That observation is very much at the heart of "Grand Ambition, " though not overtly stated by Mr. Knecht.

WSJ: Book Review: Grand Ambition

There is a scene toward the end of "Grand Ambition" where the author accompanies Mr. Von Allmen on a tour of Lady Linda.

WSJ: Book Review: Grand Ambition

This is a grand ambition, and there is a lot of work to getting all that information available, perfectly cleaned and structured, on a nearly instantaneous basis through our API.

FORBES: The Data-Driven Future Belongs To Those Who Have All The Facts

Endy has a grand ambition: to edit living organisms.

FORBES: Architect of Life

But the focus of "Grand Ambition" is on the "owner class, " as exemplified by the taciturn Mr. Von Allmen, now 71, a high-school dropout who did some youthful bumming around before finding his calling in accountancy and eventually becoming a private-equity mogul.

WSJ: Book Review: Grand Ambition

Although Brussels Eurocrats, depressed after the two ineffective commission presidencies of Jacques Santer and Romano Prodi, hanker after a man with the grand dreams and vaulting ambition of Jacques Delors, president in 1985-95, who pushed through the single market and plans for monetary union, a low-key but effective president may now be just what is needed.

ECONOMIST: European Commission

That almost in-bred ambition and winning mentality has brought him win four grand slam titles over the past two seasons -- notably claiming his first Wimbledon title in 2011 and his third Australian Open crown in the marathon six-hour final in Melbourne 12 months ago.

CNN: Visualizing greatness: How Novak Djokovic rose to the top

On starting his course three years ago, his ambition was to work on a big blockbuster title like Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto - but now he's more interested in becoming an indie games producer and join the the "bedroom developer" revolution.

BBC: Video games industry: Rise of the 'bedroom' developer

So, if he has the ambition or motivation, he is going to come back and try to win more Grand Slam tournaments.

BBC: Bjorn Borg claims Andy Murray has the game to win Slam