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Total Competition

Lessons in Strategy from Formula One

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Total Competition

By: Ross Brawn, Adam Parr
Narrated by: Adam Parr, Peter Noble
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About this listen

 'A must-have insight into the awe-inspiring career of a true motor racing great' Daily Express

Total Competition is the most compelling, comprehensive and revealing insight into what it takes to get to the top in Formula One that has ever been published.

Across four decades, Ross Brawn was one of the most innovative and successful technical directors and then team principals in Formula One. Leading Benetton, Ferrari, Honda, Brawn and Mercedes, he worked with drivers such as Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton to make them world champions. In 2017, he was appointed F1's managing director, motor sports, by the sport's new owners Liberty Media. Now, in this fascinating book written with Adam Parr (who was CEO and then chairman of Williams for five years), he looks back over his career and methods to assess how he did it, and where occasionally he got things wrong.

Total Competition is a definitive portrait of modern motorsport. In the book, Brawn and Parr explore the unique pressures of Formula One, their battles with Bernie Ecclestone, and the cut-throat world they inhabited, where coming second is never good enough. This book will appeal not only to the millions of Formula One fans who want to understand how Brawn operates, it will also provide many lessons in how to achieve your own business goals.©2016 Ross Brawn, Adam Parr (P)2017 Simon & Schuster Audio UK Management Management & Leadership Motor Sports Personal Development Personal Success Sports Business Celebrity Leadership Racing Sport Management Strategy

Critic Reviews

‘A fascinating insight’ (Giles Richards)
'It has widespread appeal as well as offering a unique insight into F1...this is a must-read.' (Edd Straw)
All stars
Most relevant  
As a long term f1 follower I found the approach topic fascinating. RB’s insight and candid discussion was interesting given his success and AP’s interview style and insightful questions and observations created depth. Thanks

An in-depth look at a successful businessman.

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Delivered well by Parr and great insight into potentially F1s greatest engineer in Brawn. Great for business also!

Masterful work from inside F1's great minds.

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Give yourself time to get used to Ross not sounding like Ross. The strategy insights seem a bit forced at times. But for F1 fans, it's still an interesting insight into (mostly) Ferrari, Honda and Mercedes

Bit basic, but well read and has some good insight

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great read. highly recommended. especially how Ross managed his career at Ferrari to his downfall at mercedes

great read highly recommended

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Fantastic book that encompasses everything from successful leadership models, to operational frame work and strategic planning…. And thats without mentioning any of the insight and F1 content!

Brilliant, thought provoking and inspiring

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This book is more in the form of podcast rather than a traditional book. Some people may not like it however I found this book fine.
I would recommend this to anyone who was curious about Ross and how much he achieved in his career. Good listen to almost any F1 fan.

Extended Podcast Book

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It's definitely a must listen for a formula 1 fan.
Ross and Adam go into fantastic detail about the perils of producing title winning teams in formula 1.
Love how Adam calls out Ross when Ross is being a bit fastidious.

Fascinating

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I love formula 1 and have been a fan for 20 years. This book is ok, here and there is some really interesting concepts. But I definitely wouldn't suggest it for someone who wants to hear a lot about the sport. it's boring AF.

Formula 1 fan here

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I buy pretty much every Motor Racing book, fan or not of the Author or topic, and I was pretty keen to get into this one. It was really boring, although the interview sections were ok. Sadly, it felt like Parr was sucking up to Brawn the whole way through, and had an axe to grind at the same time re his own F1 journey. Even the narration was boring, bland, and soulless, and I like the main narrator normally. As for Brawn, I have not been a fan of his ummm, bending of the rules, and he contradicts himself repeatedly in this book, admitting cheating, in different words, claiming at the same time to be honest, and also to treat everyone as he would like to be treated, while favouring some over others. My disrespect for Brawn grew with this book, not that he is undeserving of massive respect in many ways, but choosing when to be moral, and playing innocent when clearly not, sucks. I struggled so much to finish this book, and was very surprised.

Hard Going

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