Acknowledgements. Introduction: To Mr. Andrew. Chapter One. Thrown Off the Treadmill. Finding out what sort of friends I'd got, and how useful the lawyers could be. Hearing how other people had coped-and deciding to burn the suit. Chapter Two. What Am I Going to Do? How was I supposed to be feeling? And had I been thrown off the treadmill or set free from prison? Chapter Three. Always Look on the... ...Bright Side of Life, they say - but it's not that easy. There's always the duck-pond - and the gym. Taking stock, taking control, and taking a new opportunity. Chapter Four. Looking for Help. The biggest question of all, and the professionals who say they can help you answer it - outplacement agencies, counselors, and career coaches. Chapter Five. Aftershock. The Aftershock column, the caller from hell, and the Aftershock generation. There is a life outside. Chapter Six. Grabbing at Logs. Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor - not to mention fireman, plumber, and teacher. Chapter Seven. Becoming Gordon Ramsay. The most important lesson of all - and it involves white wine and shallots. And just look who is on your side. Chapter Eight. Selling Yourself. What is it about interviews? And Ian Botham and the myth of experience. Chapter Nine. Being Your Own Boss. Scary statistics for would-be businessmen - have you got what it takes? Freelances and franchises. Chapter Ten. A Brief Stopover in Hell. Networking parties - the Spanish Inquisition of the 21st century. How to handle them and how to avoid them. Chapter Eleven. The Money Man. A surprisingly good friend in need. Another big question, and the five-point plan to security. Chapter Twelve. Rattling a Tin. Becoming Mr. Nice - finding out about how charities work, and what they can do for you. Chapter Thirteen. So What Did I Want? A few good examples - and the biggest decision so far. Chapter Fourteen. Making It Happen. One nightmare and half a dozen dreams - how people take their second chances. Afterword. Why Have You Been Reading This Book? Dogs eating dogs, and a few other thoughts.

"To Mr. Andrew,

This is to Inform you that from May 31st, your contract will not be renewed. You should contact the personnel Department to arrange payment of your three months' pay in lieu of notice".

For most people, a fear of redundancy hangs over them like a dark cloud. In Andrew Taylor's case, it was a sudden, brutal push in the back. Burning the Suit shows how it can be used as an opportunity to take control of your life.

Walking away is not the only solution when you find your work is no longer satisfying. There is a silent army of the discontented who wonder whether a more exciting, more fulfilling life is possible. Burning the Suit is about becoming aware of the possibilities that exist, and developing the confidence to make them happen.

Over the last years, Andrew Taylor has worked as a journalist in senior positions in television, newspapers and magazines in Britain and the Middle East. He contributed to the Sunday Times Aftershock series on dealing with redundancy and is also the author of A Plum in Your Mouth.