Direct: The Story of Laithwaites

As a wine lover I have excellent wine books written by esteemed authors such as Hugh Johnson, Jancis Robinson, Oz Clarke and many others, but Tony Laithwaites is a joy to read. It has romance, laughter and tears, happiness and tragedy, failure and success, low points and high points, but always fun at the route of it all. This book is a lesson in building a family business. A must read for Lord Sugars' "Apprentice" candidates. There are no sharp suits, chauffeur driven limousines and exit strategies in this story, just a long term determination to follow a dream. More than that I think this book is a lesson in life. Who would not want to be like Tony Laithwaite? Regardless of his success as a businessman he is an eternally optimistic, fun loving and kind maverick who values family and all those people that come into his life. And finally, as he admits many times in the book, without the involvement of his talented wife Barbara, things would have been very different. A tale about a highly successful double act.

A fine example of someone pursuing their dream, and by hard work, perseverance and the addition of a significant other, creating something that is both sustaining and beneficial.