First-time author Blake boasts an impressive set of accomplishments: overcoming a dirt poor, hardscrabble existence in Wales to be selected for the Royal Navy, and jettisoning a corporate career to bootstrap a business which he eventually sold for more than $100 million—during a recession, no less. Unlike many entrepreneurs or masters of the universe, Blake maintains that his success was not merely the result of intelligence, hard work, or even being in the right place at the right time; rather, he attributes his successes to three basic ideas which he identified and incorporated into his life after studying the biographies of self-made millionaires and other inspiring people. Blake expounds on these three characteristics: changing or reclaiming your mentality, creating moments of insight, and turning ideas into new experiences through intention. Jumping freely from anecdotes about the author, his family, and various entrepreneurs to various unscientific theories of mind control, the book is unlikely to appeal to readers who prefer logical formulas. However, for those who buy the concepts of positive thinking, meditation, and intentionality, this is an inspirational and thought-provoking read about how control over your mind and thoughts can yield a more fulfilling life. (Aug.)
