Following on from yesterday’s eulogy to libraries, this brilliantly titled book is one of my latest finds from the non-fiction shelves.  So far I’ve read Book (ie Part) 1, by Roger Mavity, ex-ad man and Chief Executive of Conran Holdings (love the shop, Rog!)  His argument is that life is all about presenting, or pitching, yourself in the best possible light, whether to a prospective lover or boss, your spouse or acquaintances.

The writing is just like the title – straightforward, witty and succinct.  My usual response to a book, no matter how much I like it, is ‘could have been cut by a third and not lost anything’.  Not Life’s a Pitch, there’s not a word too many, and I bet he’s got lots more great stories I’d love to hear.

There’s masses of inspiring stuff in here for homeworkers, including ways of getting into the right frame of mind to start an important piece of work – don’t sit at your desk staring at your computer screen.  Naturally I love this because it fits in with the advice I give in Work from Home to get away from your usual routine as soon as you begin to feel a bit jaded.  I just wish I could afford the most glamorous hotel in Marrakesh, where the creator of the famous Heineken ‘refreshes the parts other beers can’t reach’ campaign apparently went! 

Book 2, by Stephen Bayley, cultural commentator and once described as ‘the second most intelligent man in Britain’ (who’s the most, then?), looks very different.  I’ll let you know how I get on.