Politics and government Books

Book Synopsis*THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER* 'I can't imagine reading a better book this year’ Daily Mirror Tim Marshall's global bestseller Prisoners of Geography showed how every nation’s choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas and concrete. Since then, the geography hasn’t changed. But the world has. In this revelatory new book, Marshall explores ten regions that are set to shape global politics in a new age of great-power rivalry: Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Greece, Turkey, the Sahel, Ethiopia, Spain and Space. Find out why Europe’s next refugee crisis is closer than it thinks as trouble brews in the Sahel; why the Middle East must look beyond oil and sand to secure its future; why the eastern Mediterranean is one of the most volatile flashpoints of the twenty-first century; and why the Earth’s atmosphere is set to become the world’s next battleground. Delivered with Marshall’s trademark wit and insight, this is a lucid and gripping exploration of the power of geography to shape humanity’s past, present – and future. ‘Another outstanding guide to the modern world. Marshall is a master at explaining what you need to know and why.’ Peter FrankopanTrade Review‘An urgent and accessible study of the forces shaping our future on earth and beyond.’ Ed Husain, author of The House of Islam‘A skilful navigation of the regions that could define geopolitics for future generations. One to read to stay ahead of the game.’ Dharshini David, author of The Almighty Dollar‘A compelling account of the return of geopolitics by the master of maps.’ Professor Brendan Simms, author of Britain’s Europe‘An insight into what will shape the world . . . clear writing in complex times.’ Eamonn Holmes'A useful reminder of the value of consulting an atlas before blundering into world affairs, and especially so in times of rising geopolitical tensions . . . interesting insights.' Financial Times'Marshall's books are excellent for anyone who takes satisfaction in understanding the world and who harbours a fascination for the shifting alliances . . . Each segment of The Power of Geography is accessible, although by no means simple. Marshall covers much ground, moving smoothly through each nation's background, current struggles and options for the future . . . A sharp and concise evaluations of today's geopolitics.' - Geographical Magazine

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisVeering from the hilarious to the tragic, Andrew Mitchell's tales from the parliamentary jungle make for one of the most entertaining political memoirs in years. From his prep school years, straight out of Evelyn Waugh, through the Army to Cambridge, the City of London and the Palace of Westminster, Mitchell has passed through a series of British institutions at a time of furious social and political change - in the process becoming rather more cynical about the British Establishment. Here, he reflects on the perils and pleasures of loyalty, whether to a party, to individuals or to one's own principles. He brilliantly lifts the lid on the dark arts of the government Whips' Office ('Whipping, like stripping, is best done in private') and reveals how he accidentally started Boris Johnson's political career and later naively backed him to be Prime Minister - an act which rebounded on him spectacularly. Mitchell also writes candidly about the Plebgate fiasco, which led to four police officers being sacked for gross misconduct and in one case imprisoned, while Mitchell himself faced a bill of millions of pounds in legal fees after losing his libel case. Engagingly honest about his ups and downs in politics, Beyond a Fringe is crammed with hilarious political anecdotes and irresistible insider gossip from the heart of Westminster.Trade Review"A cracking good read - full of mischief and shrewd observation. Mitchell lifts the lid on so many layers of the British Establishment, and what he reveals will often make you laugh and occasionally make you want to weep. A human and political must-read." - Gyles Brandreth "For once, here is an enjoyable departure from the standard political memoir: entertaining anecdotes combined with robust commentary on Westminster life. For a political outsider, there was much to be learned here - I particularly appreciated the sober and insightful account of Andrew's work both in and out of the Department for International Development, a revelation in many senses." - Penelope Lively "This is a story of an English boy drenched at birth in the attitudes and pieties of his parents, class and time and the slow peeling away of what he had lovingly thought of as timeless verities as he shimmied up the pole to find that most assumed 'truths' last as long as fashions in hats. With a wry self-awareness and sense of the ludicrous, this is a thoroughly refreshing personal and political memoir." - Bob Geldof "Andrew Mitchell's memoirs are that very rare thing - a genuine political page-turner. He is witty, self-aware and alive to both the repeated ridiculousness and critical importance of politics. He gives us an inside tour through Establishment institutions with an amused eye, provides an expert's guide to the huge significance of international development work and also examines his own soul at a time of deep trial. For anyone who really wants to understand politics and politicians, this is the book to read." - Michael Gove "This is not your usual self-serving political autobiography. A pacy read, mixing light and shade, and light and heavy, it is unsparing - on the author as well on others. The story of his role in Boris Johnson's rise also confirms me in my view that Boris Johnson should be nowhere near Downing Street." - Alastair Campbell "Honest and insightful, Beyond a Fringe taught me loads I didn't know about how the other side works. A brilliant read." - Jess Phillips 'One of the several merits of this highly engaging memoir is the light it shines, often entertainingly and sometimes shockingly, on how ghastly that establishment can be.' - Andrew Rawnsley, the Guardian

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the high-stakes world of politics, there are superb highs and terrible lows - and never more so than in the period since 2010, during which so much has changed. Few are better placed to give an insider's view of the turmoil than the Rt Hon. Dame Andrea Leadsom MP. From working cross-party on reform of the European Union to taking to the stage at Wembley as a key figure in the Leave campaign, through two leadership bids, Cabinet intrigue, squaring off against an increasingly erratic Speaker, founding a campaign to give babies the best start for life and securing a landmark Spending Review settlement, Andrea's story tracks the ups and downs of a political career and particularly some of the challenges for female MPs. In this very personal account, she gives a real insight into the daily goings-on with ministers, parliamentary colleagues, civil servants, special advisers, the media and constituents. As a lifelong optimist, Andrea argues that political careers don't always - as is so often claimed - end in failure, and explains how, like a game of snakes and ladders, politics is often about getting yourself into the right place at the right time.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMagnitsky's brutal killing has remained uninvestigated and unpunished to this day. His farcical posthumous show-trial brought Putin's regime to a new low in the eyes of the international community.Trade Review"Reads like a classic thriller, with an everyman hero alone and in danger in a hostile foreign city ... but it's all true, and it's a story that needs to be told." Lee Child "The story of Sergei Magnitsky's life and death is a shocking true-life thriller, and Bill Browder was the man to write it." Tom Stoppard "A sizzling account of Mr Browder's rise, fall and metamorphosis from bombastic financier to renowned human-rights activist ... Reads more like a financial thriller than a real-life story." The Economist "An unburdening, a witness statement and a thriller all at the same time ... Electrifying ... One heck of a read." -- Giles Whittell The Times "An expose of years of state-sponsored torture and murder ... this story of courage combined with a dash of obsessiveness is about the real here and now." -- Sonia Purnell The Independent

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn insidious snobbery has taken root in parts of progressive Britain. Working-class voters have flexed their political muscles and helped to change the direction of the country, but in doing so they have been met with disdain and even abuse from elites in politics, culture and business. They have been derided as uneducated, bigoted turkeys voting for Christmas, as Empire apologists patriotic to the point of delusion. At election time, we hear a lot about 'levelling up the Red Wall'. But when the votes have been counted, what can actually be done to meet the very real concerns of the 'left behind' in the UK's post-industrial towns? In these once vibrant hubs of progress, working-class voters now face the prospect of being minimised or ridiculed in cultural life, economically marginalised and abandoned educationally. In this rousing polemic, David Skelton explores the roots and reality of this new snobbery, calling for an end to the divisive culture war and the creation of a new politics of the common good, empowering workers, remaking the economy and placing communities centre stage. Above all, he argues that we now have a once-in-a-century opportunity to bring about permanent change.Trade Review"David Skelton is, once again, excellent. For those baffled by the new snobbery - the disdain directed towards working-class people for daring to think for themselves or for wanting a better future for their families and local communities - this brilliant book is essential reading." - Nick Timothy, former Downing Street chief of staff, Daily Telegraph columnist and author of Remaking One Nation: The Future of Conservatism "Insightful and informative, The New Snobbery is a must-read for anyone aiming to understand the politics of the 2020s." - Nadhim Zahawi MP "If you want to understand why Labour's Red Wall crumbled and why the Conservatives are not only winning but changing, read this thoughtful book by one of our most prescient and empathetic social and political writers. Highly recommended." - Jason Cowley, editor-in-chief, New Statesman "For many years David Skelton has been a political pioneer in his attempts to develop a distinct 'blue-collar' conservatism. In recent times, with talk of 'levelling up', his party has moved decisively in his direction. In this vital book Skelton urges them to complete the journey by embracing a new pro-worker settlement: one built around dignified and fulfilling work, which renews our vocations, empowers and rewards workers and strengthens their voices and communities. He makes a compelling case, not just in terms of political calculation but in the name of justice. I don't know if the Tories will listen to and embrace Skelton's ideas, but if they do, my party should really start to worry." - Jon Cruddas Labour MP and author of The Dignity of Labour "David Skelton writes with passion and perception about the fear and loathing that progressives feel for the working class." - Maurice Glasman, Labour life peer and director of the Common Good Foundation

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen Covid-19 swept the world, governments scrambled to protect their citizens and chart a course back to normality. As Health Secretary, Matt Hancock was at the forefront of Britain's battle against the virus, trying to steer the country through the crisis in a world where information was scarce, judgements huge and the roadmap non-existent. Drawing on a wealth of never-before-seen material, including official records, his notes at the time and communications with all the key players in Britain's Covid-19 story, this candid account reveals the inner workings of government during a time of national crisis, reflecting on both the successes and the failures. Recounting the most important decisions in the race to develop a vaccine in record time and to build a nationwide testing capacity from the ground up, Pandemic Diaries provides the definitive account of Britain's battle to turn the tide against Covid-19. Crucially, it also offers an honest assessment of the lessons we need to learn to be prepared for next time - because there will be a next time.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Times Political Book of the Year A Daily Mail Political Book of the Year A Guardian Political Book of the Year An Independent Political Book of the Year Veering from the hilarious to the tragic, Andrew Mitchell's tales from the parliamentary jungle make for one of the most entertaining political memoirs in years. From his prep school years, straight out of Evelyn Waugh, through the Army to Cambridge, the City of London and the Palace of Westminster, Mitchell has passed through a series of British institutions at a time of furious social change - in the process becoming rather more cynical about the Establishment. Here, he brilliantly lifts the lid on its inner workings, from the punctilio of high finance to the dark arts of the government Whips' Office, and reveals how he accidentally started Boris Johnson's political career - an act which rebounded on him spectacularly. Engagingly honest about his ups and downs in politics, Beyond a Fringe is crammed with riotous political anecdotes and irresistible insider gossip from the heart of Westminster.Trade Review"A cracking good read - full of mischief and shrewd observation. Mitchell lifts the lid on so many layers of the British Establishment, and what he reveals will often make you laugh and occasionally make you want to weep. A human and political must-read." Gyles Brandreth

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the 1970s, a network of radical extremists terrorised the West with plane hijackings and hostage-takings. Among them were the beautiful young Leila Khaled with her jewellery made from grenade rings, the hard-drinking philanderer Carlos the Jackal sporting shades and open-neck shirts, and the radical leftists of the Baader-Meinhof Gang. They sought to liberate the Palestinians and overthrow western imperialism, orchestrating spectacularly violent attacks that held governments to ransom and the world gripped to their television screens.Drawing on decades of research, declassified archive material and original interviews with witnesses and participants, Jason Burke provides a masterful account of their exploits over the course of this dark decade. From Dawson''s Field and the Munich Olympics to the Iranian Embassy Siege in London and the Beirut bombings of the early 1980s, he takes us into the lives and minds of the perpetrators of these attacks, as well as the government agents who sought to thwart and assassinate them. In the process, he shows how the extreme fringe of a secular, leftist, revolutionary movement ultimately birthed something altogether different and far more lethal: the violent expression of a fanatically conservative religious zealotry.Gripping, globe-spanning and pulsing with drama, The Revolutionists is the definitive account of the decade when terrorism took to the skies and transformed the world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE FINANCIAL TIMES AND SCHRODERS BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024A NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024'A great book ... a wonderful way of talking about our current world' Rory Stewart'Mischievous and fiercely intelligent' Ed Smith, New Statesman'One of the most insightful books I've read in a long time' Sam Freedman'The kind of book from which you look up to find the world suddenly more comprehensible. Also, it's about ten times funnier than any book about management has the right to be' GuardianWhen we avoid taking a decision, what happens to it? In The Unaccountability Machine, Dan Davies examines why markets, institutions and even governments systematically generate outcomes that everyone involved claims not to want. He casts new light on the writing of Stafford Beer, a legendary economist who argued in the 1950s that we should regard organisations as artificial intelligences, capable of taking decisions that are distinct from the intentions of their members.Management cybernetics was Beer's science of applying self-regulation in organisational settings, but it was largely ignored - with the result being the political and economic crises that that we see today. With his signature blend of cynicism and journalistic rigour, Davies looks at what's gone wrong, and what might have been, had the world listened to Stafford Beer when it had the chance.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHarry Shukman is a researcher at HOPE not hate, an anti-fascist organisation. Formerly a journalist, he worked as a news reporter for The Times and then a writer and editor for the Manchester Mill an investigative news website and its sister sites in Liverpool and Sheffield.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNicola Sturgeon served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party from 2014 to 2023 and has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament since its establishment in 1999. As leader of the SNP, she worked with five British Prime Ministers, from David Cameron to Rishi Sunak. Frankly is her deeply personal memoir of her time in office.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Elegant ... calm and generous' Mary Beard, Guardian The must-read, pocket-sized Big Think book of 2020 One of the Guardian's 'Best Books to Inspire Compassion' One of Independent's Books of the Month A Cosmopolitan 'Revolutionary Read' Ours is the age of contagious anxiety. We feel overwhelmed by the events around us, by injustice, by suffering, by an endless feeling of crisis. So, how can we nurture the parts of ourselves that hope, trust and believe in something better? And how can we stay sane in this age of division? In this powerful, uplifting plea for conscious optimism, Booker Prize-nominated novelist and activist Elif Shafak draws on her own memories and delves into the power of stories to bring us together. In the process, she reveals how listening to each other can nurture democracy, empathy and our faith in a kinder and wiser future.Trade ReviewOne of the best writers in the world today -- Hanif KureishiSharp and elegant ... I did find myself hoping that Facebook and Like (or whatever they are now called) might one day come across this little book - and thinking that its calm and generous view of the world might give them back some part of the optimism that had greeted their arrival. -- Mary Beard * Guardian *A calmly rational response to extraordinary circumstances ... there is comfort in having a voice like Shafak's to guide us * The i Paper *Insightful and very moving -- John Harris * Guardian *A deeply thought-provoking delight * Independent *Fortifying and optimistic * Net-a-Porter Magazine *One of the most important writers at work today * Independent *Shafak's writings are an embodiment of radical remembrance; with existential fervour, they pull together the past and future to bring forth a fully realised present that feels all the more urgent * Dazed *PRAISE FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS: 'Expect vibrant, vivid and eye-opening descriptions of Middle Eastern life propelled by a tender storyline, all in Shafak's haunting, beautiful and considered prose' * Vanity Fair *Incredibly sensuous and poetic and evocative -- Pandora Sykes * The High Low *Richly uplifting... truly beautiful writing -- Nicola SturgeonSimply magnificent, a truly captivating work of immense power and beauty, on the essence of life and its end -- Philippe SandsA vivid carnival of life and death, cruelty and kindness, love, politics and deep humanity. Brilliant! -- Helena KennedyBeautifully written ... a complex vision of how emotions interact with political life -- Devi Sridhar * Lancet *Beautifully written ... calls for the importance of centring knowledge, storytelling, empathy, and wisdom in our lives. -- Devi Sridhar * Lancet *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'If the United States does not lead, there will be no leadership. If the US instead turns inward, there will be a price to be paid later.' - George H. W. Bush Marking thirty years since the end of George H. W. Bush's presidency, Robin Renwick paints a warm, affectionate portrait of a President who sought to unify rather than divide his country, and whose staunch belief in diplomacy strengthened cooperation around the world. A True Statesman explores Bush's core belief in the United States as the 'indispensable nation' in helping to deal with world crises, charting his efforts to end the Cold War, secure the reunification of Germany and drive Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. Extending beyond Bush's time in office, it also reflects on US foreign policy over the past three decades, examining the consequences of his successors' differing approaches to America's role on the world stage. Incisively written by a former British Ambassador to Washington, this insider account offers fresh insights into both the 41st President and America's foreign policy from Iran-Contra to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFormer Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt's Can We Be Great Again? is a thought-provoking book about our place in the world in the century ahead. Looking back at his time as this country's global ambassador, Jeremy Hunt asks: is Britain a minor player, marginalized by our departure from the EU and dwarfed by the rise of new economies? Or is there a major role for us to play in a rapidly changing international order?With the election of President Trump, the answer to that question matters. A world that was already becoming more dangerous has also become more unpredictable. As competition increases between economic and military superpowers, others must make choices. If the UK really is a busted flush, it would be reasonable to stand back, go with the flow and focus on defending our more narrow interests. But if we aren't, now more than ever is a moment to try and defend the huge progress in freedom and democracy we have seen over the last century.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn recent years the modern world has developed a brave new concept: ''soft power''. It is the power of friendly persuasion rather than command, and it invites nations to compete (as they did in the nineteenth century) to expand their ''sphere of influence'' as brands in a global marketplace. In Bloody Foreigners and The Last Wolf, Robert Winder explored the way Britain was shaped first by migration, and then by hidden geographical factors. Now, in Soft Power he reveals the ways in which modern states are asserting themselves not through traditional realpolitik but through alternative means: business, language, culture, ideas, sport, education, music, even food - the texture and values of history and daily life. Moving from West to East, the book tells the story of soft power by exploring the varied ways in which it operates - from an American sheriff in Poland to an English garden in Ravello, a French vineyard in Australia, an Asian restauTrade ReviewWinder is a highly knowledgeable guide to this slippery subject. His book is also beautifully written in an enviably easystyle. There is not a redundant sentence in it and the details are expertly chosen and revealing * Literary Review *The book reflects its author's intelligence and wide reading -- Max Hastings * Sunday Times *Stimulating . . . fascinating * Mail on Sunday *

Read more less

Book SynopsisCritical Times is the brilliant new collection of acerbic sketches of contemporary political life by The Times's master of satire, Peter Brookes. Brookes, multiple winner of the British Press Awards Cartoonist of the Year, here showcases the stand-out pieces from his opinion-page cartoons in The Times, each up to the minute and breathtaking in its bite and wit. Critical Times subjects our political overlords to the most brutal of roastings, ridiculing those who profess to lead us and holding the mighty to account. Always hilarious and beautifully crafted, these cartoons - from Brexit to Trump, and back again - are the sumptuous evidence of a contemporary genius at work. Seen through the mind of Peter Brookes evidence that we are indeed living through critical times.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom Theodore Roosevelt to Barack Obama, discover the most significant speeches of the modern era!Whether it was Churchill rousing the British to take up arms or the dream of Martin Luther King, Fidel Castro inspiring the Cuban revolution or Barack Obama on Selma and the meaning of America, speeches have profoundly influenced the way we see ourselves and society.Gathered here are some of the most extraordinary and memorable speeches of the last century - from Lenin to Reagan, Thatcher to Malala. Some are well known, others less so, but all helped form the world we now inhabit.Trade ReviewIt would be hard to do better than MacArthur's selection, which is a tribute to the breadth of his knowledge * The Times *Time and again, MacArthur satisfies the reader's expectations. They are all here: Lloyd George's fit country for heroes, Woodrow Wilson's world made safe for democracy, Enoch Powell's River Tiber foaming with much blood. Those who hate the sound of public men may still find it hard to listen to MacArthur's voices and not be moved * The Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsFeaturing speeches from figures including: • Theodore Roosevelt • Mahatma Gandhi • Winston Churchill • Franklin Roosevelt • Martin Luther King Jr. • John F. Kennedy • Nelson Mandela • Ronald Reagan • Betty Friedan • Margaret Thatcher • Queen Elizabeth II • Bill Clinton • Barack Obama • Malala Yousafzai • Michelle Obama • Hillary Clinton

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn intimate and perceptive biography of Zbigniew Brzezinski one of America's greatest and most influential geopolitical thinkers.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'The Queen was at the next table. I caught her staring at me during the national anthem and half-wondered whether someone had pointed me out as the author of that incident which the Mail on Sunday had splashed all over the front page of its review section, about which she would not have been too pleased.' No longer in the tent, but not quite out of it, celebrated diarist Chris Mullin gives his take on the twelve turbulent years since he left Parliament. With his trademark wit and keen eye for the absurd, he recounts events from the fall of New Labour to the death of the Queen. Rich in anecdote, this candid new volume includes encounters with movers and shakers from all political parties and with citizens from all walks of life, from dustmen to dukes. "One of Mullin's charms is his readiness to like people who don't echo his politics." Jenni Russell, Sunday Times

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIsabella Hammad is the author of The Parisian and Enter Ghost. She has been shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction and the RSL Ondaatje Prize, and has been awarded the RSL Encore Prize, the Aspen Words Literary Prize, the Plimpton Prize for Fiction, the Sue Kaufman Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Palestine Book Award and a Betty Trask Award. She has received fellowships from MacDowell and the Lannan Foundation. In 2023, she was included as one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisPolitics looked straightforward when Patrick Kidd took over the reins of the daily political sketch in The Times in 2015. David Cameron had just won a general election and would clearly be Prime Minister for as long as he wanted; George Osborne was his obvious successor (rather than the editor of a free London evening newspaper); Theresa May was a slightly underwhelming Home Secretary and Jeremy Corbyn an anonymous Labour backbencher best known as a serial rebel against his own party. Then suddenly everything went a bit strange. In this anthology of his best columns from the past four years, Kidd plays the role of parliamentary theatre critic, chronicling the collapse of Cameron, the nebulous clarity of May, the rise and refusal to fall of Corbyn and Boris Johnson's repeated failure to keep his foot out of his mouth. Featuring a menagerie of supporting oddballs, such as Jacob and the Mogglodytes, Failing Grayling, Gavin `Private Pike' Williamson and the simpering lobby fodder that are Toady, Lickspittle and Creep, this is a much-needed antidote to the gloom of the Brexit years.Trade Review"The Weak are a Long Time in Politics is a gathering of, as it were, verbal Peter Brookes cartoons, a skewering of characters capable of unabashedly giving diametrically opposed answers in five minutes to the same important question."- Roger Lewis, The Times "Much more than a collection of parliamentary sketches for The Times, it coheres as a book - a masterpiece of satire." - The Spectator

Read more less

Book SynopsisGun Violence 101 will build on American Carnage and other books that counter the National Rifle Association's forty-year campaign to convince Americans that having a gun in the home or carrying a gun makes them safer. The evidence is overwhelming that this is not the case and that guns in the home, for example, are far more likely to be used against a family member or in a suicide attempt than against an intruder. Gun Violence 101 is the first illustrated book presenting a research-based overview of guns and gun violence to the non-expert.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDo you know your Boosterism from your Backstopectomy? Can you tell Prometheus from Cincinnatus, and if so, do you know what Prime Minister Boris Johnson is trying to say when he namechecks esoteric figures from the classics, quotes obscure phrases from history, or even just plain makes words up? Certainly, Johnson is the most verbose Prime Minister of recent years, the result no doubt of a classical education, a closet full of public-school confidence and a former career as a wordsmith for The Times. Boris, more than perhaps any other leader, knows the importance of words, but he also knows how to have serious fun with them.Trade Review"For the past three decades Simon Walters has been Westminster's most brilliant political journalist. In The Borisaurus, he applies his talents to a fascinating exploration of how Boris Johnson has invented a new type of political discourse. Everyone who wants to understand British politics today must read this book and keep it by their desk." - Peter Oborne, broadcaster, columnist and former chief political commentator of the Daily Telegraph "Some PMs have struggled with language, so get others to write their words. Boris sees language as Play-Doh, as raw material to be manipulated into an infinite number of novel shapes and combinations. This ingenious book takes us on a journey into the mind of our Play-Doh player-in-chief." - Anthony Seldon, historian and author of May at 10 "Boris Johnson is perhaps the most beguiling wordsmith of the age, soaring to the peak of high office on wings of glittering prose. How did he amass his memory bank of instantly retrievable bon mots and pitch-perfect classical allusions? Here, Simon Walters studies the BoJo trail from Eton to Downing Street, filtering the pure ore from the glister of fool's gold." - Trevor Kavanagh, journalist and former political editor of The Sun

Read more less

Book SynopsisCarrie Johnson is not only the consort of the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson; she is also considered by some to be the second most powerful unelected woman in Britain after the Queen. Since she moved into Downing Street in July 2019, questions have been raised about her perceived influence, her apparent desire to control events, and the number of her associates who have been appointed to positions of standing in the government machine. So, are these concerns justified? In this carefully researched unauthorised biography, Michael Ashcroft charts the extraordinary ascent of Mrs Johnson, speaking to multiple sources who have been close to her and to Boris Johnson in recent years to produce a fascinating portrait of a woman who is still under the age of thirty-five. The book scrutinises Mrs Johnson's colourful family, her attempt to become a professional actress, and her early decision to work in politics. Long before she moved into No. 10, Mrs Johnson made a name for herself as a Conservative Party press aide before becoming a special adviser to two Cabinet ministers and eventually director of communications at Conservative campaign headquarters. Aside from politics, she is also the mother of two young children and campaigns in the fields of the environment and animal welfare. Carrie Johnson is without doubt a very modern prime ministerial spouse. This examination of her career and life offers the electorate the chance to assess exactly what role she plays in Boris Johnson's unpredictable administration and why that matters.Trade Review“The book is not the misogynist hatchet job that many reviews suggest and most readers will be able to discern that much of what is alleged is known to only those close to the events.” Maggie Pagano, Reaction.

Read more less

Book SynopsisUPDATED WITH A NEW PREFACELONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZELONGLISTED FOR THE FINANCIAL TIMES AND SCHRODERS BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE LIONEL GELBER PRIZEA FINANCIAL TIMES TECHNOLOGY BOOK OF THE YEAR''The blueprint we need for the challenges ahead'' Shoshana Zuboff''If you are not already an addict of Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson''s previous books, Power and Progress is guaranteed to make you one'' Jared Diamond''A breathtaking tour of the history and future of technology'' Abhijit Banerjee and Esther DufloA bold new interpretation of why technology benefits the elites - and how we must reshape the path of innovation to create true shared prosperity. A thousand years of history make one thing clear: progress is not automatic but depends on the choices we make. Much of the wealth generated by agricultural advances during the Middle A

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom Jon Sopel, bestselling author and presenter of hit podcast The News Agents, comes an incisive examination of post-Brexit Britain and what it means for our future.''I like and trust Jon Sopel and you should too''JOE LYCETT''A thrilling, nerve-wracking book. You couldn''t make the last ten years up; thanks to Jon Sopel, you don''t have to''PETER FRANKOPAN''A hugely entertaining and quite traumatic rollercoaster''ARMANDO IANNUCCI''Acute and unflinching - Sopel deploys his foreign correspondent skills on home shores as well as far ones, and brings together the story of a tumultuous few years on both sides of the Atlantic''MISHAL HUSAINReturning to the UK in some ways has been disconcerting or maybe discombobulating would be a better word. It is, after all, my home; it is where I grew up, a country I love and am proud of. But either it's changed, or I have. Maybe both.It just feels like a strange land. At the beginning of 2022, after eight years of political reporting in the US, Jon Sopel returned home to the UK and having spent almost a third of his career abroad, he found a very different place to the one he left. In Strangeland, his first book since launching the global hit podcast The News Agents, he asks: What is the Britain he's come home to?In the US, Jon was the outsider looking in, firm in the belief that the common language of English masked our fundamental differences; in terms of values and beliefs, it seemed the British had much more in common with our European neighbours.Strangeland is Jon's account of how much that has changed. The US was a country he thought he knew well but didn't really; returning home has been in some ways even more disconcerting either Britain, the country he grew up in, has changed dramatically, or he has. Perhaps it's both.A trenchant analysis of politics, people, and everything in between, Strangeland is an unforgettable portrait of a country gone through the looking glass.

Read more less

Book Synopsis"A superb book.…Mearsheimer has made a significant contribution to our understanding of the behavior of great powers."—Barry R. Posen, The National InterestTrade Review"Backed by an impressive historical review and a refreshingly systematic analysis of power…[S]ure to provoke debate among scholars…An ambitious undertaking." -- Patricia Cohen - New York Times"Mearsheimer provides an admirable mixture of conceptual clarity and detailed historical observation…He is an excellent critic of rival perspectives, exposing their weaknesses with real forensic flair. Admirably, he seems to be happiest when swimming against the prevailing tide of academic opinion." -- Adam Roberts - Times Literary Supplement"A signal triumph." -- Robert D. Kaplan - The Atlantic

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat can Roger Federer teach us about the secret of longevity? What do the All Blacks have in common with improvised jazz musicians? What can cognitive neuroscientists tell us about what happens to the brains of sportspeople when they perform?And why did Johan Cruyff believe that beauty was more important than winning? Matthew Syed, ''Sports Journalist of the Year 2016'', answers these questions and more in a fascinating, wide-ranging and provocative book about the mental game of sport. How do we become the best that we can be, as individuals, teams and as organisations? Sport, with its innate sense of drama, its competitive edge, its psychological pressures, its sense of morality and its illusive quest for perfection, provides the answers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSam Freedman is a senior fellow at the Institute for Government and a senior adviser to Ark Schools. He writes about policy and politics for numerous outlets including the Financial Times, Sunday Times, Guardian and New Statesman. With his father, he runs Comment is Freed', Britain's most popular politics Substack. He has a following of over 140,000 on X.He has spent his career working in different policy-focused roles around Westminster, including as an adviser to the leader of the opposition and three years at the Department for Education as a senior policy adviser. Failed State is his first book.

Read more less