‘In a world so concerned at the same time with environmental issues and financial gain, Piers Black, is a compelling anti-hero for our times. The Profit is a serious, and at times painfully funny, shovrt book that carries a valuable message.’

Martin Ouvry,  novelist and writer of short stories. He is an editor with The Writer’s Workshop (and previously the literary Consultancy) and has reviewed books for the Sunday Times and the Observer.

Many readers will be familiar with Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, which is almost essential reading in order to understand this brilliant parody and satire on the financial worlds. Piers Black is the ultimate charismatic tycoon ‘revered by men and universally desired by women, a legend in his own Armani suit’, and has his own ruthless and calculating message to deliver to a packed audience of shareholders. He speaks in turn on a variety of topics, suggested by members of the audience such as profit, greed, mobile phones, work, adversity and even accountants, takeovers, clothes (you are what you wear), cars, sex and money. When it comes to love, the text is the greatest travesty of and contrast with Gibran: ‘Love brings powerless confusion to those whose purpose and direction was as unshakable as a mountain.’ Piers sees love as a monstrous web and maintains that the greatest love of all is self-love. Just as he reaches a peak of eloquent rhetoric, the voice of his father rings across the hall, asking him what has become of ‘the time to be kind and long-suffering and loving and generous’. This incident creates a crisis from which he makes a nearly full recover, reverting to his self-assured arrogance. This is a great book to take on holiday and will surely make you laugh out loud as someone asks enquiringly ‘speak to us of cars’ and Piers launches forth with soaring metaphors and high-flown but utterly cynical prose. Network Review, 09

LIST OF INGREDIENTS: CRUCIAL SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING, PHILOSOPHY OF A CORPORATE KING, CHILLING PREMONITION.

PIERS BLACK ‘revered by men and universally desired by women, a legend in his own Armani suit’ has a message to deliver. When he pours forth his wisdom on a variety of subjects ranging from greed and love, to friendship and mobile phones, it is an occasion that attracts more attention than a presidential photo call at the White House. Inspired by Kahlil Gibran’s cult philosophical work, The Profit is a parable for our times, exposing the uncompromising worldview of an international tycoon, whose gross lack of conscience at times gives way to humane insights about the ‘me society’.

John Karter

John Karter is  a former staff writer for The Sunday Times, The Times and the Independent. He has had three non-fiction books published, two by Headline and one by Open University Press, including a biography of Lester Piggott.

Hear John’s word on Wordia.com