Felix Dennis

Felix Dennis is a successful British publisher, businessman and author, best known for his involvement in the iconic magazine, Oz during the late 1960s and as the founder of one of the UK’s leading independent publishers, Dennis Publishing.

Dennis was born in 1947 in Kings Heath, Birmingham. He attended King Edward VI grammar school, but left school at 15 with no qualifications due to his dyslexia. He then spent two years working in a variety of trade roles, followed by marketing jobs, before becoming a media executive in 1969.

Dennis is perhaps most infamous for his involvement in the launching of the bohemian counterculture magazine Oz. Oz was published between 1967 and 1973, and is renowned for its often-shocking content. During its publication, Dennis served as the London Editor and helped to produce the controversial “School Kids” Issue in 1971, which was subject to court proceedings due to its content.

Dennis’s success in the publishing world led him to launch Dennis Publishing in the late 1970s. Initially, Dennis Publishings magazines included Computer Shopper and genre titles related to computer and video games. This soon expanded to include Auto Express, The Week, Money Week and Maxim, plus many more.

However, throughout his career, Dennis wasn’t just limited to the publishing field; he also wrote several books and novels. In particular, his 1994 memoir, How to Get Rich, became an international bestseller and offered an invaluable insight into Dennis’s entrepreneurial principles.

Throughout his career, Felix Dennis dedicated much of his time to philanthropy. In particular, he was passionate about woodland conservation and helped to plant over 10 million trees across the UK over the decades. In 2004, he was awarded with an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Society of Arts, reflecting his passion for the environment.

In the summer of 2014, Felix Dennis sadly passed away from throat cancer at the age of 67. To this day, he still remains an iconic figure in the publishing world, with his publications and books offering valuable insight into the entrepreneurial mindset. He became an example to armchair entrepreneurs everywhere and his hobbies, publishing, and lifetime of business ventures remain an inspiration to many.

Throughout his life, Felix Dennis developed a successful career as a publisher and businessman. His involvement with Oz magazine during the ‘60s and his later publishing business helped to make him a household name in the publishing world. He left behind a legacy that included successful novels and books, his passion for woodland conservation, and an entrepreneurial model that inspired aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere.