

He's clear. He's direct. What is, is, and get over it. Not bad traits.