Twiggy

Book excerpt: “Not just a terrific read, but an important life to have on the national record.” – George Negus The swashbuckling West Australian entrepreneur Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest took on mining giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto at their own game – and won. In this unauthorised biography, Andrew Burrell traces Twiggy’s business triumphs and disasters to reveal the complicated man behind the myth. Why do his mining ventures attract so much controversy? And what do his philanthropic schemes tell us about him and his plans for the future? It takes extraordinary force of will, combined with boundless energy and cunning, to create enterprises on such a mammoth scale. With the value of iron ore now integral to the health of the federal budget, Twiggy’s business affects all Australians. This entertaining book gives a unique insight into one of the most powerful men in Australia today. “A riveting investigation of one of our richest businessmen, biggest philanthropists and greatest fast-talkers.” – Laura Tingle “This is a book that needed to be written ... rich in detail with fascinating insights into the family history, the failures, flaws, and ultimate rise of John Andrew Henry Forrest.” – The Sydney Morning Herald Andrew Burrell has been a journalist for twenty years, covering business and politics in Australia, South-East Asia and China. He has worked for the Australian Financial Review and is currently a senior business journalist for the Australian in Perth, where he has covered the WA mining boom since 2006. He won the business prize at the WA media awards in 2006 and 2009.