The autobiographical narrative of the book makes the reader instantly ‘bond’ with the author, particularly as the narrative talks about genuine hardships faced by many of us and does not sugar coat the realities of our lives. I found the author’s account of the difficulties he faced and his own fears and inadequacies to deal with issues in his early career quite honest. By not coming across as a ‘super-man’ the author allows others to relate to his experiences and therefore develop more trust in his advice. The most important contribution of the book is the marrying of the ‘technical’ with the ‘personal’, where theoretical concepts are presented, with the importance of the cultures and the society we come from. In doing this Maurice has been able to focus on a vital ingredient that is missing from most innovation/ entrepreneurship literature: that the culture we live in defines who we are and how we fail or succeed.
I highly recommend this book. It will resonate with both the young and those mid career, and its lessons are those of real life. They are immediately relatable, and a reality. They are not superficial; this is not another self-help book. It starts with a promise to open up the ‘black-box’ and by the end it does succeed.
Masuma Farooki
Resources Policy Consultant, SNL Metals and Mining Group
S&P Global Market Intelligence
London, United Kingdom