Nobody Will Shoot You If You Make Them Laugh (2026 Preface Edition) - Simon Murray - Bookniverse

Book infoWhy This Book Matters Now (2026 Edition)A Memoir for the Modern Hong Kong and the WorldIn this new edition, Simon Murray revisits his extraordinary journey with a fresh, deeply personal preface that transforms the book into a love letter to Hong Kong and to the enduring power of humour. The 2026 preface explores how laughter, once a survival skill in the city’s tea houses and boardrooms, remains a vital thread connecting generations, cultures, and adversaries—even as Hong Kong reinvents itself at breakneck speed.For readers facing uncertainty, reinvention, or ambition, this edition offers wisdom, warmth, and a reminder: humour is not a luxury, but a necessity.The StoryFrom orphanage in Leicester to the French Foreign Legion, Simon Murray’s early life forged an unbreakable core—first revealed in the million-selling classic Legionnaire. Since 1965, he has been a defining figure in global business from Hong Kong, rising from sales manager at Jardine Matheson to the leadership of Hutchison Whampoa, and founding Orange and other mobile operators across Asia and Africa.Yet business is only one dimension. Between boardrooms and balance sheets came the mountains and deserts:• Climbs in the Atlas Mountains• Treks to Everest and Annapurna• Summiting Kilimanjaro• Abseiling down The Shard in London• Running the Marathon des Sables—250 km across the Moroccan desert—at age 60• Becoming the oldest person to walk unsupported to the South PoleWhat’s New in the 2026 Preface Edition• A Hong Kong-centric preface: Murray reflects on the city’s paradoxes, resilience, and the changing role of humour—from survival tool to bridge for connection.• Fresh insights: On adaptation, wisdom, and the power of laughter in a world that feels more mechanical and unforgiving.• A universal message: Humour is not a distraction from reality; it is a way of engaging with it, a tool for survival, and a spark of humanity.Perfect For Readers Who Love• True adventure and extreme endurance• Leadership stories from inside global business• Memoirs that are honest, wise, and often laugh-out-loud funny• Inspirational lives lived beyond conventional limits• Books that stay on shelves—and in minds—long after readingAbout the AuthorSimon Murray is a Hong Kong–based businessman, adventurer, and author. He was appointed a CBE in 2013 and is a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur and Commander of the Order of Merit of the French Republic.ContentsContents Snapshot• Legionnaire beginnings and European escapades• Business breakthroughs in Hong Kong and beyond• Encounters with global leaders and local legends• The handover of Hong Kong and its aftermath• The birth of mobile communications in Asia• Reflections on risk, resilience, and reinvention1. Preface 20262. Chapter I: The Legionnaire3. Chapter II: The Greeks. The Scots. The English4. Chapter III: Roots5. Chapter IV: Learning Curve6. Chapter V: A Fork in the Road7. Chapter VI: Mather and Platt8. Chapter VII: W.O.S.B9. Chapter VIII: A Break10. Chapter IX: Return of the Prodigal11. Chapter X: Eastward Bound12. Chapter XI: The Heavies13. Chapter XII: Brussels. The Manneken Pis14. Chapter XIII: Wedding Bells15. Chapter XIV: ‘Go East Young Man’16. Chapter XV: The Cresta Run17. Chapter XVI: Hong Kong18. Chapter XVII: Water Into Wine19. Chapter XVIII: The Jardine Engineering Company20. Chapter XIX: Politics21. Chapter XX: Jardine’s in Toyland22. Chapter XXI: Adios Jardine Matheson23. Chapter XXII: Starting from Scratch24. Chapter XXIII: Coal25. Chapter XXIV: Davenham26. Chapter XXV: The Handover27. Chapter XXVI: Li Ka Shing28. Chapter XXVII: Hutchison Whampoa29. Chapter XXVIII: Mobile Telephones30. Chapter XXIX: Reunions31. Chapter XXX: Helicopters and Goodbyes32. Chapter XXXI: The Future is Bright33. Chapter XXXII: Adventures34. Chapter XXXIII: Deutsche Plus35. Chapter XXXIV: Riding the Rollercoaster of Fund Management36. Chapter XXXV: It’s Who You Know37. Chapter XXXVI: Lessons Learnt38. Acknowledgements