Music, Children - Social Studies, Children - Biography

Simon Cowell

Name: Simon Cowell
Author: Richard Spilsbury
ISBN: 9781432964344

by Richard Spilsbury

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Overview

How did Simon Cowell get his start in the music industry?

Why did he dress as a dog to promote a record?

How have his ideas changed popular entertainment?

You may be familiar with The X Factor or American Idol, but how much do you know about the man who created them? Simon Cowell is one of the world's richest and most recognized men, but getting there hasn't always been easy. Discover how Cowell started in the music recording business and then achieved fame as a talent judge. Find out how he has learned from his successes and failures to build a global entertainment empire.

The Titans of Business series looks at some of the most famous and successful businesspeople in the world. Starting with their childhood and early projects, these information-packed biographies trace the path they followed to become successful. Each book includes hints and tips on how to become an entrepreneur yourself.

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Editorials

School Library Journal

Gr 4–7—This series is written in a lively fashion, beginning with the table-of-contents pages that contain text boxes with blurbs about what readers can expect to learn in the subsequent sections ("Find out what you need to do to have a successful career like Jay-Z."). Captioned photos, sidebars, and off-set quotes make for an interesting layout. The various fonts and black-and-white borders are reminiscent of a computer screen, adding to the idea that the individuals are cutting edge in their fields. The volumes span the subjects' entire lives, but hone in on their careers. Controversies are noted, but downplayed. For example, Zuckerberg's legal issues are given little space, and Jay-Z's hustling past is rationalized ("At first, the only way Shawn could see to make money for himself and his family was to become a hustler…") and accompanied by a photo of a crack addict using drugs. Each title concludes with a "How to Become an Entrepreneur" chapter, recapping how the subjects achieved their wealth.