The key decisions and activities that were behind the development and growth of many self-made U.S. entrepreneurs’ businesses, such as Wal-Mart and Walt Disney, is the focus of this book.

The author aims for this ‘foundational guide’ to entrepreneurial success to encourage the reader and presumably prospective entrepreneur with a mixture of success stories, quality analytical information and a bit of enthusiasm for good measure. It is not going to be the only book you will need to set up a business – far from it – but it is more than capable of setting the fuse alight and getting you thinking about treading on the entrepreneurial pathway.

It is a credible mix, with an understandable U.S. bias, that may correct some misunderstandings and act as a positive catalyst for the brave. To this reviewer, at least, many of the stories were already familiar – but this is not a problem – as it was still a pleasant, enjoyable and informative read when all elements are considered as one. For those where all of this would be ‘virgin territory’, it is easy to appreciate just what an impact it may provide. It even had some ‘laugh out loud’ moments and I won’t ruin the stories, but when you discover a ‘donkey-watermelon mix’, for example, you will know what I mean and that particular story doesn’t end there!

The book is capable of servicing many audiences with different information at the same time. It is equally a good book that you could travel with, being entertained and informed along the way, in a hardly arduous manner. By the end you may be enthused or disabused about entrepreneurial activity, for the time being at least, but you will be better informed and have a much-better understanding about what has made some big companies tick in the process.

A few small niggles exist in this reviewer’s mind about the style and design that could be off-putting for some, but the content is good and worth a bit of additional perseverance if it should become an impediment. A likeable and recommended read.

Building on Bedrock, written by Derek Lidow and published by Diversion Books. ISBN 9781635761764. YYYY