Twiggy

Book excerpt: The swashbuckling West Australian entrepreneur Andrew ''Twiggy'' Forrest took on mining giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto at their own game - and won. In this unauthorised biography, Andrew Burrell traces Twiggy's business triumphs and disasters to reveal the complicated man behind the myth. Why do his mining ventures attract so much controversy? And what do his philanthropic schemes tell us about him and his plans for the future? It takes extraordinary force of will, combined with boundless energy and cunning, to create enterprises on such a mammoth scale. With the value of iron ore now integral to the health of the federal budget, Twiggy's business affects all Australians. This entertaining book gives a unique insight into one of the most powerful men in Australia today.