In the business fiction book the characters Topaz and Rowena become best friends at Oxford. However both are determined to succeed in their chosen careers, but they turn into rivals when Rowena steals Topaz's man, and thereafter each is determined to sabotage the other in both their professional and private lives, they become bitter enemies. I liked Topaz because she made it in her career by will-power and sheer determination.

                                                              

As it says on the blurb on the front cover of this business fiction book, Takeover gives an exhilarating view of how business really works at board level and sounds a salutary warning to acquisition-hungry businesses: if you think acquisitions are an easy route to growth, think again.

As one of the main character's of the book, Jim Crawford feels and says months after the events had run their course: "all the excitement of not knowing. I suppose it's part of being a gambler; you set everything up, you make your preparations, you think you know the odds, the chances, you have the resolve to make your play and put your money down, but you can't ever know how the game will come out.  Not that I want to say that corporate life is anything like a casino."

TakeOver
by: Peter Waine and Mike Walker
Published by: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, England

     From an early age on most weekends and holidays I was placed in front of the television to watch most of the war films that was shown and the repeats.  It came to a point that anyone who showed me the TV guide of another one I said "seen it" much to their chagrin.   

Therefore Sun Tzu was correct when he states "....the ideal general wins the war before the fighting begins.  He does this in two ways: first, he develops his character over time, second, he creates a critical strategic advantage.  In Chinese philosophy, character is the foundation of leadership.  People with superior character become superior leaders.  But a general's character can not be developed overnight.  Hence, people who want to lead must cultivate the characteristics of leadership over a long period of time. 

A general gains a critical strategic advantage by placing his organisation in a position where it cannot be defeated and waiting for the enemy to give him an opportunity to win.  He does this by managing information.  An ideal general makes no mistakes.  An ideal general is patient.   An ideal general is inscrutable...."

There are some classic business books that are worthwhile in reprinting over again for business as well as its teachings about life.

Sun Tzu: The Art of War for Executives
by Donald G. Krause
Published by: Nicholas Brealey Publishing

   In Roman times the mystery of understanding banking and getting a book published can lead to frustrated clients and the object of their afflictions or affections is usually money and words.  Delving into any of these areas can either lead a person to success or astray. 

An extract reads: "....What about their own credit?" I asked dryly, "Banks can fail", "Ooh! Hush; don't use such filthy language!" "So what is his speciality?"  "Loans with interest", Nothokleptes told me.  His tone of voice would have been more suitable for saying the man had had intercourse with a pet mule.  "Sorry - what's the difference?"  "Depends on the rates.  Usury stinks"   "What rates does the Aurelian Bank demand?" "12% is the legal maximum Falco".  "And five is more decent nowadays. You are implying they are tough?" "I can not comment" replies Nothokleptes...." 

Falco's feelings of other scroll authors and his competitors in his business profession was usually rewarded with sardonic witticism such as "Marcus old friend" his thoughts of this greeting by Anacrites was that "....when he sounded affable I could cheerfully have turned him upside down and placed him where the wild dogs come to pee...." 

Ode To A Banker
by Lindsey Davis
Published by: Century at Random House, London

                                                 
  So engrossed with this biography about John Law and his innovation of money-making and gambling that I have re-read this book.

John Law sparked the first international stock-market boom in the 18th century, he had also sparked the first global crash.   His discussions with those around him regarding money gave him a sounding board for ideas.  An extract says:

"... I made him see that he was mistaken in believing that luxury in England was to be feared.  Luxury is not to be feared unless it makes the state a debtor to other countries, by a consumption of foreign goods which exceeded the debit of export goods.  But if industry improves in a larger proportion than luxury, and if the balance sheet overall between the countries is larger than it has ever been then the state is in a most flourishing situation....."

Pioneers usually end up with arrows in their backs and John Law had those too.  However in this genius of a maverick his ambitions were daring, his womanising and duels is the genre of romantic legend.  His gambling was one of a prepared master on the turn of a playing card yet he had mathematical brillance.

John Law exuded a glamorous, dangerous magnetism.  Women were taken by his impeccable dress, charming manners and sexual charisma.  Men viewed him by the ease with which he was able to demystify complex subjects, his nonchalant wit and willingness to linger for hours over games of cards and dice. 

But also the book says "...his ideas and actions invest his life with far more significance than that of a beguiling and ambitious playboy; the things Law made happen still have resonance today...." 

The MoneyMaker
by Janet Glesson
Published by: Transworld Publishers, London

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