Outstandingly good

Well constructed and presented by the author.
The issues raised in the BHS saga remain current today in the backdrop of challenges to retailers in the high street. Hope no more sociopaths involved.
A great listen and highly recommended

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A good case for Communism

The sheer greed and avarice of Phillip Green are detailed in this work. Deals are related involving millions and billions of pounds, shops are bought stripped of their assets and sold on or closed. The pension fund seems to be a source of ready money. In all this the workers in the businesses are cast aside whilst Green and his cronies move ever onward. It makes one wonder whether communism is not a viable alternative.
This is a well written account by Oliver Shah but sometimes needs a lot of concentration to find out what is going on . The narration is not of the best and in some parts drops out altogether. The author’s voice is a bit too low in the register for comfortable listening.

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Fascinating story brilliantly told

It's rare that business books - or any written by specialists journalists - stray beyond the jargon and in-jokes that rattle harmoniously around within their sectors understood only by the cliques who populate them. But in 'Damaged Goods...', Sunday Times business editor Oliver Shah has crafted a narrative that weaves together comedic and dramatic threads charting the decay of Britain's favourite past-time (shopping). Shah does this in a way that engages and fascinates the reader, even if he or she isn't one of the million or so regulars who picks up Shah's reports in the newspaper he's worked at since 2010.

You get the sense that this book allowed him to explore prose with the level of colour and curiosity that the deadlines and tight word limits of newspaper journalism do not always allow, and this is part of what makes the book such a success.

What also makes the narrative work is the meticulous research and the effortless, often laugh-at-loud funny, prose that sets up the key characters in and around Green who, despite his lavish lifestyle swimming in yachts and cars, comes across as a Poundshop Kray-wannabe. Shah would have definitely needed to wash his mouth out with soap after reading the audiobook which contains many hilarious, expletive-laden rants that Green is notorious for dishing out. But the reading is energised and engaging, making the book a very easy listen.

When history comes to judge the huge step-change we are seeing at the crossroads of consumerism, retail, technology and demographic change, the subject matter in this book will be crucial. What's clear however, is that the story of Green and the death of the high street - in particular Arcadia and Topshop - is far from over. Hopefully Green won't succeed in his threat to throw Shah "out of the f------ window" and he'll happily be able to update things in future editions.

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6 people found this helpful

Filthy dirty greens

If you had any doubt about the repugnance of Philip Green and his wife, this book will set you straight. Interesting reading if you want to understand why Green is a revolting, pension grabbing scumbag and why his wife is shallower that a puddle of water. Towards the end I felt I just couldn't listen to any more. Well done to Oliver Shah for the research and dedication he's put into this book. Well worth a listen

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Great Book

Great Book and insight into Peter Green. Advise to anyone interested in the Super Rich

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Great Story and an Insight into Another World

This book was packed full of the detail, workings and dealings of multi-million pound retailing. It seemed well researched and was an amazing portrait of Phillip Green, a man that used to be viewed as the king of the High Street and is now viewed in a totally different way since the collapse of BHS and its pension fund. It was interesting on many levels, for example, Phillip Green's life, the many business associates involved, Dominic Chappell and Retail Aquisitions, and the rapidly changing face of the High Street and internet retailing.

A highly recommended read for anyone who enjoys biography or has an interest in business. Whilst the book predominantly features Phillip Green's life and dealings, I personally found the chapters featuring Dominic Chappell particularly interesting as he is a neighbour of mine in Dorset and it was certainly surreal to reconcile the character of the man portrayed in this book with the man you see out walking his dogs! (But suppose that's the whole point of the book!)

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Amazing story

Very well written and read. This is a raw story with lots of swearing. So interesting to hear what went on behind the scenes.

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Brilliant!

Superb book. A really good listen and so much I was not aware of. Must listen

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stories so crazy it could almost be fiction

amazing insight into a commical group of people who are almost charactures of themselves .

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his sleeves are too long

or, would you buy a second-hand car from this man? a very interesting and exhausting book which filled me with disgust. I note that the wife/partner turned out equally culpable but seemed to have managed to only have gained a reputation for inordinate bad taste and spending money. both followed the well-trodden path of becoming totally detached from reality.
the bullying methods used by green reminded me of the school playground with minions hanging on his coat tails, sickening. of course all bullies are cowards at heart.
NO, I would not buy a car from him and yes, his tailor is rubbish.

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