About my book

Inside front cover note.

‘I became a life insurance salesman in London in May 1969, for the glamour, the fast cars, the groupies… the beautiful women who’d stop at nothing to buy life insurance. It’s a very well-kept secret.’

Thus begins Peter Rosengard’s extraordinary account of his life so far, and the endless adventures in which he made, lost and remade a fortune; founded London’s legendary Comedy Store and discovered some of the greats in stand-up comedy; turned an unknown band into a chart-topping sensation; and sold the world’s biggest life insurance policy in history – which is still celebrated by the Guinness Book of Records.

But it’s not what he has done that makes this book so funny and inspiring. It’s how. Talking to Strangers is about ‘chutzpah’. But it’s also about doing the right thing.

Whether he’s attempting to set up the world’s biggest charity in a single day, helping a baggage-handler terrorist-attack hero to inspire people, or just finding a job for a stranger, Rosengard’s relentless, manic, often infuriating energy is testament to a simple belief that ‘nothing’s impossible’.

Back cover quotes.

“Peter Rosengard is quite, quite mad – but is also brilliant and funny and can sell anything to anyone. As many of us know to our cost.”

John Lloyd, TV producer (Q.I., Blackadder, Not the Nine o’ Clock News)

“If Peter Rosengard writes half as well as he talks this is a work of genius. If he writes half as fast as he talks you will have finished reading this before you started it.”

-Howard Jacobson, Booker Prize Winner

“Few careers outside show-business have encompassed such vivacity, such bravado, such adulation, such immodest rewards – in short, such sexiness.”

Richard Asquith, The Evening Standard: ES Magazine

“Peter was a key figure at the birth of what became known as Alternative Comedy. Because of that I am very grateful to him. Hence this quote, highly recommending a book which I have not read. It also means I don’t have to buy a policy.”

-Ben Elton

“Peter’s book is a marvellous rollercoaster tale of a life well lived. He delivers wisdom, jokes and empathy in equal measure. His experiences range from founding the Comedy Store and managing a chart topping pop group to selling the world’s biggest life policy for $100m – from a cold call. I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in business – or indeed life.”

-Luke Johnson

Chairman, Risk Capital Partners and FT columnist.