A comprehensive history of the British Isles from the earliest times. I thoroughly enjoyed the history based on archaeological finds, but the recent pA comprehensive history of the British Isles from the earliest times. I thoroughly enjoyed the history based on archaeological finds, but the recent political analysis was a bit thin and a misfit, I failed to understand the common thread of the book, the earlier chapters based on archaeological findings were expected but the recent political bits had little to do with geography....more
The writer is an unapologetic imperialist of a bygone era. Or is it really bygone? The story and the achievement of the British people in colonising aThe writer is an unapologetic imperialist of a bygone era. Or is it really bygone? The story and the achievement of the British people in colonising and controlling people across the globe is indeed a proud achievement. An event which must be hard for the British to ignore, especially when imperialism is considered these days to be a selfish and bullish act. And I agree with the writer, that British imperialism was built by certain dynamic individuals who operated with impunity with limited control and who were able to achieve great gains. The resulting kingdom worked as long as imperialism was in fashion, but once the definition of imperialism changed for the worst, it was relinquished rather hurriedly, and that hurried and ungainly exit is something which the writer has glossed over. The problem with British Imperialism or any imperialism is that there is no real concept of a soft handover among different races. By soft handovers, I mean Canada and Australia as opposed to Nigeria or India....more
Once a great nation, with colonies spread across the world; is struggling to cope with reality. The reality of its new place in the new world order. AOnce a great nation, with colonies spread across the world; is struggling to cope with reality. The reality of its new place in the new world order. A new identity has to be adopted, which realistically means just being another European country, but most of the English are still clinging to an altered anglo identity, partners with the Americans and supported by the Commonwealth nations.
I can relate, after living in the UK as a Pakistani for over 20 years I am still struggling with two identities. It's a constant debilitating dilemma, one which only I can cure. But first I have to consider both identities side by side, decide which one is for me, only then will I be able to adopt one.
The problem with Britain is that this identity debate is not happening, no one really wants to be just another European country, they want to be something far better, cut above all the other European nations, want their space at the top of the table. Only more misery will force the British to address this fundamental dichotomy....more
Tom is a jew, and he considers Jeremy Corbyn as a marxist jew hater, a certified anti semitic, who has somehow managed to convert all of the Labour paTom is a jew, and he considers Jeremy Corbyn as a marxist jew hater, a certified anti semitic, who has somehow managed to convert all of the Labour party into anti-semitics. Tom has used the classic sophist method of syllogism, a statement of fact juxtaposed with completely irrelevant statement to leave the reader to make his own conclusion. For instance, a young Jeremy Corbyn has come to London to loom for a job, and Stalin has captured Czechoslovakia brutally suppressing all dissent. Page after page is filled with similar premises till the final chapters where it is decided that the whole Labour party has been converted into a jew hating organisation. Tom even had the audacity to pin the blame of Jo Cox’s murder on Labour’s jew hating brigade.
Now, the issue for me is that if Tom is a jew than i am a Muslim and in this new age of highly polarised British politics i am going to side with Labour party rather than a very Islam-phobic Tory party, because politics is a game of choice. ...more
Sam has had an interesting life, an extremely stressful and unrewarding job but if he compares his PTSD experiences with the lives of soldiers than heSam has had an interesting life, an extremely stressful and unrewarding job but if he compares his PTSD experiences with the lives of soldiers than he should not really expect a lot of recognition as well. Prison officers are dealing with hardened criminals so they will be experiencing pretty unpleasant events. That's probably why the cream talent of the country are not opting for these jobs. I do agree with him that more support should be provided as well as deportation of criminals to their parent countries, which will relieve some of the stress of the overpopulated and understaffed prison service. The problem with the book was that there was no real story, just a number of very similar stories loosely hanging together which kept me mildly interested. The only reason I kept reading this book was becuase I knew so little about the lives of convicts, and this is the best way to learn about their lives is to read about someone else's experiences rather than risk meeting these dangerous people myslef. Which means there is value in such books. ...more
This book is very relevant in the backdrop of the Brexit decision by the British people on 2016. The seeds of the great dissent felt bu the British peThis book is very relevant in the backdrop of the Brexit decision by the British people on 2016. The seeds of the great dissent felt bu the British people started right after VE day when the ‘victors’ were subjected to years of austerity and hardship. Must have been extremely frustrating for the victorious nation when they saw the loser Germans slowly build back a successful and prosperous nation rising like a Phoenix from the ashes. It was expected by the germans to pay for the war damage but why were the victorious British made to pay by the real victors USA?
I think this alternate story of the British standing alone against the Germans is a continuation of the war time propaganda started by the British war time establishment which has never been challenged. And i think now it is far too late to address this historical anomaly, because after Brexit the British establishment will have to prepare its people for austerity all ever again as once again the mighty British are all alone fighting god knows who. ...more
Absolutely fantastic book on the current state of the fall democracy in the West, especially focussing on UK and USA. The electorate has lost all hopeAbsolutely fantastic book on the current state of the fall democracy in the West, especially focussing on UK and USA. The electorate has lost all hope in the current democratic setup and is shouting for a change in the system. But instead of considering changes in the democratic system, the archaic politicians are covering the main issue by blaming immigrants which will make the situation even more toxic.
I would agree with the author, if democracy is the will and gives power to the people then drastic changes have to be made before democracy commits suicide. Why cannot we have more than an occasional referendum? And why not more than one like the Brexit refendum when numerous referendums are carried out in countries like Switzerland all the time?...more
Fantastic profile of USA culture, especially if you are a Brit. The book gives a journalist account of American society with just the right amount of Fantastic profile of USA culture, especially if you are a Brit. The book gives a journalist account of American society with just the right amount of historical context. But the best bits are reserved for so-called 'special relationship' between US and UK. Jon is not only candid but unreservedly non-partisan when it comes to explaining this relationship in its historical context.
I also understood just how much the American society loves their guns and the love of their Trump.
And I think if the economy improves, Trump will be re-elected as he has completely managed to re-create the outdated concept of democracy....more
This is not an easy job, trying to directly argue with ordinary deranged individuals who are living in a climate of fear. They are insecure, they are This is not an easy job, trying to directly argue with ordinary deranged individuals who are living in a climate of fear. They are insecure, they are afraid, they feel as if they are the real victims. James blames Project Fear of brainwashing these individuals but I think some of the anger is a result of too much change being imposed on a society too quickly. But regardless of the why, James quest to face these individuals on national radio is indeed commendable. The example conversations in the book are very interesting which made listening to this wonderful audiobook a very enjoyable experience indeed. I do agree with this approach of tackling these individuals as if not challenged their paranoia will only grow. ...more
The book changed my whole perception of racism, as I always use to reject racism as an archaic and defunct idea with no real place in the modern cultuThe book changed my whole perception of racism, as I always use to reject racism as an archaic and defunct idea with no real place in the modern cultures of today. Because for me believing in racism could completely cloud my judgment, forcing me to selfishly only think about my own needs and wants, blocking any other considerations which could have affected the situation. I also knew that racism fuels xenophobia, but xenophobia can also be caused by tribes, nationalities, class, language and cultures as well as education. So until Afua made it to Ghana, her quest for her black identity seemed like a principled but somewhat romantic quest with no real meaning for me still living in Britain. But that all changed after she chose to move back to London and started to explain the concept of 'identity'. It was identity not race which orchestrated Britain's divorce from EU, as in the case of Brexit it was the British identity against a white Eastern European influx of immigrants. It's only then when I began to realise the importance attached to my own identity among the many in Britain because of this same identity dictates my chances of getting a job, respect and conducting business in today's British culture. Afua has also exposed a major fault line in the history of Britain. History books have to analyse and explain Britain's true role in the slave trade and the colonisation especially in this age of widely available knowledge for the newer generation of browns and blacks are not going to be as pliant as their parents....more
As an expat who has lived in the UK for the past 18 years of my life, I did find the definitions refreshingly fresh and frank. I think the frank bits As an expat who has lived in the UK for the past 18 years of my life, I did find the definitions refreshingly fresh and frank. I think the frank bits were a result of the author’s experiences working in LBC. And in a typical british way he does not at all present any improvement suggestions but rather on the history, leaving the future unknown, which os apt I think.
The british are a remarkable culture, with few fault-lines. ...more
The book is a view of the Indian Raj from the perspective of the 20 people who ruled India as its viceroys or headmasters ruling over a public school The book is a view of the Indian Raj from the perspective of the 20 people who ruled India as its viceroys or headmasters ruling over a public school filled with boys, who are kept in check with control syllabus and allowed to indulge in sports. Any recalcitrant boy must be beaten and encouraged to indulge their passion in sports, given prizes and even invited to tea parties. Their (boy princes) former subjects will invariably look for an alternative master, which the British must offer themselves as the only viable alternative.
The British ruled India without much major issues till the Indians became aware of their status. And once they were aware there wasn’t much the British could do to contain them any longer, against brilliant nationalist leaders like Gandhi and Jinnah. The British never had an alternate plan to rule India, especially after 1857 when they started to avoid mingling with the Indians which made it impossible for them to understand their Indian subjects.
The book focuses on personalities rather than events, which makes it a very interesting read indeed....more
Very interesting political biography of Attlee, written in the backdrop of WW1, WW2, Independence of colonies and Korean War. Attlee's stoic personaliVery interesting political biography of Attlee, written in the backdrop of WW1, WW2, Independence of colonies and Korean War. Attlee's stoic personality shines like a beacon of light, delivering for the common people who wanted assurance of jobs after the end of WW2. Not only does Attlee deliver but is able to construct a new socialist Britain out of the ashes of the death and destruction, a legacy which remains a reality to this day. Attlee led a very British socialist revolution to transform the lives of the ordinary British workers to break the centuries old class system reducing the aristocrats to shadows of the society. And Attlee achieved all this change against the rivalry of maybe the most charismatic leader of Britain Churchill, makes the story even more remarkable.
A unique introduction to the Romany culture and their fight for survival in mainstream British culture. I found the novel intriguing and interesting, A unique introduction to the Romany culture and their fight for survival in mainstream British culture. I found the novel intriguing and interesting, but the story seemed to build up a climax which never really delivered in the end. Stef style of self-abasement suited the protagonist's personality very well. I enjoyed following the life of a detective and for a while even thought about giving up my day job to become a detective which means that the story is well crafted. It's only the end which fizzled without a bang, but its still worth a read....more
If war is akin to revolution and if a new post-war identity was curated from the ashes, then we have some serious issues to tackle, for GB before WW2 If war is akin to revolution and if a new post-war identity was curated from the ashes, then we have some serious issues to tackle, for GB before WW2 was Great because it was a real superpower in the world, controlling the destiny of 1/3rd of the world resources, and so we have to consider what post-war Britain has managed to attain with the new identity. Becuase its only natural that a post-war Britain still has illusions of grandeur.
Dominic explains the emergence of a British identity based on its traditions and its history, the death of its working-class filled with a dream of making it big in London, its most popular books based on the same traditional formula, its sports club slowly losing its quality players & managers with the death of the working-class.
Dreams are good, critical for progress, but they are dreams in the end. With Brexit around the corner, the prospects for fulfilling the dream look very bleak to me....more
Undoubtedly the best book on politics I have yet to read. I loved the narration, the story and the characters which were cast as good aAudible version
Undoubtedly the best book on politics I have yet to read. I loved the narration, the story and the characters which were cast as good as any novel. The biggest achievement of the book is the way a dry political factual history was turned into an engaging and exciting tale. The book covers the Edward Heath years of Britain, the impact of the decisions he took on the people of UK amid international crises like petrol prices and Irish terrorism. Not only is the political aspects covered very well, but the social, cultural, moral and economic changes and flavours of the day are covered very well.
Its a must read of any fan of political and cultural history....more
Probably the most balanced and subjective view on British Raj I have come across to date, an account only a British historian could deliver. That the Probably the most balanced and subjective view on British Raj I have come across to date, an account only a British historian could deliver. That the British came to India to trade but evolved into conquerors is well known but I never knew the that the Indians always considered themselves as at least their junior partners in this colossal conquest. The Indians by this virtue demanded more rights and powers from the small elitest class of British rulers which became a sort of cat and mouse game played over a few centuries. Hindus and Muslims were both minorities who were left to fight over crumbs of opportunity left by the ruling elite class which operated as a royal class pretty much in the similar fashion to their predecessor Moghuls. The prolonged exposure to deprivation entered the Indian psyche permanently as a neurosis which exploded into full fledged civil war during the great partition of Bengal and Punjab. A Partition (of both Bengal and Punjab) demanded by the Indian National Congress as a necessary condition before they agreed to the formation of Pakistan. I now understand the shame felt by modern British every time the subject of colonisation is mentioned. This book is absolute must reading for every Indian and Pakistani if they want to get a realistic view of the history of the narrow-minded British Raj in India....more
Read most of the book with a persistent gnawing feeling. Why didn't I believe the two bit rickshaw wallah back home when he repeatedly criticises AmerRead most of the book with a persistent gnawing feeling. Why didn't I believe the two bit rickshaw wallah back home when he repeatedly criticises America for the all the ills in the Middle East? Why did I belittle his simple explanations?
The book has been a real humbling experience in my knowledge of the West's constant interference in the Middle East. The West has significant economic interests in the Middle East which it won't so easily give up just because the Arab people want more rights. The Arabs will have to continue their fight against their tyrant rulers and their supporters for a good few more decades before they can taste some freedom. Until then, they will continue to suffer the greed of western arm exporters and the wests demand for their oil....more