There's a lot of hot air in the world of business. Wouldn't it be nice just to hear some common sense? That's exactly what John Timpson offers: After four decades running his family business and turning it into one of the High Street's biggest success stories, he really knows what works and what doesn't. Upside Down Management shares how he turned the way the business was run on its head, and the lessons he learned in the process.

From being the CEO to dealing with stress, and from breaking the rules to following your conscience, this book tells it like it is. Forget management models and best-practice guidelines; here are genuine pearls of wisdom.

John Timpson is the Chairman of Timpson Ltd, his family business. With 850 stores across the UK, Timpson is one of the best-established names on the British High Street. The company was one of the original Sunday Times top-10 companies to work for. It has also been named retail employer of the year, and is in the J P Morgan Family Business Hall of Fame. John was appointed CBE in 2004 for "services to the retail sector".