Curiosity might have killed the cat, but it is the personality trait that unites the 30 entrepreneurs in this fascinating collection of business success stories. Author Rachel Bridge is the Sunday Times enterprise editor. My Big Idea tells the human stories behind some well known and many lesser-known companies. Bridge shows us what makes these entrepreneurs tick – their ability to keep alive the passion that initially ignited their endeavours and place it at the heart of the business, so that it becomes integral to the culture.

Getting the killer idea can sometimes be the hardest part. We follow entrepreneurs as they search for that Holy Grail. In many cases it’s born out of a personal passion – for example, Mark Leatham, the foodie behind fine food brand Merchant Gourmet. In others, it’s quite literally a solution to a problem staring them in the face. King of Shaves founder Will King developed his idea for a shaving oil for sensitive skin after suffering for years with razor burn.

Ultimately, this enjoyable and instructive book teaches that successful businesses are ones that balance commerce with culture.

See also: Trauma leads to business success – report on a survey of 370 business owners on the factors contributing to entrepreneurial drive.