Imagine having spent three and a
half years in prison after being responsible for the biggest
financial scandal of the century, being divorced by your wife
and then, to cap it all, being diagnosed with cancer.
In 1995, Nick Leeson's unchecked risk-taking caused the sensational
collapse of Barings Bank. Sentenced to a six-and-a-half-year
jail sentence in a gang-ridden Singaporean jail, in conditions
that defy belief, while in prison his wife left him and he was
diagnosed with colon cancer. His stress levels were immeasurable
yet, against all odds, he survived. He recovered from the cancer
that almost killed him, determined to begin a new life.
Back From the Brink not only tells Leeson's complete
personal story – in-depth conversations with top psychologist
Ivan Tyrrell show how the continual levels of high stress that
affected Nick's mental and physical health can be related to
us all, including:
• Living with relationship
and family problems
• Struggling with debt
• Striving to achieve status and success
• Coping with serious illness
These pressures are common to many of us yet Leeson's approaches
to his experiences post Rogue Trader reveal inspirational methods
of combating stress. The book also enables readers to check
their own stress levels by working through easy-to-use charts
and questions. Combined with Tyrrell's clear, professional analysis
and coping strategies, Back From the Brink: Coping With Stress
is a practical yet inspirational book. This amazing story of
recovery is an object lesson that has real applications in the
stressful climate of the modern world.
'My experiences
may be unusual, but they offer real insight into how stress
can get out of hand and affect all of us. This book will help
people who feel overwhelmed by life's difficulties.'
The format of the book comprises an autobiographical piece
in each chapter from Nick, a conversational piece between Nick
and Ivan and then a series of self-help techniques and a series
of questions and charts to work through.
