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Uncommon Sense
‘I was born in Britain, and when I was growing up I sincerely believed I was fortunate to be able to call this rain-lashed rock my home. That warm, cosy feeling of innate superiority vanished some time ago, and I now look towards my birthplace from a distance, and with something approaching despair.’
So begins Thomas Payne, in the introduction to ‘Uncommon Sense: The Zero-Tolerance Guide to Political Correctness.’
Written by a best-selling thriller writer, working under a pseudonym, ‘Uncommon Sense’ is a double-barrelled, sawn-off shotgun assault on the state of Britain, Europe, and the world. In blunt, uncompromising language, Thomas Payne takes apart the political correct shibboleths of our time with a surgical fury.
From Afghanistan to Bankers, and from Speed Cameras to Vitamins, an A-Z of muddled thinking is systematically blown apart. This is a book that will open your eyes to the absurdities of the world the political class have created – and make you laugh out loud at the same time.
Nothing and nobody comes out of this book unscathed.
This is a book for the young and old, men and women, fans of Jeremy Clarkson and Thomas Paine alike.
So begins Thomas Payne, in the introduction to ‘Uncommon Sense: The Zero-Tolerance Guide to Political Correctness.’
Written by a best-selling thriller writer, working under a pseudonym, ‘Uncommon Sense’ is a double-barrelled, sawn-off shotgun assault on the state of Britain, Europe, and the world. In blunt, uncompromising language, Thomas Payne takes apart the political correct shibboleths of our time with a surgical fury.
From Afghanistan to Bankers, and from Speed Cameras to Vitamins, an A-Z of muddled thinking is systematically blown apart. This is a book that will open your eyes to the absurdities of the world the political class have created – and make you laugh out loud at the same time.
Nothing and nobody comes out of this book unscathed.
This is a book for the young and old, men and women, fans of Jeremy Clarkson and Thomas Paine alike.
- GenresHumor
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2012
4 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 9, 2017
The book contains many useful observations on the insanity of British society, but the author's ill-informed animus against Christianity makes me wonder how well-researched some of his conclusions are. Still, I have seen enough of political correctness to know that much of what he says is correct.
February 4, 2013
I didn't pay for this book, as it was a free Kindle promotion. I might've bought it for under a pound, but I don't usually go for nonfiction.
One reviewer on Goodreads only gave it a single star because, and I quote,"This was just one man laying out
his opinions on things." That is rather evident from the synopsis, so quite what she expected I don't know. Another person gave it five, but didn't comment as to whether or not she found herself agreeing with everything the author has to say, which one would imply from such effusive praise.
For my part, I enjoyed some of the humour. There are some very good points, I'm in complete agreement on the matters of Afghanistan, art, censorship and pornography, the Compensation Culture, Drug use, education and the Euro, just to name a few. There's clearly a lot of thought been put into the sections on dieting and the health service.
On the other hand, the author suffers from that common to anyone seemingly with a history: the fact that "it was better in my day". In a recent interview, Cory Doctorow said "I think people who insist that their personal recollection of things means that it was always better in the old times show a remarkable
lack of self-awareness and are just generally giant spoil sports." Some of his attitudes are unorthodox and some of his writing is weird, but he's got a valid point here. That's the problem with any sort of condemnation of modern society, the angle you hit it with is always one comparing it to how it used to be. That never works.
So an enjoyable read, light, fun, certainly opinionated and not to take too seriously overall but with bits that are quite thought-provoking.
The full interview on Doctorow's Novel Homeland is here.
One reviewer on Goodreads only gave it a single star because, and I quote,"This was just one man laying out
his opinions on things." That is rather evident from the synopsis, so quite what she expected I don't know. Another person gave it five, but didn't comment as to whether or not she found herself agreeing with everything the author has to say, which one would imply from such effusive praise.
For my part, I enjoyed some of the humour. There are some very good points, I'm in complete agreement on the matters of Afghanistan, art, censorship and pornography, the Compensation Culture, Drug use, education and the Euro, just to name a few. There's clearly a lot of thought been put into the sections on dieting and the health service.
On the other hand, the author suffers from that common to anyone seemingly with a history: the fact that "it was better in my day". In a recent interview, Cory Doctorow said "I think people who insist that their personal recollection of things means that it was always better in the old times show a remarkable
lack of self-awareness and are just generally giant spoil sports." Some of his attitudes are unorthodox and some of his writing is weird, but he's got a valid point here. That's the problem with any sort of condemnation of modern society, the angle you hit it with is always one comparing it to how it used to be. That never works.
So an enjoyable read, light, fun, certainly opinionated and not to take too seriously overall but with bits that are quite thought-provoking.
The full interview on Doctorow's Novel Homeland is here.
July 30, 2012
It wasn't that interesting. It's really just one man venting his opinions and trying to make a profit off that. It was right though, the book is very likely to offend. Some parts I agreed with personally and others were just, I don't even have a way to describe it.
It's actually more entertaining to read forum arguments about such topics, at least then you get some back and forth. This was just one man laying out his opinions on things.
I really don't know what to say about this book. Probably that it's not worth reading. It started out a bit more interesting and humorous and took a steep decline.
It's actually more entertaining to read forum arguments about such topics, at least then you get some back and forth. This was just one man laying out his opinions on things.
I really don't know what to say about this book. Probably that it's not worth reading. It started out a bit more interesting and humorous and took a steep decline.
April 22, 2013
I found this book to be a delightful read. Although maybe an opinionated viewpoint of today's social misgivings,I can say I personally agree with more than 90% of his arguments - because I don't reside in UK, I'm unable to comment on some topics.
I think a lot of his arguments are the unspoken thoughts of MANY people, but they don't voice it/them because of the threat of repercussion from authority.
Maybe the low ratings by some members is evidence that people are being slowly drawn to political correctness by 'the thought police'!?!
(PS. You'll also be able to smile if you enjoy Brit humour/slang)
I think a lot of his arguments are the unspoken thoughts of MANY people, but they don't voice it/them because of the threat of repercussion from authority.
Maybe the low ratings by some members is evidence that people are being slowly drawn to political correctness by 'the thought police'!?!
(PS. You'll also be able to smile if you enjoy Brit humour/slang)
May 30, 2013
Statistics, more statistics and damn lies...
The trouble with this kind of book, is that whether you like it or not all most any opinion can be backed up with fact. In parts of this book the author talks about people ignoring the facts, with UFO's for example but one could quite easily argue that he has done the same thing.
Not all politicians are cheating scumbags, not all social workers are useless. I could make his book seem stupid by being selective with the material I used.
In short, this book is a bit of a rant, quite amusing but I wouldn't base your opinions, political papers, arguments or much else for that matter on it.
Rant over.
The trouble with this kind of book, is that whether you like it or not all most any opinion can be backed up with fact. In parts of this book the author talks about people ignoring the facts, with UFO's for example but one could quite easily argue that he has done the same thing.
Not all politicians are cheating scumbags, not all social workers are useless. I could make his book seem stupid by being selective with the material I used.
In short, this book is a bit of a rant, quite amusing but I wouldn't base your opinions, political papers, arguments or much else for that matter on it.
Rant over.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews