In his remarkable memoir, Allan Charles Branch invites readers on an unpredictable global journey from a Tasmanian boy to a revolutionary force in multiple industries.
He defied the odds to innovate technologies and resurrect failing companies worldwide. Allan's early years in Tasmania were spent navigating government, business, and education as he sought to discover who he wasn’t.
This journey led to a bold leap into entrepreneurship, where he established Tasmania’s first high-tech company. Relocating to Silicon Valley, he mingled with industry legends like Steve Wozniak and Isaac Asimov, pushing the boundaries of robotics and business. By the time he stepped away, he had possibly designed, built, and sold more intelligent robots than anyone else, redefining his identity as an inventor and entrepreneur.
But Allan’s journey didn’t end there. He embarked on a new chapter as a transformational leader, traveling the globe to rescue seemingly irredeemable companies using innovative problem-solving techniques honed through years of experience. Along the way, he not only revived businesses but also saved countless jobs and livelihoods.
Through these experiences, Allan reflects on the personal toll of his relentless career, navigating the complexities of success, loneliness, and self-discovery. Told through vivid vignettes, The Vandemonian captures Allan’s extraordinary journey of invention and transformation—revealing the man behind the robots.
Blending the introspective depth of Paul Auster’s Winter Journal with the transformative arc of Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes, The Vandemonian is a compelling narrative of human ingenuity and perseverance.
If you aspire to something but are not sure what it is, then this is a must read. Business leaders, politicians, entrepreneurs, anyone excited by success without aggression, compassionate leadership.
An uplifting example of a life and style often absent in today’s board rooms and government departments.
Biography/Memoir, Memoir, Literary, Art, History, Travel, Music, Nature, Literature
About The Author
Allan was born in Tasmania and attended multiple schools across Hobart, moving frequently as his family renovated homes. Though he originally aspired to be an artist, Allan’s early jobs revealed a natural aptitude for science and technology.
After finishing at Elizabeth College, he briefly studied medicine at the University of Tasmania before leaving to launch a high-tech career in robotics. Starting in 1979, Allan quickly gained an international reputation, developing smart mobile robots for clients such as Commodore, Radio Shack, and Moulinex across Asia, the USA, and Europe.
In 1993, he took the helm of Denning Mobile Robotics, a struggling NASDAQ-listed competitor, which he successfully revitalised over four years with high-profile clients like General Electric and NASA.
Following his work in robotics, Allan found his management skills transferable to other industries, establishing himself as a specialist in global corporate turnarounds—a career he continues to pursue, though he now devotes much of his time to writing.
While Allan has been published in both academic and popular media, this is his first book.
He currently divides his time between Tasmania, the USA, Thailand, and Germany.
