Book info

• Title Screw It, Let's Do It
• Author Richard Branson
• Year 2006
• Genre Business

Throughout my life I have achieved many remarkable things. In Screw It, Let's Do It, I will share with you my ideas and the secrets of my success, but not simply because I hope they'll help you achieve your individual goals. Today we are increasingly aware of the effects of our actions on the environment, and I strongly believe that we each have a responsibility, as individuals and organisations, to do no harm. I will draw on Gaia Capitalism to explain why we need to take stock of how we may be damaging the environment, and why it is up to big companies like Virgin to lead the way in a more holistic approach to business.

Thoughts

Richard Branson takes you through some very important lessons that will teach you what you need to be successful, whether it be in a particular project, in business, or just in life. He uses a real life example to illustrate each point he is trying to make, such as the time he flew a balloon across the Atlantic. What went wrong? Did they make it? Obviously, I am not going to spoil it for you. It is not really a biography, as the true stories are just there to emphasise the lesson Branson is trying to get across, and therefore, he skims the details and does’t really let you get inside his head. But, like I told someone who complained about this point, he has an actual biography for that.

Richard Branson is the writer and the main hero of each story. The actual book, however, is aimed at you. Making you a better person and making you think about what you really want from life and how best to get it. The stories illustrate just how innovative and successful Richard Branson has been in his life and his business. Although you can’t help but feel a little bit envious about his wealth and success (okay, a LOT envious), it really does appear that it couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke. There isn’t a time when he seems patronising or condescending. At every single opportunity, the book is encouraging and you really feel that Branson wants you to do well.

The book is a Quick Read, so the writing is big and it didn’t take me long to read it. It did leave me wanting more, which means that the way Branson writes is interesting and illuminating. I feel like I might go out and pick up his biography now. Each section starts with a few short, and to the point, motivational sentences that lead into the chapter. If you only take away these few sentences from this book, it will be a half hour well spent.

Rating: 4 / 5