Humankind by Rutger Bregman
This is a book of two halves. I read the first 200 pages I enjoyed and it kept me turning the pages. But they were very much the typical pop science or pop history paradigm. The author has some new or newish take on the standard view of things and explains why his ideas are […]
Thatcher – Hero, Villain or Idiot?
Margaret Thatcher remains a towering figure in British politics, revered by her supporters as a visionary leader who transformed the U.K.’s economic landscape. Fondly remembered as the “Iron Lady,” Thatcher is praised for her staunch resolve and unwavering commitment to free-market principles, which many credit with revitalizing the British economy during her tenure as Prime […]
Why the Reform Party will be a Damp Squib
Predicting elections is a mug’s game. They often surprise everyone, and there are some striking examples from recent UK history. For instance, during the Brexit referendum, you could still get odds of 8 to 1 on Remain winning while the votes were being counted. Similarly, Theresa May entered the 2017 General Election with a lead […]
Iran Attacks Israel – What Will History Say?
Much of the art of politics is fitting a narrative that suits your purposes to recent events. A big event like the 300 or more missiles that Iran rained down on Israel spawns a number of them. Israel wants to be both the victim and the victor – earning the right to retaliate and to […]
Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafa
A book by a Turkish author makes me think about national identity.
Last Night of the Proms 2023
I am one of those people who love the last night of the Proms, and I make a point of being in to watch it on the television. My personal favourite bit is the sea songs. But the whole event is usually great, and the standard of the music is often spectacular. And the waving […]
Station to Station by David Bowie
The first rock album I bought was Bowie’s Station to Station. It’s taken me nearly 50 years to appreciate it.
Byzantium by John Julius Norwich
A three volume history of the wars, politics and intrigues of the Byzantine Empire.
I Belong To The Brexit Generation
I was born in 1960 and so was 17 when Richard Hell and the Voidoids released ‘Blank Generation’. The title of this post is a play on the title of the song. It wasn’t a huge hit when it first came out and it hasn’t particularly stood the test of time, so I imagine you’d […]
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Lessons in Chemistry is a well-paced and light-hearted book which is well worth a read.