Delighted to have ‘The Man Who Never Sleeps’ reviewed by The Sunday Times.
Author David Walker and The Man Who Never Sleeps, Tom Bell (right) at the launch of Tom’s autobiography. The Sunday Times described it as ‘…an engaging read…’ with ‘…some great drama and detail..’
Jonathan Northcroft, Football Correspondent of The Sunday Times, doesn’t pull any punches as he writes about what he likes – and doesn’t like – about the autobiography of Tom Bell:
‘David Walker has done a great job with the book and made it an engaging read on a figure who had a big role to play at a key and controversial moment in UK newspaper industry history.
As a journalist but also someone who lived through those times as a kid, I was most interested in the inside view it provided on Rupert Murdoch and his thinking when fighting the print unions. There’s some great detail and drama in those scenes. Tom Bell was the logistics guy who delivered for Murdoch, before going on to be a very successful corporate beast himself.
I certainly don’t share Tom Bell’s worldview – I didn’t end up particularly liking him – but the author makes him appealing by drawing out the fun side, the escapades and plenty of football bits.’
When the world’s most powerful media mogul wanted to revolutionise Britain’s national newspaper industry he turned to Tom Bell for help.
Tom Bell was instrumental in ensuring Rupert Murdoch’s switching of his News International empire to Wapping, East London, was a success.
Rupert Murdoch was hell bent on wresting power away from the unions and freeing his News International business from the malevolent stranglehold of left wing activists. The infamous Wapping Dispute of the mid-1980s represented the biggest gamble of Murdoch’s life. It hinged on whether he could get tens of millions of newspapers past thousands of militant pickets. Tom Bell made it happen. He was indefatigable.
It was the beginning of the end of ‘Fleet Street’, but another chapter in the remarkable rise of a man born into poverty, but destined for the top.
Pre-orders and favourable reviews of The Man Who Never Sleeps have been in abundance before the book goes on general sale in early April.
Tom Bell has been a catalyst for many a change throughout his 67-years. As a child he would scavenge on bitterly cold, windswept beaches for sea coal, to stave off the worst of freezing Scottish winters.
Violence outside Fortress Wapping as Tom Bell masterminded plans to ensure millions of copies of The Sun, The News Of The World, The Times and The Sunday Times got through the picket lines manned by thousands of striking print workers and union militants.
Adversity only served to fuel his relentless determination to better himself. Hard work, talent and sheer bloody mindedness, saw him go from driving a lorry to clocking up millions upon millions of pounds in profits as a ground-breaking ‘Captain of Industry’.
His uncanny ability to make money changed the lives of tens of thousands of mentally, physically and socially disadvantaged children, exploits that earned him a date with The Queen and an OBE.
The Man Who Never Sleeps – written by David Walker – the autobiography of Tom Bell OBE – has been dropping through the letter boxes of hundreds of readers in recent weeks.
Ruthless and compassionate in equal measure, a maverick who didn’t suffer fools gladly, Tom Bell grabbed every opportunity that came his way. From a bleak tenement in Kirkcaldy, to a lifestyle mixing with royalty, sports celebrities and icons from films and music, his story is an inspirational tale of rags to riches, based on a mantra of work hard and play hard.
Published by The Book Guild, ‘The Man Who Never Sleeps’, featured at The London Book Fair and been the focus of a prime drive time interview and discussion on Talk Radio Europe in recent weeks. The book has already gone to reprint just 13 days after publication.
What they’re saying about ‘The Man Who Never Sleeps’…
‘If you enjoyed the biographies of Dragons’ Den entrepreneurs Duncan Bannantyne and Peter Jones, then this one will be right up your street.’
‘Utterly absorbing…I loved the pacy, conversational writing style.’
‘A great read and so emotional, a blueprint and inspiration for what young people can achieve with the right attitude.’
‘I loved the style of writing throughout – just the right amount of humour injected into a ‘full on’ career in one of the most cut throat industries.’
‘Great read. Punchy and honest.’
‘In an age when every other book on the biographies shelf is about a ‘celebrity’, it’s a refreshing change to read about a ‘real person’.’
‘Excellent read – a true story of what can be achieved through old fashioned hard work – littered with some light hearted moments.’
The Man Who Never Sleeps represents David Walker’s book-writing debut. His second book, focusing on the financial pyramid of English football and the vagaries, pitfalls and triumphs of football club ownership, is already underway.
Even as someone who stays well appraised of news and current affairs, I have to admit that prior to this time yesterday I hadn’t heard of Jo Cox, Labour MP for Batley & Spen.
Tragically, like millions of people the world over, I am now all too aware of this wonderful woman, following her brutal murder.
Yorkshire born & bred – Labour MP Jo Cox who was brutally murdered yesterday.
The overwhelming outpouring of love, warmth, admiration and respect from those who knew Jo, gives the rest of us an insight into a truly lovely, compassionate, intelligent, gifted and tenacious lady.
Pure evil has robbed us all of a dynamic bundle of energy – a force for good – a politician who refused to be pigeon-holed by petty party politics, an individual who just wanted to make a positive difference.
Rising political star – Jo Cox was destined to shine in Parliament for many years to come.
The tributes following her death have gone way beyond the perfunctory sympathies expressed by politicians when a fellow Member of Parliament dies.
The killing of Jo Cox has shocked a nation, left her family, friends and colleagues grief-stricken and touched the hearts of those who didn’t know her personally or, until 24 hours ago, were ignorant of a Yorkshire lass, a 5ft ‘pocket rocket’ who worked and campaigned relentlessly to help some of the world’s most disadvantaged people.
