Book 11 - Gordon Ramsay - The Biography

Gee, I am glad I can read. Reading is so much fun, and you can learn so much from these amazing people. Which I try to do. With this book, as good as it started, and as good as it finished, there was a period in the middle where I was not sure that I would actually finish it. To the point of reading 3 other books in the time that it took me to finish reading about Gordon Ramsay. Neil Simpson is the author, and he did a good job, without doing outstandingly. He researched well, and told a reasonably good story.

I have said this again, and I will say it again - am I really qualified to talk about someone who is so famous and healthy. Being my blog, I guess I can.

Starting with his early life, Gordon Ramsay was raised in an interesting environment. He never got much love or much support from his father. His father never showed him any support or encouragement, which he actually craved.

Get this, Gordon Ramsay was headed to a professional soccer (or football - depending on where you are) player. He was fit, he was a machine, and he was driven from a young age. He did what it took. What a machine, even at an early age, hitting his goals. Go son. He got to the top of the sport, but then, like a lot of sports people, he did a knee. He had to have an operation and never ever really recovered. He was sacked from the team on a Friday afternoon. He was shattered. To the point that he does not have business meetings on a Friday, for that reason. He is worried about what could happen. Unbelievable.

Then, as well as his dad not supporting him through the failre, he had to find something else to do. Yep, you guessed it, he took up cheffing. Really, the rest is history, but what we don't see is how much work he has put in. He sourced the most famous people in his industry, did huge hours and massive shifts for many years, until he was ready to purchase his own restaurant. Again, the rest is history. Gordon Ramsay genuinely loves cooking and loves food. He is a natural chef, and lives his dream.

He is though, a tough boss, and swears like a trooper, and gives it to his staff. But, in saying that, they love him, and some have worked for him for many, many years. By doing that, they have learnt heaps, and have got heaps of awards in their own rights. Good on them, and good on Gordon, who is big on mentoring.

Gordon is happily married with children, though he spends Monday to Friday nights at his restaurants. He then goes home to his wife, where they chat into the night. She is now running her own business also, so they are a busy lot. He does not work on weekends. What a great strategy.

In many ways, he is very motivational. One of his life's challenges is his brother, who has been a life long drug addict. He has tried many times to help his brother, without success, but finally that has happened, and his brother is clean. Get this - at support groups for his brother, they told Gordon that he also has an addictive personality. That, he craves attention from others, his father included - he works so hard just to get kudos from others. There is a thought ...

Finally, to Gordon's on screen stuff, where he is a swearing trooper. He has got records for the most amount of swear words in short periods, and in short shows. He is a swearing machine. Some people respond, others don't. Most of his shows have been acclaimed, though some have been criticised by many. It has not hurt his ratings overall. He is still extremely popular. Good on him.

He is in huge demand. Gordon Ramsay runs several restaurants simeltaneously. He can do heaps of work at the same time, and people love having him in their restaurants. He turns them around.

Overall, apart from a lot of the pages through the middle of the book, it was quite motivational. I did enjoy it.

Overall, a 3.75 out of 5. Gordon rocks really, and there are many lessons to be learnt from him. Obviously.

Until next time, keep reading.

Jimmy