MoMoBookDiary

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About the Book

About the Author… John Moon

From his humble, council estate upbringing in Somerset, John started out window cleaning at age fifteen, and armed with nothing more than enthusiasm, patience and determination, went on to build successful businesses in the world of finance, property and motor sport.

John developed a parallel career in journalism, broadcasting, commentating and P.R., as well as achieving numerous motor racing successes in the UK and Europe over a 30 year period.

John now lives in the South Cotswolds with his lovely wife Jane, three horses, Humphrey the cat and a garage full of cars. His life is a testament to achieving your dreams.

In this, his first book, he shares his inspiring journey and practical tools to help you overcome limitations and live your life to its full potential.

To find out more about John Moon, his website is something-from-nothing.co.uk 

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My review

Sometimes a book lands in your hands at exactly the right moment — and for me, this was one of those books. I didn’t go looking for it. In fact, I don’t often read non-fiction, and I almost passed this one by. But something nudged me to say yes, and from the first few chapters, I had a feeling it was going to be special. Now, having finished it, I can confidently say: How To Make Something From Nothing isn’t just a book I’ll recommend — it’s one I’ll return to again and again.

John Moon’s story begins with a simple but powerful decision, made as a child chopping wood in a council house backyard in 1968. From that moment, he committed to doing things differently — and this book walks us through how he went from that cold winter moment to becoming one of the UK’s wealthiest self-made individuals. What struck me most wasn’t the success itself, but the way he got there: with grit, honesty, and an unwavering sense of practicality.

There’s nothing glossy or sugar-coated here. Moon lays out the failures and the victories with equal candour. And while many of the principles might sound simple — “save more than you spend,” “take calculated risks,” “stay curious” — the way he presents them is what makes the difference. His words made me pause, reflect, and, yes, even change how I live.

One quote that stayed with me:

“Once I had given my mum my keep, I didn’t spend anything. At all. Nothing. If it cost money, I didn’t have it. If I couldn’t find it, make it, scrounge it or borrow it. I didn’t have it. I would do anything rather than spend a penny of my earnings.”

Another that made me stop in my tracks:

“The worst possible position a seventeen-year-old can be in is to be worth zero. Worth. That’s an interesting word.”

These aren’t just quotes for highlighting — though I did exactly that, in six different colours! This is the first book I’ve ever annotated like that, and I did it because I know I’ll need to come back to these pages when I need grounding or clarity.

Since finishing the book, John Moon’s words have stayed with me in small but significant ways. Now, when I see something in a shop and feel tempted to buy it, I stop and ask myself: Do I need this? Will it improve my life — or could I do something better with that money? That simple shift in mindset has already helped me save more than I thought possible — and, as a bonus, my flat feels less cluttered too.

This book doesn’t offer overnight success or flashy promises. What it does offer is something far more valuable: clarity, focus, and the kind of grounded advice that sticks with you long after the final page. I genuinely believe this book has changed how I think — and how I’ll live moving forward..

All views expressed are my own. This review, or parts of it, may also be shared on my social media channels and various book platforms. Links are accurate at the time of publication.

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