Outrageous Fortune: The Rise and Ruin of Conrad and Lady Black by tom bower

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I started this task, but unfortunately, I have not been able to complete it yet.

There are several reasons for this. Firstly, I have been occupied with other important matters that demanded my immediate attention. Secondly, the complexity of the task itself has presented some challenges that I need more time to overcome.

However, I fully intend to get around to it as soon as possible. I understand the importance of completing this task and the impact it may have. I will set aside dedicated time to focus on it and ensure that it is done to the best of my ability.

I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your patience. Rest assured that I am committed to fulfilling this responsibility and will provide the completed work in a timely manner.

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nerucchi

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

We have been living here in Toronto, The Good, in Canada. There is a convicted corporate felon, "Lord ('Tubby') Black and his gold-digging venomous wife, 'Lady', Barbara Amiel Black. He is like the corporate version of Hollywood's shameless Fatty Arbuckle, the obscene clown.

Tubby and his wife lived the jet set lifestyle for a long time. They had amassed a fortune in the tens of millions, possibly even in the hundreds of millions. They owned two private jets, four mansions, had servants, and Rolls Royces.

However, they got caught. Now, all is lost in their ghastly fall to disgrace, which is masterfully narrated by author Tom Bower. Tubby was finally exposed in his vicious game of corporate kleptocracy. Now the couple are renters in Tubby's daddy's Rosedale mansion. The private jets, mansions in London, Palm Beach, New York, and even daddy's mansion are all gone, seized by the Law as partial payment for Tubby's debt to the shareholders of his companies that he had so boldly ripped off.

Now the couple have a vicious hatred for author Bower because of this voluminous book. And indeed, the Blacks might despise Bower for this investigative revelation of the truth about their criminal lives! Bower writes masterfully about the countless swindles and treasury raids committed by Lord Black during the high-flying days of the glorious Hollinger Inc. and other subordinate corporate creations that he held, controlled, and "raped". Tubby thought of himself as an international heroic newspaper tycoon because Hollinger at different times owned hundreds of newspapers around the world. But even though Black's companies were publicly owned, he treated them like his own private piggy banks, using them to enrich himself and Barbara shamelessly, leaving shareholders in distress and dismay.

Bower's writing is fast and incisive, a real page-turner. This book only takes the narrative to the conclusion of Tubby's criminal trial in a U.S. court. Black got multiple convictions for various felonies. Unfortunately, the story stops short of sentencing. Nevertheless, even though we know about Black's ultimate time spent in jail and his hard-won freedom to live again in Canada (without Canadian citizenship and at the mercy of immigration officials), the story is still a great one.

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Valdrigr

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

It may not possess the most exemplary writing or editing in the entire world, but this is a story that will leave you with your jaw on the floor due to its unrestrained greed. The tale unfolds with a cast of characters whose insatiable desires know no bounds. Their actions are driven by a lust for wealth, power, and possessions that leads them down a path of moral corruption and destruction. As the story progresses, we witness the lengths to which they will go to satisfy their greed, sacrificing relationships, principles, and even their own souls. It is a cautionary tale that serves as a reminder of the dangers of allowing greed to consume us. Despite its flaws in writing and editing, the sheer magnitude of the greed depicted in this story makes it a truly unforgettable and jaw-dropping experience.

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nightfault

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This is a really good book.

The subject matter it covers is interesting, although it might seem a bit dated at present.

The author has done a great job in presenting the content in an engaging manner.

His writing style is captivating and makes it a pleasure to read.

After reading this book, I have developed a great appreciation for the author's work.

I will definitely be on the lookout for more of his books and read them with great enthusiasm.

I believe that his other works will also offer valuable insights and entertainment.

Overall, this book has left a positive impression on me and I would highly recommend it to others who are interested in the subject or simply enjoy good literature.

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azzad-track

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Having read Barbara Amiel's version of events first, I then turned to Tom Bower to get a bit of balance. As you might expect, the two versions represent extreme positions on the see-saw.

If we are to believe Bower, Black is a megalomaniac who, having once found a way to siphon large amounts of tax-free cash from his business (the so-called non-compete clauses), pursued this strategy relentlessly and brazenly in defiance of the law and the increasing concern of work colleagues and shareholders.

Black's dilemma was - how to spend money that is in the business without having to pay tax on it. The difference, though, is that Black only owns 18 percent of Hollinger, so really has no right to extract the sums we are talking about. One figure mentioned is circa 74 percent of the net income of the business over a 5-year period. If true, that really is quite shocking.

So why did he do it? He had a great business. He was the owner of the Telegraph and many other American newspapers. My view is that "his feet left the ground." He was so impressed by the Billionaire set and he so badly wanted to be one of them (they thought maybe he was) that he lost all sense of proportion and reality where money was concerned. He forgot that to make money, you have to make sure income outweighs expenditure. His wife no doubt puffed up his sense of himself. Moreover, his was a personality which responded eagerly to flattery and thoughts of world domination. He leapt wholeheartedly from the solid ground up, up, up and then down into the abyss.

Truly, this is a story of Hubris. Black deserved to be cut down to size, and he was. Of all the things in the book that struck me, the most telling was Black's lack of family loyalty. He missed his brother's 60th (the saddest party I ever attended, says his first wife), and at no point does it appear he was trying to build a dynasty for his children. It was all about Conrad Black.

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wxsb

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Once upon a time, there was a bumptious egotist. He thought he was the center of the universe and that everyone should bow down to him. His wife was no better. She was a poisonous, social-climbing, greedy woman who only cared about money and status.

The couple lived in a big house in a wealthy neighborhood, but they were never satisfied. They constantly compared themselves to their neighbors and were always looking for ways to one-up them. The egotist would brag about his achievements at every opportunity, while his wife would flaunt her expensive clothes and jewelry.

One day, the couple decided to throw a lavish party to show off their wealth and status. They invited all the important people in town and spared no expense on the decorations and food. However, during the party, things took a turn for the worse. The egotist got into an argument with one of his guests and ended up insulting him. His wife, in an attempt to salvage the situation, made things even worse by making a scene.

In the end, the party was a disaster, and the couple's reputation was in tatters. They realized too late that their bumptious egotism and poisonous greed had cost them everything.

从此，他们过上了孤独而又悲惨的生活，后悔不已。

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jainenn

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

A fine biography of an interesting pair (euphemistically so).

This biography delves into the lives of two individuals who have led rather unique and captivating existences. Their story is one that is filled with adventure, challenges, and perhaps a touch of mystery.

Through the pages of this biography, we get to know them on a deeper level. We learn about their childhoods, the events that shaped their personalities, and the decisions that led them to where they are today.

The author has done an excellent job of presenting their story in an engaging and accessible way. The language is vivid and descriptive, allowing the reader to truly picture the scenes and experiences that these two individuals have had.

Overall, this is a biography that is well worth reading. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of two remarkable people and will leave you with a greater appreciation for their journey.

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Outrageous Fortune: The Rise and Ruin of Conrad and Lady Black

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