Business, Secrets and Power: Read our Review for Man in Armour by Siobhan McKenna

Business, Secrets and Power: Read our Review for Man in Armour by Siobhan McKenna

How much money is enough? How powerful do you want to be? And what price will it extract from you? An intriguing, powerful and hard-hitting novel set in the world of big money and big deals, written by a leading business insider. 

Charles lives in the testosterone-driven, high-powered, brutal world of investment banking. It is a world dominated by deals, bonuses, bravado and savagery. Charles is a master of this world. Each day he shrugs on a metaphorical suit of armour and goes out into a dog-eat-dog world to accumulate power and make money. He’s a man who is familiar with casual brutality – his childhood saw to that.

But there is a price to pay. Now, at the peak of his career, his armour is rusted and bloodstained and no longer protecting him the way it once did. He finds himself empty. Always cold. No friends. A family that is falling apart.

Over the course of two days, everything in Charles’ life comes into question. His carefully constructed world is starting to splinter – and he’s splintering too.

Shocking and at times immensely moving, Man in Armour is a compelling story of a man at the end of his tether, written with a sharp-eyed, incisive focus that also carries real emotional – and moral – resonance. Written by an ultimate business insider – a woman who knows intimately and at first hand this world of power, money and deal-making – this novel carries an undeniable authenticity and force.

Being a big part of the industry herself, Siobhan McKenna’s understanding and portrayal of the dark side of business is masterful and shaped through years of experience. This level of consideration shows in her clinical, clear cut writing style. Charles often feels empty, alone and lost, and this is where McKenna’s writing really shines. The way that McKenna depicts Charles’s slowly deteriorating mind superbly highlights the tumultuous and self-destructive nature that comes with money and materialism.

McKenna’s character work is expertly realised with protagonist Charles being very complex and accomplished. Taking place over two days, the slow and gradual cracks that appear within Charles’s ‘Armour’, chipping away at his bravado and confidence, present a sincere self-evaluation on what is and is not important.

This isn’t normally a book I would have picked up, but I’m so glad I did! Man in Armour is hard to put down – one of those riveting page-turners that has kept me thinking days after finishing it. An eye-opening story that lets us into a deeper world of business, secrets and power. Do yourself a favour and grab a copy.

Reviews

Siobhan McKenna Answers 5 Questions About her New Novel Man in Armour

Review | Author Related

13 August 2020

Siobhan McKenna Answers 5 Questions About her New Novel Man in Armour

    How Much is Enough? Read an Extract from Siobhan McKenna's New Novel, Man in Armour

    Review | Extract

    12 August 2020

    How Much is Enough? Read an Extract from Siobhan McKenna's New Novel, Man in Armour

      Publisher details

      Man in Armour
      Author
      Siobhan McKenna
      Publisher
      HarperCollins
      Genre
      Fiction
      Released
      05 August, 2020
      ISBN
      9781460758779

      Synopsis

      How much money is enough? How powerful do you want to be? And what price will it extract from you? An intriguing, powerful and hard-hitting novel set in the world of big money and big deals, written by a leading business insider. Charles lives in the testosterone-driven, high-powered, brutal world of investment banking. It is a world dominated by deals, bonuses, bravado and savagery. Charles is a master of this world. Each day he shrugs on a metaphorical suit of armour and goes out into a dog-eat-dog world to accumulate power and make money. He's a man who is familiar with casual brutality - his childhood saw to that.But there is a price to pay. Now, at the peak of his career, his armour is rusted and bloodstained and no longer protecting him the way it once did. He finds himself empty. Always cold. No friends. A family that is falling apart.Over the course of two days, everything in Charles' life comes into question. His carefully constructed world is starting to splinter - and he's splintering too.Shocking and at times immensely moving, Man in Armour is a compelling story of a man at the end of his tether, written with a sharp-eyed, incisive focus that also carries real emotional - and moral - resonance. Written by an ultimate business insider - a woman who knows intimately and at first hand this world of power, money and deal-making - this novel carries an undeniable authenticity and force.
      Siobhan McKenna
      About the author

      Siobhan McKenna

      Siobhan McKenna is chairman or director of several companies including Foxtel, Nova Entertainment, Woolworths and Illyria. During her career she has worked in telecommunications, oil and gas, healthcare and government. She was a commissioner of the Australian Productivity Commission, a chairman of NBNCo and a partner of McKinsey & Company. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and three teenage sons. Man in Armour is her first novel.

      Books by Siobhan McKenna

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      1. Jennifer Dehner says:

        Thank you for sharing this insightful review of “Man in Armour” by Siobhan McKenna. It’s always intriguing to delve into stories that explore business secrets and the dynamics of power. The way the author weaves these elements into the narrative seems to offer a thought-provoking and engaging reading experience.
        Speaking of financial matters and power, if you’re looking for practical ways to manage your finances and leverage available resources, you might find the guide https://fitmymoney.com/best-cash-advance-credit-cards/ to be quite helpful. Just as the characters in the book navigate their paths to success, having the right financial tools and knowledge can empower us in real life as well.
        Books like “Man in Armour” often mirror aspects of our own lives, prompting us to reflect on how we approach challenges and opportunities. The review has certainly piqued my interest, and I appreciate the recommendation to explore this intriguing tale.

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