Lunch with the FT: A Second Helping

by Lionel Barber

Lunch with the Financial Times has been a permanent fixture in the Financial Times for almost 25 years, featuring presidents, film stars, musical icons and business leaders from around the world. The column is now as well-established institution which has reinvigorated the art of conversation in the convivial, intimate environment of a long boozy lunch.

On its 25th anniversary, Lunch with the Financial Times 2 will showcase the most entertaining, incisive and fascinating interviews from the past five years including those with Donald Trump, Sheryl Sandberg, Richard Branson, Yanis Varoufakis, Zadie Smith, Nigel Farage, Russell Brand and David Guetta, illustrated in full colour with James Ferguson's famous portraits.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Business

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2019

Reviews

[Szymon Chojnowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

przyjemne w czytaniu, można znaleźć dobre przesłania z niektórych wywiadów

[Martin Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic ! Gained an incredible depth of insight into a lot of very interesting people. Good to read 1 per session and spend time thinking about the person, what they've done etc. A great slow read. Will be rereading most of these lunch time chats

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remains my favorite interview series to date. Looked forward every evening to reading an interview with a leader in business, arts, culture and more. Perhaps it was most enjoyable judging their choice in food on FT’s dime.

[KD · Rating 5 out of 5]

illuminating. I think this volume is even better than the first. Really enjoyed this and couldn’t put it down. The print book is a lovely object in hardback, too.

A lot of interviews with a lot of really fascinating people here. Thankfully, most are good and aspirational people. A few are less savoury characters, but the interviewers were discreet in allowing the reader to conclude on their stance on these characters (dictators etc.). It’s quite amazing what one can learn from just a short lunch with someone. Rather, what one reveals about oneself.

My only complaint is that unfortunately my to-read list has grown significantly, as most of the 42 interviewees have their own books out, too!

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable read, featuring excellent writing and interviews with a range of (mostly) well known people. 'Lunch with the FT' is a section in the Financial Times' weekend paper, where an FT staffer interviews a prominent person over lunch.
The interviews selected for this anthology included politicians, business people, writers, footballers and social media influencers. Although some of the interviews go back to 2013, this in itself is insightful. Donald Trump's blatant narcissism is telling, while Elon Musk does not seem to be the (publicly at least) malevolent figure that he has become. This book also introduced me to new people, such as the French writer Leila Silimani, or the Nigerian magnate Aliko Dangote. I found the interview with Alexi Navalny particularity poignant, given his death in a Russian prison last year, against the backdrop of increasing oppression and war being persecuted by Putin.

[Joseph Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.

It is what it says on the tin. If that intrigues you, read it.

Interviews are short and sweet - good for some interviewees but simply leaves you wanting much more for others. For every person you know, there is one you vaguely know and two you don't know at all. I see this as a positive, as an expansion of knowledge, but others might see it as wasted paper, and interviews to be skipped. I get that perspective too, for sure.

[Viktor O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is all about the most creative minds in business, culture, politics. These leaders have one thing in common, they achieved their life goals due to the reading of Wealth Management Time book by Viktor O. Ledenyov and Dimitri O. Ledenyov!!!

[Claire Harrop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Perfect for dipping into and if you want to read something interesting and intellectual but not don't have the mental bandwidth to commit.

[Stephen Chase · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the fuck, Financial Times?!!!!! This is a bad sequel, the worst ever!!!!!!!!!

[Rahul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful read. I have always loved the Lunch with FT section so much so I have considered subscribing FT.
Looking forward to the Third installment already.

[Billy]

Wasn't aware of the 2nd compilation of Lunch with the FT. A very light-hearted read of visionaries in their respective fields.

[Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great, I really enjoyed it

[ivy]

*only angelina jolie, gwyneth Paltrow & zoella

[Krzysztof Mirkiewicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spodziewałem się znacznie więcej ciekawostek a dostałem masę opisów dań. Niemniej jednak zawsze warto poznać punkt widzenia, czy też urywek historii ciekawych ludzi

[Kristofer Grattan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of interviews.

[Michael Bernard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat dated. Too many unknowns and idiots (Musk, Farage). Some gems, of course.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weinig zegt zo veel over een mens als wat (en hoe) hij eet.

[Russell Chee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Again, these aren't really that insightful. The word that comes to mind is ... complicit.