Alan Giles is the former CEO of the HMV Group. Now chairman of Fat Face and board member of The Marketing Society, he tells Elen Lewis about the seven wonders of his world.
1 View. From my seat at Madejski Stadium, home of Reading FC. My spirits soar when I see this view, at least until we concede the first goal.
2 Work of art. OK Computer by Radiohead. Fourteen years after it was released, it is still an astonishingly varied, beautiful and challenging album.
3 Journey. Cycling from Hambleden to Christmas Common. An exhilarating ride through the wonderful rolling scenery of the Chilterns, with one long, steady climb to raise the heart rate.
4 Book. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. Moving, harrowing, and thought provoking, it is the best work of one of the most talented writers of the modern era.
5 City. San Francisco. An inspiring, vibrant blend of cultures with a stunning setting. Compact enough to walk around, with stunning food, buildings and an all-pervasive ‘can do’ attitude.
6 Building. Mob Quad, Merton College, Oxford. A sense of timeless tranquillity and scholarship, with the humbling thought that little has changed not just since I was an undergraduate, but since the 13th century.
7 Hotel. The Sanctuary on Camelback, Scottsdale, Arizona. Stylish, peaceful, great cooking and a spectacular view. I relax immediately upon arrival, and I have booked my next trip already.