The book reveals and describes 5 different ways of applying The Zulu Principle for making big profits by buying shares of dynamic small cap growth companies, turnarounds, cyclical companies, shell companies, and industry leading companies. The author also explains when to buy such shares and, even more important, when to sell them — in essence, everything you need to know to make extraordinary profits from ordinary shares.

Jim Slater trained as an accountant. He first became interested in investment in the sixties, while a director at a British Leyland subsidiary. After publicising his methods via a column in The Sunday Telegraph, he launched the investment conglomerate Slater Walker, which he chaired until 1973. The company was known for its aggressive acquisitions in every area from banking to property. It collapsed in the 1973-4 recession, leaving Slater bankrupt to the tune of about £4m in today's money.

He fought his way back to prosperity through private property deals and writing for small investors. In 1990, he published his main work, The Zulu Principle. This popularised the use of a financial ratio devised in America, known as the PEG, or Price: Earnings Growth Ratio. He has since devised a monthly publication called Company REFS (Really Essential Financial Statistics), which helps investors to apply his system by listing PEGs and other key ratios and information on all UK companies.

Now living in Surrey, U.K., but far from retired, he is still very active in educating investors through his books and lectures. He is also a very active investor and a substantial shareholder in a number of public companies.