Fixing Britain: The Business of Reshaping Our Nation

by Digby Jones (Editor)

No nonsense solutions from the straight-talking face of British business. IF FUNDAMENTAL REFORM DOES NOT TAKE PLACE THEN WE ARE DEAD IN THE WATER. GLOBALISATION DOES NOT TAKE PRISONERS. BRITAIN MUST BECOME FIT FOR PURPOSE IN THE 21 ST CENTURY. This is the explosive, first book from 'the face of British business', Lord Digby Jones. With a renowned, no-nonsense, straight-talking approach, he is one of the world's most acclaimed business commentators. In his candid and forthright style Fixing Britain puts the spotlight on critical national and international business issues and lays out the essential reform urgently needed for the growth of our nation. Knowledgeable, authoritative and independent, Digby highlights how untenable the status quo is in the UK, and sets out how Britain can get back in – and stay in – the globalised race. Sending a clear message to government, business leaders, strategists and the media, Fixing Britain explores the effective linkage of change at all levels, from Westminster to education, the public and private sectors, our social cohesion and our sense of common purpose. Digby is never afraid to say what others are thinking - this is the most explosive examination of the state of British business in years.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 9, 2011

Reviews

[Shoaib Raza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written, full of eye-opening anecdotes that serve to illustrate points with irrefutable clarity.

The common sense in this book is off the chart. There a numerous recommendations to 'fix britain'. I enjoyed my first read and now look forward to revisiting some of the key ideas.

[Julian Schwarzenbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book after having heard Lord Digby Jones at our local literature festival.
Lord Jones has a clear view of what is needed to try to 'fix' Britain and is a compelling speaker on this subject. Most of his ideas are sound, although a few are probably a bit more off the wall.

So on to the book - this actually reads as if he had a dictaphone recording one of his speeches/interviews and that this had been transcribed into the book. So the book ends up being a like a collection of long sound bites rather than a more coherent narrative. I am in two minds as to whether this allows the underlying messages to come across more clearly or not - but on balance think that this actually detracts from the key message, hence the 3 stars.

This is a shame, because Lord Jones views should be made far more widely known in order to provide more pressure on government (of any colour) to take a longer term view of the needs of Britain's economy.