Another title now in paperback is Ken Auletta's authoritative if brief biography of Ted Turner, undoubtedly one of the more skilful entrepreneurs of the modern age. He may not have the same level of international name-recognition as Rupert Murdoch, or the same personal influence, but his accomplishments are possibly even more impressive. After all, many of Murdoch's greatest achievements follow paths first negotiated by Ted Turner. More than any other individual he pioneered the transformation of media from a local into a global business though the invention of 24-hour worldwide news network CNN. He also introduced genuine excitement into the cable industry for the first time with the creation of the Turner system, which secured its audience by offering exclusive viewing of key sports and movie programming. Above all, having made a fortune by selling his empire to Time Warner, he was perhaps the only sane voice to question that company's near-disastrous takeover by AOL. It went ahead nevertheless, wiping out almost three-quarters of Turner's wealth, and contributing to the decline of CNN's prominence. This book's greatest asset is the support and insight it received from Turner himself, making it the nearest thing so far to an autobiography, while also offering uniquely private insights into a public career. As a result, Turner emerges as a far more complex, driven and above all likeable character than any reader may otherwise expect. 

Added 1st December 2005